Marjorie Lord
Lord in The Middleton Family at the New York World's Fair
Born
Marjorie Wollenberg

(1918-07-26)July 26, 1918
San Francisco, California, U.S.
DiedNovember 28, 2015(2015-11-28) (aged 97)
Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1935–2008
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1941; div. 1955)​
    Randolph Hale
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1958; died 1974)​
      ​
      ​
      (m. 1976; died 2000)​
      Children2, including Anne Archer
      RelativesTommy Davis (grandson)

      Marjorie Lord (née Wollenberg; July 26, 1918 – November 28, 2015) was an American television and film actress. She played Kathy "Clancy" O'Hara Williams, opposite Danny Thomas's character on The Danny Thomas Show (Make Room for Daddy).

      Early years

      Lord was born in San Francisco, California, the daughter of Lillian Rosalie (née Edgar) and George Charles Wollenberg.[1] During her early childhood, she was a ballet dancer.[2] Her father was a cosmetics executive.[3] Her paternal grandparents were German, as were two of her maternal great-grandparents. Her family moved to New York City when she was 15.

      Career

      Stage

      In 1935, at the age of 16, Lord made her Broadway debut in The Old Maid with Judith Anderson. Her other Broadway appearances came in Signature (1945), Little Brown Jug (1946), and The Girl in the Freudian Slip (1967).[4]

      Although most of Lord's success came in television, she said in 1963: "I am primarily a stage actress. That's what I was trained to do and that's my first love."[5]

      In the 1970s, Lord was active in dinner theater productions, spending 34 weeks in such presentations in 1973 alone.[6]

      Film

      One film reference book summarized Lord's movie career by saying, "For two decades, she played leading roles in mostly routine films ..."[7]

      Lord was signed by RKO Radio Pictures in 1935. While appearing in Springtime for Henry with Edward Everett Horton, director Henry Koster approached her and signed her to a contract with Universal Studios. She appeared in six feature films and a film serial The Adventures of Smilin' Jack for Universal. Her film work includes a number of wartime pictures, including the 1943 mystery Sherlock Holmes in Washington, starring Basil Rathbone in the title role. She also appeared in the Western films Masked Raiders, Mexican Manhunt, and Down Laredo Way. In 1966, she played Mrs. Martha Meade, the wife of Bob Hope's character, in the screwball comedy Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number!.

      Marjorie Lord with Danny Thomas, 1957

      Television

      Lord appeared in a 1950 episode of The Lone Ranger titled "Bullets for Ballots", also featuring Craig Stevens, and a 1955 episode entitled "The Law Lady". She appeared on the 1951 episode "The Return of Trigger Dawson" of Bill Williams's syndicated western television series The Adventures of Kit Carson and the 1954 production of "Shadow of Truth" on Ford Theatre.[8]

      In 1956, while she was appearing in Anniversary Waltz, Lord caught the attention of Danny Thomas, who asked her to replace Jean Hagen as his television wife on Make Room for Daddy. Hagen had played Thomas' wife since the series' inception, but she was written out of the script in 1956. Lord accepted the role and joined the cast of the show, now called The Danny Thomas Show. She played the role until the show was cancelled in 1964. In 1970, Lord and Thomas, along with several other original supporting actors, returned to television with Make Room for Granddaddy. The show lasted just one season.

      Later years

      Lord remained active beyond her 90th birthday. On May 8, 2008, she participated in a "Salute to Television Moms" panel discussion organized by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

      Recognition

      Lord has a star in the television section of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 6317 Hollywood Boulevard. The star was dedicated on February 8, 1960.[9]

      Personal life

      Lord was married three times. She wed actor John Archer on December 30, 1941,[10] and they had two children, including actress Anne Archer.[11] They were married from 1941 until their divorce in 1955. Her second husband was producer Randolph Hale,[12] to whom she was married from 1958 until his death in 1974. Her third husband was Harry Volk, the former CEO of Union Bank and a Los Angeles philanthropist, to whom she was married from 1976 until his death in 2000.[13] Her memoir is entitled A Dance and a Hug.[14] Lord is grandmother of Tommy Davis, son of her daughter Anne, both of whom are noted members of the Church of Scientology.[15]

      Death

      Lord died on November 28, 2015, aged 97, at her home in Beverly Hills, California of natural causes.[16] She is survived by her daughter Anne Archer,[3] her son, Gregg Archer, grandchildren Tommy Davis, Jeffrey Jastrow, Tracey McCarter, Adelle Archer, and Nathan Archer, and three great-grandchildren.[2] Upon her death, she was cremated and her ashes given to her son, Gregg Archer.[17]

