Mildred Frances Cook (January 14, 1924 – January 11, 2023), known professionally as Carole Cook, was an American actress, active on screen and stage, best known for appearances on Lucille Ball's comedy television series The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy.
Carole Cook | |
|---|---|
 Attending the premiere of The Incredible Mr. Limpet in 1964 | |
| Born | Mildred Frances Cook January 14, 1924[1][2] Abilene, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | January 11, 2023 (aged 98) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1954–2018 |
| Spouse | |
Her best known film roles include The Incredible Mr. Limpet, American Gigolo and Sixteen Candles.[3]
Biography
editEarly life
editMildred Frances Cook was born on January 14, 1924, in Abilene, Texas, one of four children of Leland Preston (L.P.) Cook Sr. and his wife, Maudine.[1][2] She studied Greek drama at Baylor University.[4] After graduating in 1945, she worked in regional theater.[4] By 1954, she had moved to New York, where she made her theatrical debut.[4]
Lucille Ball, having recently seen her success in a stage production of Annie Get Your Gun, invited her to work for her production company Desilu Studios and changed her stage name to Carole, after her favourite actress Carole Lombard.[4]
Film and television
editShe appeared in such feature films as The Incredible Mr. Limpet, American Gigolo, Sixteen Candles, Grandview, U.S.A., Summer Lovers, and Palm Springs Weekend.[5][6]
She made guest appearances on such television shows as The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy, Darkroom, Knight Rider, Emergency!, Magnum, P.I., McMillan and Wife, Murder, She Wrote, Dynasty, Charlie's Angels, Cagney & Lacey, Grey's Anatomy, and a starring role in a Season 4 episode of Hart to Hart.[5][6]
Cook starred in the animated Walt Disney Pictures film Home on the Range voicing Pearl Gesner.[5]
Theatre
editIn addition to her film and television work, Cook appeared in the original Broadway productions of 42nd Street and Romantic Comedy, and was the second actress (after Carol Channing) to star as Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly![7][8][9]
She made her theatrical debut playing Mrs. Peacham in the 1956 off-Broadway production of The Threepenny Opera, starring Lotte Lenya.[10]
In 2024, parts of Carole Cook's life and career were celebrated in the stage production Carole Cook Died for My Sins starring Mason McCulley. LA Weekly described the show as “a heartfelt tribute” that explored themes of love, loss, and transformation while honoring Cook’s enduring legacy.[11]
Personal life
editSource:[12]
She was married to actor and writer Tom Troupe from 1964 until her death.[4] Lucille Ball was her matron of honor.[4]
Cook died from heart failure in Beverly Hills, California, on January 11, 2023, at the age of 98, three days before her 99th birthday.[4]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Palm Springs Weekend | Naomi Yates | [5] |
| 1964 | The Incredible Mr. Limpet | Bessie Limpet | [5] |
| 1977 | The Gauntlet | Waitress | [5] |
| 1980 | American Gigolo | Mrs. Dobrun | [5] |
| 1982 | Summer Lovers | Barbara Foster | [5] |
| 1984 | Sixteen Candles | Helen | [5] |
| Grandview, U.S.A. | Betty Welles | [5] | |
| 1996 | Fast Money | Ester | [5] |
| 1999 | Lost & Found | Sylvia | [5] |
| 2004 | Home on the Range | Pearl Gesner | Voice[5] |
| 2017 | A Very Sordid Wedding | Hortense | [13] |
