Mary Badham

Mary Badham is one of our most loved child actors, capturing our hearts as Scout Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962).



Mary Badham was born on October 7, 1952 in Birmingham, Alabama. Her father was was a retired army officer who, by the time of her birth, had become president of Bessemer Steel Co. Her English-born mother had been an actress before her marriage.

She is also the younger sister (by 14 years) of director John Badham (Saturday Night Fever, 1977 & Wargames, 1983).

Mary had no prior acting experience when she was cast to play Scout Finch in 1962's To Kill a Mockingbird. She was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Supporting Actress category but lost to child actress Patty Duke (The Miracle Worker, 1962).

Mary remained close to fellow To Kill a Mocking Bird co-stars Brock Peters and Gregory Peck, until their deaths in 2003 and 2005. She still keeps in touch with Phillip Alford, who played her brother in the movie (who is now a successful businessman and consultant in Birmingham, Alabama).

Mary is currently married to a school teacher with two children. She is an art restorer and a college testing coordinator. She also travels around the world recalling her wonderful experiences making To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) while expounding on the book's messages of tolerance and compassion.

Mary retired from acting in 1966 at the age of 14.

She came out of retirement in 2005 to play Mrs. Nutbush (in a cameo appearance) in Our Very Own, starring Keith Carradine.

Attended the 2006 "Twilight Zone" Convention at the Hilton Hasbrouck Heights, Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, August 12-13, 2006.



Although she only appeared in two movies (To Kill a Mockingbird & This Property is Condemned, 1966) and appeared in two television shows (The Twilight Zone & Dr. Kildare) she is one of the most loved child actors of all time.