      Filmography

      Film

      Year Title Role Notes Ref
      1937 High Flyers Arlene Arlington Musical comedy film directed by Edward F. Cline
      On Again-Off Again Florence Cole Musical comedy film directed by Edward F. Cline
      Forty Naughty Girls June Preston American comedy directed by Edward F. Cline
      Hideaway Joan Peterson Comedy film directed by Richard Rosson
      Border Café Janet Barry Western film directed by Lew Landers
      1939 The Middleton Family at the New York World's Fair Babs Directed by Robert R. Snody
      1942 Escape from Hong Kong Valerie Hale and Fraulein K American comedy film directed by William Nigh [18]
      Moonlight in Havana Patsy Clark American romantic comedy film directed by Anthony Mann
      1943 Johnny Come Lately Jane Drama film directed by William K. Howard
      Sherlock Holmes in Washington Nancy Partridge
      Shantytown Virginia Allen Crime film directed by Joseph Santley
      Hi, Buddy Mary Parker
      The Adventures of Smilin' Jack Janet Thompson Serial based on comic strip directed by Lewis D. Collins and Ray Taylor
      1947 New Orleans Grace Volcella Musical romance film directed by Arthur Lubin
      1948 The Strange Mrs. Crane Gina Crane, alias of Jennie Hadley Crime film-noir film directed by Sam Newfield
      The Argyle Secrets Marta Mystery romance directed by Cy Endfield
      1949 Masked Raiders Gale Trevett aka Diablo Kid Western directed by Lesley Selander
      Air Hostess Jennifer White Action drama directed by Lew Landers
      1950 Chain Gang Rita McKelvey American drama film directed by Lew Landers and written by Howard J. Green. [19][20][21]
      The Lost Volcano Ruth Gordon Adventure film directed by Ford Beebe
      Riding High Mary Winslow Musical film directed by Frank Capra
      1951 Stop That Cab Mary Thomas Comedy, crime film directed by Eugenio de Liguoro
      Venture of Faith Drama directed by Frank R. Strayer
      1953 Mexican Manhunt Sheila Barton American crime film directed by Rex Bailey
      Down Laredo Way Valerie American western film directed by William Witney
      1954 Port of Hell Kay Walker Drama directed by Harold D. Schuster
      1966 Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number! Mrs. Martha Meade American comedy film directed by George Marshall [22]

      Television

      Year Title Role Notes Ref
      1949 Your Show Time Episode: "The Real Thing" (S 1:Ep 8)
      1950 The Lone Ranger Kitty McQueen Episode: "Bullets for Ballots" (S 1:Ep 35)
      1951 Hollywood Opening Night Episode: "Hand on My Shoulder" (S 1:Ep 9)
      1952 Fireside Theatre Sue Brown Episode: "Brown of Calaveras" (S 4:Ep 33)
      Gwen Episode: "Mirage" (S 4:Ep 41)
      China Smith Ruth Cotton Episode: "Devil-In-The-Godown" (S 1:Ep 6)
      Fireside Theatre Catherine Episode: "Visit from a Stranger" (S 5:Ep 5)
      Ford Theatre: All Star Theatre Episode: "Edge of the Law" (S 1:Ep 6)
      1953 Fireside Theatre Episode: "The Return" (S 5: 19)
      Schlitz Playhouse of Stars Episodew: "The Devil's Other Name" (S 2:Ep 25)
      Ford Theatre: All Star Theatre Episode: "The Jewel" (S 1:Ep 35)
      Hallmark Hall of Fame Sarah McCoy Episode: "McCoy of Abilene" (S 3:Ep 4)
      Ramar of the Jungle Lylia Webley Episode: "Call to Danger" (S 2:Ep 6)
      1954 Episode: "Blind Peril" (S 2:Ep 12)
      Four Star Playhouse Bessie Episode: "Operation In Money" (S 2:Ep 25)
      General Electric Theater Millie Episode: "That Other Sunlight" (S 2:Ep 17)
      Schlitz Playhouse of Stars Episode: "Her Kind of Honor" (S 3:Ep 29)
      Hopalong Cassidy Adele Keller Episode: "Tricky Fingers" (S 2:Ep 26)
      Fireside Theatre Episode: "Trial Period" (S 6:Ep 35)
      Cavalcade of America Mrs. Field Episode: "The Great Gamble" (S 3:Ep 2)
      The Lone Wolf Lori Race Episode: "The Malibu Story (a.k.a. Malibu-Laguna)" (S 1:Ep 9)
      Ford Theatre: All Star Theatre Liz Episode: "Shadow of Truth" (S 3:Ep 3)
      Climax! Episode: "Epitaph For a Spy" (S 1:Ep 8)
      1955 Cavalcade of America Lee Powell Coleman Episode: "Take Off Zero" (S 3:Ep 14)
      Episode: "Decision For Justice" (S 3:Ep 15)
      The Lone Ranger Clare Lee Episode: "The Law Lady" (S 4:Ep 25)
      Henry Fonda Presents the Star and the Story Joan Episode: "Newspaper Man" (S 1:Ep 19)
      Loretta Young Show Miss Cook Episode: "A Shadow Between" (S 3:Ep 16)
      1956 TV Reader's Digest Epispde: "Lost, Strayed, and Lonely" (S 2:Ep 21)
      Wire Service Phyllis Holley Episode: "Hideout" (S 1:Ep 3)
      1957 Zane Grey Theater Amy Marr
      • Episode: "Decision At Wilson's Creek" (S 1:Ep 28)
      • Rerun as Frontier Justice (S 1:Ep 6) in 1958 with the same episode title
      Wagon Train Mary Palmer Episode: "The Willy Moran Story (Pilot)" (S 1:Ep 1)
      1957–64 The Danny Thomas Show Kathy 'Clancey' O'Hara Williams Main cast
      1958 The Ed Sullivan Show Kathy Williams Episode: "September 21, 1958: CBS's Stars of the 1958–59 TV season" (S 11:Ep 2)
      Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse Kathy Williams
      1961 The Joey Bishop Show Kathy Williams
      1967 The Danny Thomas Hour Kathy Williams Episode: "Make More Room for Daddy" (S 1:Ep 9)
      1969 Love, American Style Episode: "Love and the Single Couple" (S 1:Ep 13)
      1970–71 Make Room for Granddaddy Kathy Williams
      1975 The Missing Are Deadly Mrs. Robertson Television movie directed by Don McDougall
      1978 Fantasy Island Beth Shane Episode: "Family Reunion / Voodoo" (S 1:Ep 4)
      The Pirate Mrs. Mason
      		[23][24]
      1980 The Love Boat Martha Rogers Episode: "April's Love/Happy Ending/We Three" (S 3:Ep 17)
      1987 Sweet Surrender Joyce Holden
      • Main cast
      • Short-lived American sitcom
      1988 Side by Side Mrs. Hammerstein Television movie directed by Jack Bender

