Doris Packer
(1904 - 1979)One of my all-time favorites, this great character actress was the epitome of the aristocratic matron with her stern looking, but sweet, face with strong, jutting jaw and her smooth but robust voice. She was probably best known for two TV roles: Mrs. Chatsworth Osborne Sr. and earlier as Clarice Armitage on "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis" (1959-63) and as "Beaver" Cleaver’s elementary school Principal and friend, Mrs. Rayburn on "Leave it to Beaver" (1957). She was born on May 30, 1904 in Menominee, Michigan and her family moved to southern California when she was very young. Coming from a non-show business family she was bitten by the "acting bug" as a youngster when playing Shakespeare in school and after high school and attending UCLA, she moved to New York and attended The Drama School under the tutelage of Evelyn Thomas. She appeared on Broadway in such productions as "The Women" and "Elizabeth the Queen", in the title role. She married famed stage director Rowland G. Edwards in the late 1920s and was with him until his death in 1952. She also worked in radio while in New York on such popular shows as "Henry Aldrich" and "Mr. & Mrs. North." She made the transition to TV in 1953 moving to California and her first work was on "The Burns and Allen Show" (1950-58) with George Burns & Gracie Allen as a recurring guest. This, her stint on "Dobie Gillis" (1959) and guest starring on "The Governor & J.J." (1969-70) were among her personal favorites. Besides "Dobie Gillis" and "Leave it to Beaver", she was a regular on the TV series: "Happy" (1960-61) as Clara Mason and "Tammy" (1965-66) as Mrs. Brent. Her last TV role was a guest role on "A Touch of Grace" with Shirley Booth (1973). Among her film credits are: "Meet Me at the Fair" (1953) as Mrs. Swaile; "Annette" (1958) as Helen Abernathy; "Bon Voyage" (1962) uncredited as Mrs. Henderson; "Paradise, Hawaiian Style" (1966) uncredited as Mrs. Barrington; "The Perils of Pauline" (1967) as Mrs. Carruthers and her last film "Shampoo" (1975) with Warren Beatty, as Rosalind. She died on March 20, 1979 in Glendale, California of natural causes at age 74.
From Great Character Actors, Page 3.
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