Mary McCarty (actress)

Mary McCarty (September 27, 1923[1] - April 3, 1980) was an American actress, singer, dancer, and comedian perhaps best known for her role as a nurse on the television series Trapper John, M.D.

Mary McCarty
Born(1923-09-27)September 27, 1923
Winfield, Kansas, U.S.
DiedApril 3, 1980(1980-04-03) (aged 56)
West Los Angeles, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationActress
singer
dancer
comedienne

Early years

McCarty was born in Winfield, Kansas,[1] but grew up in Los Angeles after her parents divorced and she and her mother went to live with her great-grandmother.[2]

Career

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."[3]

McCarty began appearing in musical revues in Los Angeles when she was 5 years old.[4] As a youngster, she performed with other child actresses, including Shirley Temple and Jane Withers.[5] Her first screen credit came in Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm.[6] By 1934 she had appeared in approximately 75 films.[7] Her films as an adult included The French Line (1953),[8] All That Jazz (1979), and Somebody Killed Her Husband (1978).[9]

In the era of old-time radio, McCarty starred in the comedy The Redhead (1952),[10] and she was a regular on the variety show This Is Broadway (1949).[10]:332 On television, in addition to portraying nurse Clara Willoughby on Trapper John, M.D. (1979),[11]:1104 McCarty was a regular on the variety series Admiral Broadway Revue (1949)[11] and The Arthur Murray Party (1950).[11]: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.[8]

She performed in stage revues as a child. At age 10 she sang in six languages and was "quite an accomplished dancer as well."[7] As an adult, she performed in night clubs, including the Mocambo in West Hollywood, California,[6] the Chase Club in St. Louis, Missouri,[8] and the Flamingo in Las Vegas, Nevada.[12]

McCarty's other professional activities included choreographing a production of Man of La Mancha in Israel and teaching at the Herbert Berghof Studio.[13]

Death

On April 3, 1980, a friend found McCarty dead on the floor of her home in West Los Angeles. She was 56.[4] The cause of death remained undetermined after an autopsy, with results of a toxicology awaited.[14]

Recognition

In 1977, McCarty was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her work in Anna Christie.[15]

References
  1. "("Mary McCarty" search results)". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  2. Kleiner, Dick (March 21, 1980). "Trapper John gets a nurse who can carry a tune". Austin American-Statesman. Texas, Austin. p. E 6. Retrieved 15 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Small Wonder" (PDF). Billboard. September 11, 1948. p. 47. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  4. "Actress Mary McCarty dies". Detroit Free Press. Michigan, Detroit. Associated Press. April 6, 1980. p. 13 F. Retrieved 15 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Carr, Georgia (December 26, 1948). "The Main Stem". The Atlanta Constitution. Georgia, Atlanta. p. 5-D. Retrieved 15 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. Parsons, Louella O. (September 26, 1953). "Mary McCarty Big Hit As Singing Comedienne". The Ottawa Citizen. Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. p. 35. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  7. "Clever Kiddie Deserts Screen for Stage at the Paramount Theatre". Hollywood Filmograph. 14 (32). August 18, 1934. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  8. "Mary McCarty to Star in Muny's 'Panama Hattie'". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Missouri, St. Louis. May 2, 1954. p. 86. Retrieved 15 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Character actress Mary McCarty, 56". The Boston Globe. Massachusetts, Boston. April 6, 1980. p. 67. Retrieved 16 July 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. "What Hollywood itself is talking about". Screenland Plus TV-Land. 57 (9): 8. July 1953. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  13. Burke, Tom (May 15, 1977). "Mary McCarty —The Quintessential Character Actress?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  14. "Autopsy fails to solve Actress' death cause". The Decatur Herald. Illinois, Decatur. Associated Press. April 6, 1980. p. 28. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
  15. "("Mary McCarty" search results)". Tony Awards. Tony Award Productions. Archived from the original on 15 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
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