      Stage

      Year Title Role Theatre Notes Ref
      1935 The Old Maid Tina Broadway Replacement performer [4]
      1945 Signature Nora Davisson Original performer [4]
      1946 Little Brown Jug Carol Barlow [4]
      1967 The Girl in the Freudian Slip Paula Maugham [4]

      Bibliography

      References

      1. ↑ (via: Google Books)"Who's who in Entertainment, Volume 1". 1989. ISBN 9780837918501. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
      2. 1 2 Leovy, Jill (December 11, 2015). "Marjorie Lord dies at 97; actress, L.A. philanthropi". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
      3. 1 2 Mike Barnes (December 11, 2015). "Marjorie Lord, Sitcom Wife of Danny Thomas, Dies at 97". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
      4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Marjorie Lord". Playbill Vault. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
      5. ↑ "No More Wife Roles For Marjorie Lord". Standard-Speaker. November 19, 1963. p. 19. Retrieved September 25, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
      6. ↑ Mikal, Deron (June 16, 1974). "Marjorie Lord And Mark Miller Delight Country Dinner Playhouse Audiences". The Times Recorder. p. 8. Retrieved September 25, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
      7. ↑ Aylesworth, Thomas G. and Bowman, John S. (1987). The World Almanac Who's Who of Film. World Almanac. ISBN 0-88687-308-8. P. 268.
      8. ↑ Vernon, Terry (October 14, 1954). "Tele-Vues". Long Beach Independent. p. 31. Retrieved September 25, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
      9. ↑ "Marjorie Lord profile". Hollywood Walk of Fame. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
      10. ↑ "Marriages". Billboard. January 17, 1942. p. 29. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
      11. ↑ Slotnik, Daniel E. (December 12, 2015). "Marjorie Lord, Actress on 'The Danny Thomas Show,' Dies at 97". New York Times. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
      12. ↑ Lowry, Cynthia (November 17, 1963). "Professional Bigamy". The Corpus Christi Caller-Times. p. 69. Retrieved September 25, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
      13. ↑ Deutsch, Claudia (May 18, 2000). "Harry J. Volk, 94, a Bank Executive Known for Innovations". New York Times. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
      14. ↑ "A Dance and a Hug". marjorielord.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2015.
      15. ↑ "SCIENTOLOGY'S TOP 20 CELEBRITIES — in order of those most likely to defect". The Underground Bunker. September 26, 2016. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
      16. ↑ "Marjorie Lord, 'Danny Thomas Show' Star and L.A. Philanthropist, Dies at 97". Variety. December 11, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
      17. ↑ Wilson, Scott (August 19, 2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed. ISBN 9781476625997.
      18. ↑ "Escape From Hong Kong". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. AFI. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
      19. ↑ American Cinematographer. ASC Holding Corporation. 1949.
      20. ↑ Bowker (May 1, 1989). Variety's Film Reviews: 1949–1953. Bowker. ISBN 978-0-8352-2786-5.
      21. ↑ James Robert Parish (1991). Prison Pictures from Hollywood: Plots, Critiques, Casts and Credits for 293 Theatrical and Made-For-Television Releases. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-89950-563-3.
      22. ↑ Martin, Betty (August 11, 1965). "MOVIE CALL SHEET: Train Wreck Derails Film". Los Angeles Times. p. d12.
      23. ↑ (via Google news) Howard Pearson (September 21, 1978). "Franco Nero In Pirate Mini-series". Deseret News. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
      24. ↑ {via pqarchiver} "Confessions of a Blue-Eyed Arab". Los Angeles Times. August 10, 1978. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
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