Frequently Asked Questions About Tuesday Weld
Tuesday Weld remains one of Hollywood's most enigmatic figures, an actress who achieved critical acclaim while deliberately avoiding the trappings of fame. Born in 1943, she spent over four decades in the entertainment industry, earning an Academy Award nomination, multiple Golden Globe nominations, and a BAFTA Award. Despite her success, she maintained fierce control over her privacy and career choices, often turning down major roles that would have made her a bigger star but might have compromised her artistic integrity.
Her relationships with Elvis Presley and Dudley Moore, her selective filmography, and her eventual retreat from Hollywood have sparked curiosity for decades. Below, we answer the most common questions about Tuesday Weld's life, career, family, and legacy. These answers draw from documented interviews, biographical sources, and verified information about her remarkable journey through Hollywood's golden age and beyond.
Who is Tuesday Weld?
Tuesday Weld is an American actress born Susan Ker Weld on August 27, 1943, in New York City. She became famous in the 1960s and 1970s for her roles in films like 'Lord Love a Duck' (1966), 'Pretty Poison' (1968), and 'Looking for Mr. Goodbar' (1977), the latter earning her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She was known for her blonde beauty, exceptional talent in both dramatic and comedic roles, and her fierce independence in choosing projects. Weld began her career as a child model at age three to support her family after her father's death, transitioned to television as a teenager, and became a respected film actress known for taking challenging, psychologically complex roles that other actresses avoided.
What movies was Tuesday Weld in?
Tuesday Weld appeared in approximately 40 films throughout her career. Her most notable movies include 'Pretty Poison' (1968), where she played a sociopathic cheerleader opposite Anthony Perkins; 'Play It as It Lays' (1972), based on Joan Didion's novel; 'Looking for Mr. Goodbar' (1977), which earned her an Academy Award nomination; and Sergio Leone's epic 'Once Upon a Time in America' (1984), for which she won a BAFTA Award. Other significant films include 'Lord Love a Duck' (1966), 'I Walk the Line' (1970) with Gregory Peck, 'Thief' (1981) with James Caan, and 'Falling Down' (1993) with Michael Douglas, which was one of her final film appearances. She also starred in the early television series 'The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis' (1959-1960), which launched her career as a teen icon.
Is Tuesday Weld still alive?
Yes, Tuesday Weld is still alive as of 2024, at 81 years old. She largely retired from acting in the mid-1990s after appearing in 'Falling Down' (1993) and has maintained an extremely private life away from the public eye for the past three decades. Unlike many retired actors who occasionally make public appearances or give interviews, Weld has remained almost completely out of the spotlight. There are very few recent photographs of her, and she has given virtually no interviews since her retirement. This commitment to privacy is consistent with her lifelong approach to fame—she was always more interested in the craft of acting than in celebrity, and retirement allowed her to live the quiet life she preferred.
What is Tuesday Weld's real name?
Tuesday Weld's real name is Susan Ker Weld. She was born with this name on August 27, 1943, in New York City. The origin of her stage name 'Tuesday' has been explained in different ways over the years. According to most accounts, she adopted the nickname 'Tu-Tu' as a young child, which was a shortened version of 'Susan,' and this eventually evolved into 'Tuesday.' By the time she began her professional career as a child model and actress, she was using Tuesday as her first name, and it became her legal and professional identity. The unique name certainly helped her stand out in Hollywood and became an integral part of her mystique as an actress. She never returned to using Susan professionally, and Tuesday Weld became the name by which she was known throughout her career and life.
Why did Tuesday Weld stop acting?
Tuesday Weld gradually stepped away from acting in the 1990s for several interconnected reasons. She had always been highly selective about her roles, turning down far more parts than she accepted, including famous roles in 'Bonnie and Clyde' and 'True Grit.' By the early 1990s, she was receiving fewer offers for the kind of complex, challenging roles she preferred, as Hollywood was changing and there were fewer substantial parts for women in their 50s. Additionally, Weld had always valued her privacy and personal life over fame, and retirement allowed her to live without the intrusions that came with being a public figure. Her third marriage to violinist Pinchas Zukerman (1985-1998) also coincided with her reduced work schedule, suggesting she prioritized personal relationships. Finally, she had achieved what she wanted professionally—critical respect, an Oscar nomination, and a body of work she could be proud of—and felt no need to continue for the sake of maintaining visibility.
What was Tuesday Weld's relationship with Elvis Presley?
