Minerva Urecal

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Minerva Urecal (September 22, 1894 – February 26, 1966) was an American actor whose birth name was Minerva Holzer.

Originally a radio and stage performer, Urecal (who took her professional name from her hometown of Eureka, California) made her film debut in 1933. Moviegoers could easily mistake her for Marie Dressler or Marjorie Main as she played largely uncredited roles, such as secretaries, laundresses and frontierswomen.

When Urecal began working in television in the 1950s, she favored westerns, making guest appearances on My Friend Flicka, The Range Rider and other series. In 1957, Urecal had her only starring TV role, on The Adventures of Tugboat Annie, playing the role originated by Marie Dressler in Tugboat Annie (1932) and continued by Marjorie Rambeau and Jane Darwell in two movie sequels. For the 1959-1960 season, she took over the role of "Mother" on Peter Gunn. Never married, she died from a heart attack in Glendale, California at age 71.