Marion Lorne(1883-1968)
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Forever embraced as the mumbling, bumbling Aunt Clara on the
Bewitched (1964) television series,
endearing character actress Marion Lorne had a five-decade-long career
on the stage before ever becoming a familiar TV household name.
Born Marion Lorne MacDougall on August 12, 1883 (other sources list
1885 and 1888), she grew up in her native Pennsylvania, the daughter of
Scottish and English immigrants. Trained at the American Academy of
Dramatic Arts in New York, she appeared in stock shows, and was on the
Broadway boards by 1905. She married English playwright
Walter C. Hackett and performed in
many of his plays throughout the 1920s and 1930s, including "Hyde Park
Corner" and "The Gay Adventure". They at one point settled in England
where they co-founded the Whitehall Theater. It was there that Marion
began to sharpen and patent her fidgety comedy eccentrics in such plays
as "Pansy's Arabian Knight," "Sorry You've Been Troubled," "Espionage"
and "London After Dark". Upon Hackett's death in 1944, she returned to
the States and again, after a brief retirement, became a hit in such
tailor-made stage shows as "Harvey".
Marion made a definitive impression via her movie debut at age 60+ in
Alfred Hitchcock's immortal
suspenser
Strangers on a Train (1951)
as murderer Robert Walker's
clueless, smothering mother. Surprisingly Hollywood used her only a
couple more times on film after that auspicious beginning -- a
grievously sad waste of a supremely talented comedienne. Marion wisely
turned to TV instead and proved a dithery delight in such sitcoms as
Mister Peepers (1952) and
Sally (1957), gaining quirky status as
well as part of the comedy ensemble on
The Garry Moore Show (1958).
It was, however, her role as
Elizabeth Montgomery's
befuddled, muttering, doorknob-collecting witch-aunt on
Bewitched (1964) -- whether
bouncing into walls or conjuring up some unintended piece of witchcraft
-- that put a lasting sheen on her long career. For that role she
deservedly won an Emmy trophy for "Best Supporting Actress" --
albeit posthumously. Montgomery accepted her award. Sadly, Marion succumbed to a heart attack on May
9, 1968, just ten days before the actual ceremony.
Elizabeth Montgomery gave a
touching acceptance speech on her behalf.
Bewitched (1964) television series,
endearing character actress Marion Lorne had a five-decade-long career
on the stage before ever becoming a familiar TV household name.
Born Marion Lorne MacDougall on August 12, 1883 (other sources list
1885 and 1888), she grew up in her native Pennsylvania, the daughter of
Scottish and English immigrants. Trained at the American Academy of
Dramatic Arts in New York, she appeared in stock shows, and was on the
Broadway boards by 1905. She married English playwright
Walter C. Hackett and performed in
many of his plays throughout the 1920s and 1930s, including "Hyde Park
Corner" and "The Gay Adventure". They at one point settled in England
where they co-founded the Whitehall Theater. It was there that Marion
began to sharpen and patent her fidgety comedy eccentrics in such plays
as "Pansy's Arabian Knight," "Sorry You've Been Troubled," "Espionage"
and "London After Dark". Upon Hackett's death in 1944, she returned to
the States and again, after a brief retirement, became a hit in such
tailor-made stage shows as "Harvey".
Marion made a definitive impression via her movie debut at age 60+ in
Alfred Hitchcock's immortal
suspenser
Strangers on a Train (1951)
as murderer Robert Walker's
clueless, smothering mother. Surprisingly Hollywood used her only a
couple more times on film after that auspicious beginning -- a
grievously sad waste of a supremely talented comedienne. Marion wisely
turned to TV instead and proved a dithery delight in such sitcoms as
Mister Peepers (1952) and
Sally (1957), gaining quirky status as
well as part of the comedy ensemble on
The Garry Moore Show (1958).
It was, however, her role as
Elizabeth Montgomery's
befuddled, muttering, doorknob-collecting witch-aunt on
Bewitched (1964) -- whether
bouncing into walls or conjuring up some unintended piece of witchcraft
-- that put a lasting sheen on her long career. For that role she
deservedly won an Emmy trophy for "Best Supporting Actress" --
albeit posthumously. Montgomery accepted her award. Sadly, Marion succumbed to a heart attack on May
9, 1968, just ten days before the actual ceremony.
Elizabeth Montgomery gave a
touching acceptance speech on her behalf.