Eleanor (Bass) Weingardt, a talented individual, has led a multifaceted life, marked by her passion for the performing arts and her dedication to her family.
Born and raised on the southside of Chicago, in the Marquette Park area, Eleanor grew up with her brother and sister. Her early years were filled with the thrill of performing, as she acted on stage and sang, making her debut with the Jack and Jill Players in the 1950s.
After high school, Eleanor's talents took her to New York, where she performed off-Broadway in "Beauty and the Beast" at the Royal Playhouse. However, she soon returned to Chicago and took the stage once more, this time in "The Fantastics" at Roosevelt.
Eleanor's personal life took a significant turn when she married and moved to Highland Park, Illinois, with her four young children in tow. Needing a creative outlet, her husband encouraged her to pursue her love for theater, and she did, starring in a local production and falling in love with the stage all over again.
As a new theater company emerged in Highland Park, Eleanor auditioned and won the role of Queen Gertrude in "Rosencrantz and Gildenstern Are Dead" with the renowned Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Despite the challenges of balancing her family life with her passion for acting, Eleanor continued to work in plays whenever possible, taking acting classes and studying at Second City, where she developed a love for improvisation.
Eleanor's voice-over career also gained momentum, and she even taught at Columbia College. Her big break came when she landed the role of the charm school teacher in "A League of Their Own," working alongside some of the biggest stars of the day.
This remarkable woman, who once won a trip to the Oscars on a radio show, continues to perform as an impersonator for corporate events, awaiting her next prime film and television roles.
