1994 – New York City
Patricia Neal is one of the most admired women of American film. An Academy Award-winning actress who heroically recovered from massive strokes to become a trailblazing humanitarian on behalf of medical rehabilitation, she offers a life-affirming story. Miss Neal’s first job was as an understudy. She then accepted an offer to play Tallulah Bankhead’s role of Regina in “Another Part of the Forest”, for which she received both the Tony and the Drama Critic’s Award for Best New Actress. Miss Neal signed with Warner Brothers and proceeded to make thirteen movies in four years. But tragedy was to strike. Miss Neal and author-husband, Roald Dahl’s infant son Theo was struck by a taxi, suffering severe injuries, and eldest daughter, Olivia, died at the age of seven from measles encephalitis. Miss Neal continued acting, however, and won an Oscar as Best Actress in 1964 for her performance with Paul Newman in “HUD.” At the peak of her success, Miss Neal suffered a series of strokes which left her partially paralyzed. Undaunted, she began a successful struggle through years of rehabilitation. Today, Patricia Neal continues her acting career, having recently starred in Robert Altman’s latest film. Ms. Neal played the title character (Cookie), in “Cookie’s Fortune.” She continues to travel with the Theater Guild’s Theater-At-Sea program which has taken her to many exotic ports-of-call. Ms. Neal also has been lecturing extensively at conferences on stroke, stroke victims and rehabilitation. Her autobiography, “As I Am” was published in 1988 and has been reprinted all over the world.
