Biography

“ Patricia Neal has traveled the road from Born Patsy Louise Neal on January 20, triumph to despair in ways few of us can 1926, in Packard, Kentucky, Patricia Neal imagine. There is sincerity and dedication would eventually become an interna- behind this work.” tionally acclaimed star on stage, film, and —Paul Newman television for nearly sixty years. On Broad- way she appeared in such lauded produc- tions as Lillian Hellman’s Another Part “ Neal’s life was filled with tragedies and of the Forest (1946), for which she won triumphs, and Shearer unveils an impres- one of the very first Tony Awards, and sive portrait of the actress. . . . Readers of The Miracle Worker (1959). In Hollywood As I Am, Neal’s 1988 memoir, will seek out she starred opposite the likes of Ronald this biography for more of the actress’s Reagan, Gary Cooper, John Wayne, Paul absorbing and inspirational story.” Newman, Fred Astaire, and Tyrone Power —publishers weekly in some thirty films, and anchored such classic pictures as The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), Breakfast at Tiffany’s “ Digs into the amazing first 80 years in the (1961), and Hud (1963), which earned life of one of our national treasures. . . . her the Academy Award for Best Actress Neal is still a great force of nature, and in 1963. Patricia Neal: An Unquiet Life is Shearer’s book documents all her ups, the first critical biography detailing the downs, traumas and triumphs.” actress’s impressive career and remarkable —hollywood reporter personal life. Author Stephen Michael Shearer paints an honest and compre- hensive portrait of an accomplished “ Her life has had so many tragic twists it woman who lived her life with determi- makes for compelling reading.” nation and bravado. —variety Stephen Michael Shearer has worked as a professional actor and has written for The Film Collectors Registry. He is the author of Beautiful: The Life of Hedy Lamarr.

The University Press of Kentucky

Stephen Michael Shearer