Mary Wickes
(1910 - 1995)Sassy, tough, acerbic, wisecracking but always lovable, she was one of the most popular character actresses ever. She was born Mary Isabelle Wickenhauser on June 13, 1910 in St. Louis, Missouri she attended Washington University in her native St. Louis and later, in her 80s, earned a master's degree at UCLA. After graduation at age 18 she appeared in a St. Louis Little Theater production and was discovered by a Broadway producer. She made her Broadway debut in 1935 in "Stage Door" and was "on her way." For the next 7 decades she divided her career between Broadway and Hollywood appearing in over 50 films, 27 Broadway stage productions and in 10 television series. She most often played spinsters, housekeepers, maids, nurses and even nuns. Her film credits include: "Watch the Birdie" (1935) in an uncredited bit part; "Blondie's Blessed Event" (1942) as Sarah Miller; "The Man Who Came to Dinner" (1942) as Nurse Preen; "Now Voyager" (1942) as Nurse Dora Pickford; "Happy Land" (1943) as Emmy; "Anna Lucasta" (1949) as Stella; "The Jackie Robinson Story" (1950) as Woman in Stands; "On Moonlight Bay" (1951) as Stella; "White Christmas" (1954) with Bing Crosby & Danny Kaye, as Emma Allen; "The Music Man" (1962) as Mrs. Squires; "How to Murder Your Wife" (1965) with Jack Lemmon, as Harold's Secretary; "The Trouble With Angels" (1966) as Gym Teacher Sister Clarissa and its sequel "Where Angels Go Trouble Follows" (1968) in the same role; "Sister Act" (1992) and its sequel "Sister Act 2" (1993) as Sister Mary Lazarus; "Little Women" (1994) with Winona Ryder, as Aunt March, her final film appearance and Disney's animated "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1996) as the voice of a Gargoyle. On TV she was a regular on the series: "The Halls of Ivy" (1954-55) as Alice; "Dennis the Menace" (1959-61) as Miss Esther Cathcart; "The Gertrude Berg Show" (1961-62) as Maxfield; "Julia" (1968-71) as Melba Chegley; "Doc" (1975-76) as Miss Tully; "Father Dowling Mysteries" (1989) as Marie Murkin and the animated "Life with Louie" (1995) as the voice of Grandma. She appeared in the TV movies: "Willa" (1979); "The Christmas Gift" (1986) and "Almost Partners" (1987). She also guest starred on many TV series including: "The Beverly Hillbillies"; "Here's Lucy"; "My Three Sons"; "Sanford and Son" and "Murder She Wrote." She died on October 22, 1995 after surgery in Los Angeles, California at age 85.
From Great Character Actors, Page 2.
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