Toby Tarnow (born June 15, 1937) is a Canadian actress. She was the first actress to portray the popular Anne Shirley of Anne of Green Gables in Canadian radio then in Canadian television in a 1956 television movie.

Career

Tarnow began her career in the 1950s as a child actress on Canadian television. Her most popular work included the part of Princess Summerfall Winterspring on the Canadian version of the Howdy Doody Show on CBC television and a regular on the children's show, Mr. Dressup. In 1956, she was in the Anne of Green Gables TV movie.

As an adult, Tarnow progressed to roles in live theatre. She starred as "The Girl" in The Seven Year Itch at Toronto's Crest Theatre and played Cordelia in King Lear. In 1972, she starred in Forever Yours, Mary Lou at Toronto's Tarragon Theatre, garnering rave reviews.

She continued on television as a regular panelist on the Canadian To Tell the Truth, a regular role in CBC'S forensic police drama The Collaborators (1973–74), a continuing character on the Canadian soap opera Moment of Truth, and a continuing role in the miniseries Amerika and a children's television show, Nursery School Time with Miss Toby and Hoppy.

In film, she appeared in Nobody Waved Goodbye in 1965. In 1974, she was the rabbi's wife in Only God Knows.

In 2012, Toby was awarded the Children's and Youth Theatre Award by the New Hampshire Theatre Awards.[citation needed]

Personal life

In August 1989, she moved to New Hampshire.

Performances

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1964Nobody Waved Good-byeSister
1974Only God KnowsFrances Sherman
1983UtilitiesGilda

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1955–1958On CameraSusan / Sheila4 episodes
1956Anne of Green GablesAnne ShirleyTelevision film
1957–1960EncounterDoreen / Polly / Nancy6 episodes
1959StartimeNoraEpisode: "A Clearing in the Woods"
1959Hudson's BayLittle Dove2 episodes
1960R.C.M.P.AnnaEpisode: "Violence at the Wedding"
1961–1966FestivalMiriam / Sophie / Tansy3 episodes
1964Moment of TruthCarol WilliamsTelevision film
1965Theatre 625LilithEpisode: "David, Chapter 2"
1966SeawayAnne BallantyreEpisode: "Dead Reckoning"
1972The Whiteoaks of JalnaRuthEpisode #1.1
1972Dr. Simon LockeAndreaEpisode: "The Perfect Specimen"
1974The CollaboratorsLiz Roman4 episodes
1976TeleplayLanaEpisode: "The Italian Machine"
1980King of KensingtonJaniceEpisode: "Green-Eyed Monster"
1982Till Death Do Us PartDr. Honora FreedTelevision film
1985Star Wars: DroidsVoice4 episodes
1986The Edison TwinsDr. Karla JensonEpisode: "Strictly for the Birds"
1987AmerikaHelen2 episodes

Theatre

YearTitleRoleVenueNotes
1960King LearCordeliaCrest Theatre, Toronto
1963The Seven Year ItchThe GirlCrest Theatre, Toronto
1972Forever Yours, Mary LouTarragon Theatre, Toronto

Sources

  • Illidge, Paul (2005). Glass Cage: The Crest Theatre Story. Toronto: Creber Monde (Canada). ISBN 0968634796.

External links