Tuesday Weld and Elvis Presley had a romantic relationship that lasted approximately one year, from 1962 to 1963. Weld was 18 years old when they met, already an established actress, while Elvis was at the peak of his fame following his return from military service. According to biographers and people close to both stars, Elvis was seriously interested in Weld, finding her intelligence and independence refreshing compared to many other women in his life. They were frequently photographed together at Hollywood events and private gatherings. However, Weld ended the relationship, reportedly because she felt Elvis's lifestyle—the constant entourage, demanding schedule, and lack of privacy—was incompatible with her own needs and career ambitions. She later spoke sparingly about Elvis in interviews, maintaining respect and privacy about their time together. The relationship occurred during formative years for both: Elvis was re-establishing his entertainment career, while Weld was transitioning from teen roles to serious dramatic work.
Who is Tuesday Weld's daughter Natasha Harz?
Natasha Harz is Tuesday Weld's daughter from her first marriage to screenwriter Claude Harz. Born in 1966, Natasha has maintained an extremely private life, following her mother's preference for staying out of the public eye. Unlike many children of Hollywood stars, Natasha did not pursue a career in entertainment and has given no public interviews about her famous mother. Very little verified information is available about her adult life, career, or family. This privacy is consistent with Tuesday Weld's lifelong approach to protecting her personal life from media scrutiny. Weld was always protective of her children—Natasha and her son Patrick H. Moore from her marriage to Dudley Moore—and successfully kept them away from the Hollywood spotlight. The lack of public information about Natasha Harz is actually a testament to Weld's success in maintaining boundaries between her professional acting career and her private family life.
What is Tuesday Weld's relationship with Dudley Moore?
Tuesday Weld was married to British actor and comedian Dudley Moore from 1975 to 1980. They met during a period when Moore was transitioning from his comedy partnership with Peter Cook to more serious film roles in Hollywood. The couple had one son together, Patrick H. Moore, born in 1976. Their marriage attracted significant media attention, as both were prominent entertainment figures, but it struggled under the pressures of two demanding careers and Moore's well-documented personal struggles with depression and alcohol. They divorced in 1980 but reportedly remained on respectful terms. In his later years, Moore spoke fondly of Weld in interviews and his autobiography, acknowledging her intelligence and the genuine connection they shared despite the marriage not working out. The relationship represented an important chapter in both their lives, occurring during Moore's rise to international fame with films like '10' (1979) and 'Arthur' (1981), though the latter came after their divorce.
What is Tuesday Weld's net worth?
Tuesday Weld's net worth has been estimated at approximately $5 million as of 2022, though exact figures are difficult to verify given her intensely private nature and decades-long retirement from public life. This figure reflects her four-decade career in film and television, spanning from the late 1950s through the early 1990s. However, Weld's net worth could have been substantially higher if she had accepted many of the lucrative roles she famously turned down, including the female lead in 'Bonnie and Clyde' opposite Warren Beatty, which would have significantly increased both her earnings and her profile. She was never motivated primarily by financial considerations, instead choosing roles based on artistic merit and personal interest. Her selective approach meant she worked less frequently than many contemporaries but maintained higher artistic standards. The relatively modest net worth compared to other actresses of her generation reflects her priorities: she valued privacy, artistic integrity, and personal fulfillment over maximizing earnings through constant work or commercial endorsements.
| Year | Award | Category | Film/Show | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Golden Globe | Most Promising Newcomer - Female | Pretty Poison | Nominated |
| 1972 | Golden Globe | Best Actress - Drama | Play It as It Lays | Nominated |
| 1978 | Academy Award | Best Supporting Actress | Looking for Mr. Goodbar | Nominated |
| 1978 | Golden Globe | Best Supporting Actress | Looking for Mr. Goodbar | Nominated |
| 1985 | BAFTA Award | Best Supporting Actress | Once Upon a Time in America | Won |
| 1989 | Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actress - Miniseries | The Winter of Our Discontent | Nominated |
External Resources
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - Tuesday Weld's 1978 Oscar nomination for 'Looking for Mr. Goodbar' is documented in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences official records.
- British Academy of Film and Television Arts - Her BAFTA Award win for 'Once Upon a Time in America' is recorded in the British Academy of Film and Television Arts archives.
- Wikipedia entry for Tuesday Weld - For a comprehensive overview of her career and filmography, the Wikipedia entry for Tuesday Weld provides detailed information.