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Mary McCarty (actress)

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Mary McCarty
Born(1923-09-27)September 27, 1923[1]
Winfield, Kansas, U.S.
DiedApril 3, 1980(1980-04-03) (aged 56)
West Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
  • dancer
  • comedienne
Years active1930–1980
PartnerMargaret Lindsay[2]

Mary McCarty (September 27, 1923 – April 3, 1980) was an American actress, singer, dancer, and comedian, perhaps best known for her role as nurse Clara "Starch" Willoughby on the television series Trapper John, M.D.

Early years

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McCarty was born in Winfield, Kansas in September 1923,[1] but grew up in Los Angeles after her parents divorced and she and her mother went to live with her great-grandmother.[3]

Career

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McCarty's versatility as a performer was highlighted in a review in the September 11, 1948, issue of the trade publication Billboard. Reviewer Bill Riley described McCarty as "a versatile, pretty young Ethel Merman-to-be, who can sing a novelty or a torch song, dance a turn ... or act a sketch with the best of them."[4]

McCarty began appearing in musical revues in Los Angeles when she was 5 years old.[5] As a youngster, she performed with other child actresses, including Shirley Temple and Jane Withers.[6] Her first screen credit came in Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm.[7] By 1934, she had appeared in approximately 75 films.[8] Her films as an adult included The French Line (1953),[9] All That Jazz (1979), and Somebody Killed Her Husband (1978).[10]

In the era of old-time radio, McCarty starred in the comedy The Redhead (1952),[11] and she was a regular on the variety show This Is Broadway (1949).[11]: 332  On television, in addition to portraying nurse Clara Willoughby on Trapper John, M.D. (1979),[12]: 1104  McCarty was a regular on the variety series Admiral Broadway Revue (1949)[12] and The Arthur Murray Party (1950).[12]: 59  (1950).

McCarty's Broadway credits included Anna Christie (1977), Chicago (1975), Irene (1973), Follies (1971), A Rainy Day in Newark (1963), Bless You All (1950), Miss Liberty (1949), Small Wonder (1948), and Sleepy Hollow (1938).[1] She replaced Ethel Merman as the star of the national touring company of Gypsy. Her appearances in regional theatrical productions included Panama Hattie in St. Louis, Missouri.[9]

She performed in stage revues as a child. At age 10, she sang in six languages and was "quite an accomplished dancer as well."[8] As an adult, she performed in night clubs, including the Mocambo in West Hollywood, California,[7] the Chase Club in St. Louis, Missouri,[9] and the Flamingo in Las Vegas, Nevada.[13]

McCarty's other professional activities included choreographing a production of Man of La Mancha in Israel and teaching at the Herbert Berghof Studio.[14]

Personal life

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McCarty never married. According to biographer and historian William J. Mann, McCarty was the life partner of actress Margaret Lindsay.[2]

On April 3, 1980, Lindsay found McCarty dead on the floor of her home in West Los Angeles. She was 56.[5] The cause of death remained undetermined after an autopsy, with results of a toxicology awaited.[15]

Recognition

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In 1977, McCarty was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her work in Anna Christie.[16] After her death, her character on Trapper John, M.D. was written off and the experienced older nurse role was replaced with Madge Sinclair as Nurse Ernestine Shoop.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "("Mary McCarty" search results)". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on July 15, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Mann, William J. (2001). Behind the Screen: How Gays and Lesbians Shaped Hollywood, 1910-1969. New York City: Viking Press. p. 137. ISBN 0670030171.
  3. ^ Kleiner, Dick (March 21, 1980). "Trapper John gets a nurse who can carry a tune". Austin American-Statesman. Texas, Austin. p. E 6. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Small Wonder" (PDF). Billboard. September 11, 1948. p. 47. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Actress Mary McCarty dies". Detroit Free Press. Michigan, Detroit. Associated Press. April 6, 1980. p. 13 F. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Carr, Georgia (December 26, 1948). "The Main Stem". The Atlanta Constitution. Georgia, Atlanta. p. 5-D. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b Parsons, Louella O. (September 26, 1953). "Mary McCarty Big Hit As Singing Comedienne". The Ottawa Citizen. Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. p. 35. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  8. ^ a b "Clever Kiddie Deserts Screen for Stage at the Paramount Theatre". Hollywood Filmograph. 14 (32). August 18, 1934. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  9. ^ a b c "Mary McCarty to Star in Muny's 'Panama Hattie'". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Missouri, St. Louis. May 2, 1954. p. 86. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Character actress Mary McCarty, 56". The Boston Globe. Massachusetts, Boston. April 6, 1980. p. 67. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 282. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4.
  12. ^ a b c Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 10. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  13. ^ "What Hollywood itself is talking about". Screenland Plus TV-Land. 57 (9): 8. July 1953. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  14. ^ Burke, Tom (May 15, 1977). "Mary McCarty —The Quintessential Character Actress?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  15. ^ "Autopsy fails to solve Actress' death cause". The Decatur Herald. Illinois, Decatur. Associated Press. April 6, 1980. p. 28. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  16. ^ "("Mary McCarty" search results)". Tony Awards. Tony Award Productions. Archived from the original on July 15, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
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