Portia Nelson, a native of Brigham City who became a celebrated New York actress, cabaret performer and songwriter, died on March 6 at her home in Manhattan, according to a news item on the Playbill On-line Web site.
Playbill writer Kenneth Jones said the 80-year-old Nelson was often called a Renaissance woman. She was an author and poet ("There's a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery"), a painter, an actress, a nightclub chanteuse, an arranger, a recording artist and a songwriter.
In a Deseret News article on March 25, 1990, staff writer Jerry Johnston listed Nelson among Brigham City's "favorite sons/daughters" in a tribute to his old home town.
Nelson's film appearances included playing Sister Berthe in "The Sound of Music," Sarah Dolittle in the original Rex Harrison version of "Dr. Dolittle" and Sister Elizabeth in "The Trouble With Angels."
In New York, where she lived most of her life, she was best known as one of the great stars of the city's "cafe society," performing in such well-known cabarets and supper clubs as the Blue Angel and Bon Soir. She was also featured in the original cast album of "The Golden Apple" and studio recordings of "On Your Toes," "Roberta," "The Boys From Syracuse" and "Oklahoma!"
As a composer/lyricist, she wrote "Make Me a Rainbow," which Marilyn Horne sang at President Clinton's inaugural ceremony. She had also written music for "The Carol Burnett Show."
In 1983, Nelson, who was starring in TV's "All My Children" at the time, returned to Brigham City for the 45th reunion of the Box Elder High School Class of 1938.
Friends in Manhattan said Nelson had battled cancer in recent years but had recovered. However, her health had deteriorated recently.
According to Jones' article in Playbill, a fund will be set up in her name at The Actors' Fund. There will not be a funeral, but friends are planning a memorial service sometime this spring.
She was a daughter of Jacob Carl and Mary Ann Nelson. She is survived by one brother, Bernell Nelson, of Oregon, and was preceded in death by another brother, Dr. Carl Erwin "Star" Nelson, who died in January.