Curtain time in Forest Park : a narrative of the St. Louis Municipal Opera, 1919-1958, Madcaps, Screwballs and Con Women: the female trickster in American culture, Performing Arts Resources in Special Collections. Her parents were theater buffs, and took her to plays from the time that she could stay awake through a matinee. She was known for being a Movie Actress. She began acting in films in the late 1930s and was a member of the Orson Welles troupe on his radio drama The Mercury Theatre on the Air; she also appeared in Welles's film Too Much Johnson (1938). Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. In the show she also understudied The Wizard of Oz (1939)'s "Wicked Witch" Margaret Hamilton, and earned excellent reviews when she went on in the part. She started her acting career with a cameo role in the 1935 short film, Watch the Birdie. After graduating in 1930, Wickes attended Hadley Vocational School in St Louis from 1930-31, to learn stenography. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. In 1964, she appeared as Ida Goff in five episodes of the series Temple Houston, with Jeffrey Hunter as a historical figure, the frontier lawyer Temple Lea Houston, youngest son of Sam Houston. She was also a regular on the Sid and Marty Krofft children's television show Sigmund and the Sea Monsters and the sitcom Doc. Mary debuted on Broadway with Marc Connellys The Farmer Takes a Wife in 1934. Mary Wickes, 85, Character Actress for 50 Years - New York Times Biography. She also appeared in a variety of Broadway shows, including a 1979 revival of Oklahoma! While she was thinking to pursue law for further studies, one of her favourite professors suggested her to try theatre. She originally intended to become a lawyer. as Aunt Eller, for which she received rave reviews. In the 70s, she appeared in movies named Snowball Express (1972) and Napoleon and Samantha (1972). From the grand old school of wisecracking, loud and lanky Mary Wickes had few peers while forging a career as a salty scene-stealer. She reprised the role in the sequel 'Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit.' abrupt, tell-it-like-it-is demeanor made her a consistent audience favorite on every medium for over six decades. Her last movie was the Disney animation The Hunchback of Notre Dame which was released after her death, in 1996. Mary Wickes at the Internet Broadway Database, Washington University Library Site - Papers of Mary Wickes, Wickes' Entry on the St. Louis Walk of Fame. She was a lifelong Republican and a solid supporter of Ronald Reagan especially. Elsewhere, she traded quips with Lou Costello as a murder suspect in the amusing whodunit Who Done It? Mary Wickes List of Movies and TV Shows - TV Guide Wickes was also a comedian. Mary Wickes (1910-1995) - Find a Grave Memorial Mary originated the role of "Mary Poppins" on CBS-TV in 1949. Please reset your password. Bette Davis, Abbott and Costello, Doris Day, Lucille Ball, and Bing Crosby were just a few of her colleagues. Wickes and Lucille Ball were neighbors, good friends, and occasional costars for decades until Ball's death in 1989. [9] She also appeared in a variety of Broadway shows, including a 1979 revival of Oklahoma! as Aunt Eller, for which she received rave reviews. Hospitalized in 1995, Wickes died after cancer surgery. She appeared in Postcards from the Edge (1990) as Meryl Streep's grandmother, and in Little Women (1994) as the matriarchal Aunt March. In 1981 she taught seminar at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, VA.