Mary Lou Metzger

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Mary Lou Metzger (born November 13, 1950 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American singer and dancer best known for being a cast member on The Lawrence Welk Show.

The only child of Ernie and Helen Metzger, the family moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where at the age of seven Metzger officially began her performing career which included appearances on The Ted Mack Amateur Hour and acting in a role for the traveling production of The Music Man by Meredith Willson.

While a student Temple University, she went out to Los Angeles, California to appear on the television program GE College Bowl, and it was there that she went out to audition for Lawrence Welk, in which she was hired in the show's apprentice training program.

During her twelve years on the show, she sang as part of a female trio with fellow Welk stars Gail Farrell and Sandi Griffiths, various group numbers, and song-and-dance numbers with Jack Imel, plus she also danced with the maestro himself at the end of each show. She was the most popular among this trio and endeared herself to the viewing audience by her trademark big smile which she always put on during her numbers. To this day, Mary Lou's constant smile is her most famous attribute.

After the show ended its regular run on television, she continued to pursue acting, which included commercials, and small parts on both the small and the big screen such as Garry Marshall's 1999 release The Other Sister. She also co-founded the Actors' Conservatory Ensemble theater group in 1990.

Metzger continues to perform with Welk alumni on concert tours, and regularly appears on pledge drives for PBS which now airs The Lawrence Welk Show in several markets. Recently, she now hosts wraparounds of the show featuring interviews with members of the Musical Family, conducted by Metzger herself.

She is married to Richard Maloof, who played double bass and tuba on the Welk show. They make their home in Sherman Oaks, California.

Metzger is left-handed.