| Shirley Mitchell | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 4, 1919 Toledo, Ohio, U.S. |
| Spouse |
Julian Frieden Jay Livingston (1992-2001; his death) |
Shirley Mitchell (born November 4, 1919) is an American film and television actress.
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Mitchell was born in Toledo, Ohio and attended the University of Toledo and the University of Michigan.
After moving to Chicago, she appeared in the network broadcast of The First Nighter and played small parts in various soap operas including The Story of Mary Marlin and The Road of Life.
After moving to Los Angeles, she played opposite Joan Davis in The Sealtest Village Store. She also starred as Louella in The Life of Riley and joined the cast of Fibber McGee and Molly as Alice Darling in 1943. Her most prominent radio role was that of the charismatic Southern belle Leila Ransom on The Great Gildersleeve radio show beginning in September 1942.
In 1953, Shirley joined the cast of I Love Lucy playing the part of Lucy Ricardo's friend Marion Strong. As of 2011, she is one of two recurring cast members still living (the other is Doris Singleton, who played Caroline Appleby). A third cast member, Peggy Rea, who played a regular clubwoman/card player died on February 5, 2011 at age 89.
In 1962, she played Mrs. Colton on the CBS-TV comedy series Pete and Gladys, and between 1965–1967, she appeared as neighbor Marge Thornton on NBC-TVs Please Don't Eat the Daisies. In the same year she appeared in Episode 13, Season 2 of The Dick Van Dyke Show when she played Shirley Rogers opposite Bob Crane as Harry Rogers in Somebody Has to Play Cleopatra.
In 1963, she appeared on the television program The Beverly Hillbillies as Opal Clampett (the wife of Jake Clampett, an out-of-work actor).
In 1966, she appeared in Green Acres as a nurse and as Oliver's old friend Wanda.
In 1968, she appeared in the Season 1 finale of The Doris Day Show as Mrs. Loomis, a woman who accuses Billy of stealing $5.00 from her purse after she dropped it. Between 1967 and 1968, she portrayed Kate Bradley's cousin Mae on Petticoat Junction.
In 1972, she was the voice of Laurie Holiday on the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series, The Roman Holidays.
In 1992, she married songwriter Jay Livingston and the two remained married until his death in 2001. She was previously married to Julian Frieden with whom she had two children.
In 2007, she appeared at the 5th Annual TV Land Awards where Lucille Ball was posthumously awarded the 'Legacy of Laughter' award.