| 2018 | Waiting in the Wings: Still Waiting | Erika Ericson | [14] |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959–1960 | U.S. Marshal | Mrs. Parker / Nurse | 2 episodes[6][15] |
| 1963 | The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis | Fifi LaVerne / Molly O'Day | |
| 1963–1968 | The Lucy Show | Thelma Green / Woman in Station (uncredited) / Hotel Guest / Mrs. Valance / Lady at the Health Club / Mrs. Baldwin / Lady Cynthia (voice) / Carrie / Effie Higgins / Piano Bar Patron (uncredited) / Gladys | 18 episodes[16] |
| 1964 | The New Phil Silvers Show | Gertrude / Mrs. Kerrigan | 2 episodes[17] |
| Kentucky Jones | Dodie Wipple | Episode: "The Dread Disease"[18] | |
| 1966 | Vacation Playhouse | Nurse | Episode: "The Hoofer"[16] |
| Daniel Boone | Annie Boyd | Episode: "The Symbol"[16] | |
| 1969 | My World and Welcome to It | Aunt Kate | Episode: "The Disenchanted"[15] |
| That Girl | Dorothy Desmond | Episode: "My Part Belongs to Daddy"[15] | |
| 1969–1974 | Here's Lucy | Second Woman / Mrs. Sheila Casten / Lillian Rylander / Ma Parker / Cynthia Duncan | 5 episodes[16] |
| 1971 | Sarge | Cass | Episode: "Identity Crisis"[19] |
| 1972–1974 | McMillan & Wife | Marnie / Carole Crenshaw | 4 episodes[20][21] |
| 1973 | Lady Luck | Fran | Television film[22] |
| 1974 | Maude | Marta | Episode: "Walter's Ex"[16] |
| 1975 | Baretta | Mrs. Marriott | Episode: "Woman in the Harbor"[16] |
| 1975–1976 | Chico and the Man | Flora | 3 episodes[16] |
| 1976 | Ellery Queen | Gossip Columnist | Episode: "The Adventure of the Sinister Scenario"[23] |
| Emergency! | Nurse | Episode: "The Nuisance"[16] | |
| Bronk | Beatrice | Episode: "The Vigilante"[16] | |
| 1976–1977 | Charlie's Angels | Madam Dorian / Hildy Slater | 2 episodes[16] |
| 1977 | Starsky & Hutch | Scorchy | Episode: "Huggy Bear and the Turkey"[16] |
| In the Glitter Palace | Daisy Dolon | Television film[16] | |
| Kojak | Marie Stella | 4 episodes[16] | |
| 1979 | Rendezvous Hotel | Lucille Greenwood | Television film[22][6] |
| 1980 | Make Me an Offer | Pru Babcock | |
| 1981 | Darkroom | Sally Anne | Episode: "The Partnership"[24] |
| 1982 | Laverne & Shirley | Mrs. Harmon | Episode: "I Do, I Don't"[16] |
| Strike Force | Mitzi | Episode: "The John Killer"[25] | |
| Trapper John, M.D. | Natasha | Episode: "The Object of My Affliction"[16] | |
| Knight Rider | Sen. Maggie Flynn | Episode: "Just My Bill"[16] | |
| Something So Right | Cahuenga | Television film[16] | |
| Hart to Hart | Christine Garrick | Episode: "One Hart Too Many"[16] | |
| CBS Children's Mystery Theatre | Florence Dumont | Episode: "The Zertigo Diamond Caper"[26] | |
| 1983 | The Love Boat | Phyllis Faraday | Episode: "Paroled to Love / First Impressions / Love Finds Florence Nightingale"[16] |
| Quincy, M.E. | Winslow | 2 episodes[16] | |
| Now We're Cookin' | Marge | Television film[27] | |
| 1983–1984 | Capitol | Sugar Laine | [28] |
| 1985, 1988 | Murder, She Wrote | Christine Carpenter / Shayna Grant | 2 episodes[16] |
| 1986 | The A-Team | Mrs. Prescott | Episode: "Members Only"[16] |
| Magnum, P.I. | Sarah Tate | Episode: "All Thieves on Deck"[16] | |
| 1986–1988 | Cagney & Lacey | Donna LaMarr | 5 episodes[6] |
| 1986–1987 | Dynasty | Cora Van Husen | 4 episodes[29] |
| 1987 | Carly's Web | Myrtle | Television film[30] |
| 1990 | A Family for Joe | Medium | Episode: "The Medium"[25] |
| 1993 | Gloria Vane | Mona Lewis | Television film[31] |
