Kay Earley Doubleday's life began in the idyllic coastal town of Tela, Honduras, a place where her father was employed as a railroad construction engineer for the Tela Railroad Company, a subsidiary of the United Fruit Company, a prominent organization that would later evolve into Chiquita Brands International, a behemoth corporation that dominated vast territories and transportation networks in Central America and maintained a monopoly on the banana industry.
It was the year 1933, a pivotal moment in time, when the renowned publishing house, Doubleday, decided to relocate its headquarters from its original location to the culturally rich and vibrant city of New Orleans. This significant move had a profound impact on the life of a young individual, who would later become a talented actress, and her family, who chose to follow suit in 1936.
This relocation proved to be a defining moment in the life of the individual, as she grew up amidst the city's eclectic mix of cultures, history, and architecture. She would go on to hone her acting skills in local theater productions, captivating audiences with her early performances.
Following her graduation from the Academy of the Holy Angels in 1951, she embarked on a journey to the vibrant metropolis of New York, driven by an unwavering passion to become a renowned actress. Shortly after settling in the city that never sleeps, she made the bold decision to travel to London, where she was fortunate enough to be accepted into the esteemed Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, a prestigious institution renowned for its rigorous training programs.
Michael V. Gazzo, a celebrated playwright and actor, provided acting lessons to a talented individual in the mid-1950s. Interestingly, Gazzo would later achieve widespread recognition for his iconic portrayal of Frankie "Five Angels" Pentageli in the cinematic masterpiece, The Godfather Part II.
In 1956, this aspiring actress had the privilege of enrolling in the prestigious Actor's Studio, where she received expert guidance from the illustrious Lee Strasberg. Strasberg, an accomplished actor in his own right, would also make a memorable appearance in The Godfather Part II, playing the role of the powerful mafia kingpin, Hyman Roth.
During her tenure at the esteemed Actor's Studio, a pivotal period in her life unfolded as she crossed paths with Clyde Ware, a talented actor and writer, with whom she would go on to share a son. Despite the promise of their union, their marriage unfortunately came to a close in 1961, and Ware's career trajectory took him to the vibrant city of Hollywood, where he would ultimately establish himself as a successful screenwriter. In the aftermath of this transition, Doubleday found herself once again taking the leap of marriage, this time to the accomplished actor Archie Smith, in 1962. This union would blossom into a long-standing partnership that would endure for decades, with the couple embarking on a prolific acting career, punctuated by several years of fruitful collaboration with the esteemed Seattle Repertory Theater.
The couple's union resulted in the birth of a son, a development that was unfortunately followed by a devastating turn of events when the young child met an untimely demise in a car accident in February 1970. The couple's sorrow was briefly assuaged when Doubleday gave birth to a daughter approximately one year later. As the family navigated their grief, they made the decision to relocate to Pennsylvania, where they became intricately involved with the esteemed Penn State Theater Department.
During the early 1980s, a pivotal moment in their life journey, they made the decision to relocate to the vibrant city of Denver, Colorado, where they subsequently became esteemed resident actors with the renowned Denver Theater Company, a prestigious institution that has been a cornerstone of the city's thriving arts scene for many years.
May 1995, a somber day that would forever change the course of their lives, marked the passing of Kay Earley Doubleday, a loving and devoted wife, mother, and individual who left an indelible mark on the hearts of all who knew her. Surrounded by the comforting presence of her loving husband, Archie Smith, she breathed her last, leaving behind a legacy of love, laughter, and cherished memories that would be deeply cherished by her family and friends.
