Ellie Weingardt

Eleanor (Bass) Weingardt lives in Highland Park Illinois with her husband, where she raised four children. One daughter, Traci, is a noted Chicago musician and song writer. Ellie, was raised on the south side of Chicago in an area called Marquette Park with her brother and sister. Ellie performed as a child actor on stage and as a singer. Most notably with Jack and Jill Players in the fifties. After high school she ventured to New York and performed off Broadway in "Beauty and the Beast" at the Royal Playhouse. She returned to Chicago a year later and performed in THE "Fantastics", at Roosevelt. She married and later moved to a home in Highland Park with four little ones in tow. Needing a creative outlet, her husband encouraged her to do some theater, again. She did a local theater play and fell in love all over again with the stage. A new theater company was starting out in Highland Park, and she decided to audition. She won the role of Queen Gertrude in "Rosencrantz and Gildenstern Are Dead" with the notable Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Being drawn to this life again, with four little ones was a maddening experience to say the least. Raising her kids was her first priority so she worked in a play whenever she could and took acting classes. She studied at Second City loving improvisation and pursued a voice-over career with some success. She even taught at Columbia College. Then came her first major film winning the role of the charm school teacher in "A League of Their Own" working with every major star of the day. A fitting beginning for the girl who won a trip to the Oscars on a radio show. Ellie also performs as an impersonator for corporate events as she awaits the prime film and television roles she so justly deserves.