| 2000 | Strip Mall | Doreen Krudup | Episode: "Burbank Bigfoot"[32] |
| 2006 | Grey's Anatomy | Sophie Larson | Episode: "Tell Me Sweet Little Lies"[16] |
| 2014 | Major Crimes | Marcella Brewster | Episode: "Frozen Assets"[33] |
| 2015, 2018 | Break a Hip | Pearl Goodfish | 3 episodes[34] |
Theatre
edit| Year | Play | Role | Venue | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | The Threepenny Opera | Mrs. Peacham | Off-Broadway, New York City | [10] |
| 1960 | Kismet | The Melody Tent, Pittsburgh | [7] | |
| 1961 | Parade | Performer | Hollywood Theatre Center, Los Angeles, CA | |
| 1961 | The Matchmaker | Dolly Levi | Dallas Theatre Center, Dallas, Texas and Tour of Texas | |
| 1965–1966 | Hello, Dolly! | Dolly Levi | Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney; Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne; His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland | [9] |
| 1964 | Stop the World – I Want to Get Off | Evie | [35] | |
| 1974, 1978 | Father's Day | Louise | Huntington Hartford Theatre, Los Angeles (1974); Total Theatre, Melbourne; Mayfair Theatre, Sydney | [36][37] |
| 1979–1980 | Romantic Comedy | Blanche Dailey | Broadway, New York | [8] |
| 1980–1984 | 42nd Street | Maggie Jones | Broadway; US Tour (1984), Tokyo, Japan | |
| 1981 | Patio/Porch | Pearl | Dallas, Texas with Tom Troupe | |
| 1982 | The Supporting Cast | Huntington Hartford Theatre, Los Angeles, Summer Tour Also with Barbara Rush and Sandy Dennis | [38] | |
| 1988–1989 | Steel Magnolias | Ouiser Boudreaux | Pasadena Playhouse, Pasadena; John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C. National Tour With Barbara Rush, June Lockhart, and Marion Ross | [39][40] |
| 1992; 2007 | Dress Up | Herself | Pasadena Playhouse, Pasadena (1992); New Conservatory Theatre Center, San Francisco (2007) | [41][42] |
| 1994 | The Lion in Winter | Eleanor | Pasadena Playhouse, Pasadena | [43] |
| 1995 | Ladies in Retirement | Leonora Fiske | Coconut Grove Playhouse, Miami | [44] |
| 1996 | Radio Gals | Hazel C. Hunt | John Houseman Theatre, New York | [45] |
| 1998 | Arsenic and Old Lace | Aunt Martha | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with Betty Garrett | |
| 2002 | Follies | Hattie Walker | Wadsworth Theatre, Los Angeles | [46] |
| 2006 | 70, Girls, 70 | Gert Appleby | New York City Center, New York | [7] |
References
edit- ^ a b "1940 Census". FamilySearch. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
- ^ a b "Mildred Frances Cook". FamilySearch. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
- ^ Knox, David (January 13, 2023). "Vale: Carole Cook". TV Tonight.
- ^ a b c d e f g Barnes, Mike (January 11, 2023). "Carole Cook, Lucille Ball Protégé and 'Sixteen Candles' Actress, Dies at 98". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Carole Cook". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on April 4, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "Carole Cook". TV Guide.
- ^ a b c "Carole Cook theatre profile". About the Artists. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
- ^ a b "Carole Cook – Broadway Cast & Staff". Internet Broadway Database. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
- ^ a b "Hello, Dolly! (Australian Production, 1965)". Ovrtur. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
- ^ a b Green, Stanley (2011). "The Threepenny Opera". Broadway Musicals: Show by Show. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 978-1-5578-3784-4.
- ^ "CAROLE COOK DIED FOR MY SINS COMES TO THE SKYLIGHT THEATER". LA Weekly.
- ^ Flood, Brian (September 10, 2018). "Hollywood grande dame Carole Cook goes after Trump". Fox News. Archived from the original on September 10, 2018. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
- ^ "A Very Sordid Wedding". TV Guide.
- ^ Clement, Olivia (May 1, 2020). "Musical Film Still Waiting in the Wings Sets Spring Release Date". Playbill. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
- ^ a b c Zee, Michaela (January 12, 2023). "Carole Cook, Actor and Lucille Ball Protégé, Dies at 98". Variety.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "Carole Cook". Rotten Tomatoes.
- ^ "The New Phil Silvers Show (1963)". The A.V. Club.
- ^ "Kentucky Jones (1964)". The A.V. Club.
- ^ "Sarge: Identity Crisis". TV Maze.
- ^ "McMillan And Wife series regulars and episode guide". Ultimate70s.
- ^ "McMillan and Wife: The Night of the Wizard (1972)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on October 22, 2018.
- ^ a b "Carole Cook". Turner Classic Movies.
- ^ "Ellery Queen Mysteries translate well in modern era". The Reminder. September 28, 2010.
- ^ "Carole Cook". LezWatch.TV.
- ^ a b "Carole Cook". Kinorium.
- ^ "CBS Children's Mystery Theatre (1980)". Video Detective. December 26, 1980.
- ^ Corry, John (April 19, 1983). "Tv: Now We're Cookin'". The New York Times.
- ^ "Daytime Soap Operas: Capitol Cast List". AlmostHuman99.
- ^ "Carole Cook, 'Sixteen Candles' star, has died at 98". Today. January 12, 2023.
- ^ "Carly's Web". TV Guide.
- ^ "Gloria Vane (1993)". The A.V. Club.
- ^ "Carole Cook (Creator)". TV Tropes.
- ^ "Marcella Brewster - Major Crimes". TV Maze.
- ^ "Carole Cook, Actor Who Appeared in Sixteen Candles and Grey's Anatomy, Dies at 98". Looper. January 11, 2023.
- ^ "Photo: 'Stop the World I Want to Get Off' cast". The Sacramento Bee. July 29, 1964. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 28, 2023 – via Center for Sacramento History.
Kenneth Nelson as Littlechap and Carole Cook, top, as Evie perform in "Stop the World - I Want to Get Off." Assisting them are Eleen Diamond and Sandra Nitz in Pierette costumes.
- ^ "Calendar: Theater — 'Father's Day'". The San Bernardino Sun. July 21, 1974. Archived from the original on January 13, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
- ^ "Carole Cook". AusStage. Archived from the original on January 13, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
- ^ "Special Collections Registry". Ohio State University Library. Retrieved March 3, 2020.[failed verification]
- ^ Arkatov, Janice (September 27, 1988). "'Magnolias'--a Celebration of Women". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
- ^ Richards, David (February 24, 1989). "'STEEL MAGNOLIAS' GRIT WITH A GRIN". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
- ^ Koehler, Robert (April 10, 1992). "STAGE REVIEWS : Carole Cook Reveals Her Life in 'Dress Up'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
- ^ "Carole Cook in Dress Up (Closed December 09, 2007) | San Francisco | reviews, cast and info | TheaterMania". TheaterMania. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
- ^ Hilsman, Hoyt (November 15, 1994). "The Lion in Winter". Variety. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
- ^ Gordon, Pamela (November 30, 1995). "Gonna Take a Miracle". Miami New Times. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
- ^ "Carole Cook". Internet Off-Broadway Database. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
- ^ Hirschhorn, Joel (June 17, 2002). "Follies". Variety. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
External links
edit- Carole Cook at IMDb
- Carole Cook at the Internet Broadway Database
- Carole Cook at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- Carole Cook discography at Discogs