| Birth name | Mildred Frances Cook |
|---|---|
| Birth date | January 14, 1924[1][2] |
| Birth place | Abilene, Texas, U.S. |
| Death date | January 11, 2023 (aged 98) |
| Death place | Beverly Hills, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1954–2018 |
| Spouse | Tom Troupe (m. 1964) |
Mildred Frances Cook (January 14, 1924 – January 11, 2023), known professionally as Carole Cook, was an American actress, active on screen and stage, best known for appearances on Lucille Ball's comedy television series The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy.
Her best known film roles include The Incredible Mr. Limpet, American Gigolo and Sixteen Candles.[3]
Biography
Early life
Mildred Frances Cook was born on January 14, 1924, in Abilene, Texas, one of four children of Leland Preston (L.P.) Cook Sr. and his wife, Maudine.[1][2] She studied Greek drama at Baylor University.[4] After graduating in 1945, she worked in regional theater.[4] By 1954, she had moved to New York, where she made her theatrical debut.[4]
Lucille Ball, having recently seen her success in a stage production of Annie Get Your Gun, invited her to work for her production company Desilu Studios and changed her stage name to Carole, after her favourite actress Carole Lombard.[4]
Film and television
She appeared in such feature films as The Incredible Mr. Limpet, American Gigolo, Sixteen Candles, The Gauntlet, Grandview, U.S.A., Summer Lovers, and Palm Springs Weekend.[5][6]
Her appearance in "The Gauntlet" was a small role near the beginning as a sassy waitress who has a brief, but funny, conversation with Clint Eastwood while he's sitting at a bar.
She made guest appearances on such television shows as The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy, Darkroom, Knight Rider, Emergency!, Magnum, P.I., McMillan and Wife, Murder, She Wrote, Dynasty, Charlie's Angels, Cagney & Lacey, Grey's Anatomy, and a starring role in a Season 4 episode of Hart to Hart.[5][6]
Cook starred in the animated Walt Disney Pictures film Home on the Range voicing Pearl Gesner.[5]
Theatre
In addition to her film and television work, Cook appeared in the original Broadway productions of 42nd Street and Romantic Comedy, and was the second actress (after Carol Channing) to star as Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly![7][8][9]
She made her theatrical debut playing Mrs. Peacham in the 1956 off-Broadway production of The Threepenny Opera, starring Lotte Lenya.[10]
In 2024, parts of Carole Cook's life and career were celebrated in the stage production Carole Cook Died for My Sins starring Mason McCulley. LA Weekly described the show as “a heartfelt tribute” that explored themes of love, loss, and transformation while honoring Cook's enduring legacy.[11]
Personal life and death
Source:[12]
She was married to actor and writer Tom Troupe from 1964 until her death.[4] Lucille Ball was her matron of honor.[4]
Cook died from heart failure in Beverly Hills, California, on January 11, 2023, at the age of 98, three days before her 99th birthday.[4]
Controversy
On September 9, 2018, a reporter from TMZ approached Cook to ask her opinion about an actor who grabbed a Trump 2020 sign from someone who had held it up in the audience during a performance of the musical Frozen. She replied "Where's John Wilkes Booth when you need him?" Someone off camera questioned "So we need to kill President Trump?", to which she replied "Why not?"[13] Cook's comment received widespread attention and criticism.[14][15]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Palm Springs Weekend | Naomi Yates | [5] |
| 1964 | The Incredible Mr. Limpet | Bessie Limpet | [5] |
| 1977 | The Gauntlet | Waitress | [5] |
| 1980 | American Gigolo | Mrs. Dobrun | [5] |
| 1982 | Summer Lovers | Barbara Foster | [5] |
| 1984 | Sixteen Candles | Helen | [5] |
| Grandview, U.S.A. | Betty Welles | [5] | |
| 1996 | Fast Money | Ester | [5] |
| 1999 | Lost & Found | Sylvia | [5] |
| 2004 | Home on the Range | Pearl Gesner | Voice[5] |
| 2017 | A Very Sordid Wedding | Hortense | [16] |
| 2018 | Waiting in the Wings: Still Waiting | Erika Ericson | [17] |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959–1960 | U.S. Marshal | Mrs. Parker / Nurse | 2 episodes[6][18] |
| 1963 | The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis | Fifi LaVerne / Molly O'Day | |
| 1963–1968 | The Lucy Show | Thelma Green / Woman in Station (uncredited) / Hotel Guest / Mrs. Valance / Lady at the Health Club / Mrs. Baldwin / Lady Cynthia (voice) / Carrie / Effie Higgins / Piano Bar Patron (uncredited) / Gladys | 18 episodes[19] |
| 1964 | The New Phil Silvers Show | Gertrude / Mrs. Kerrigan | 2 episodes[20] |
| Kentucky Jones | Dodie Wipple | Episode: "The Dread Disease"[21] | |
| 1966 | Vacation Playhouse | Nurse | Episode: "The Hoofer"[19] |
| Daniel Boone | Annie Boyd | Episode: "The Symbol"[19] | |
| 1969 | My World and Welcome to It | Aunt Kate | Episode: "The Disenchanted"[18] |
| That Girl | Dorothy Desmond | Episode: "My Part Belongs to Daddy"[18] | |
| 1969–1974 | Here's Lucy | Second Woman / Mrs. Sheila Casten / Lillian Rylander / Ma Parker / Cynthia Duncan | 5 episodes[19] |
| 1971 | Sarge | Cass | Episode: "Identity Crisis"[22] |
| 1972–1974 | McMillan & Wife | Marnie / Carole Crenshaw | 4 episodes[23][24] |
| 1973 | Lady Luck | Fran | Television film[25] |
| 1974 | Maude | Marta | Episode: "Walter's Ex"[19] |
| 1975 | Baretta | Mrs. Marriott | Episode: "Woman in the Harbor"[19] |
| 1975–1976 | Chico and the Man | Flora | 3 episodes[19] |
| 1976 | Ellery Queen | Gossip Columnist | Episode: "The Adventure of the Sinister Scenario"[26] |
| Emergency! | Nurse | Episode: "The Nuisance"[19] | |
| Bronk | Beatrice | Episode: "The Vigilante"[19] | |
| 1976–1977 | Charlie's Angels | Madam Dorian / Hildy Slater | 2 episodes[19] |
| 1977 | Starsky & Hutch | Scorchy | Episode: "Huggy Bear and the Turkey"[19] |
| In the Glitter Palace | Daisy Dolon | Television film[19] | |
| Kojak | Marie Stella | 4 episodes[19] | |
| 1979 | Rendezvous Hotel | Lucille Greenwood | Television film[25][6] |
| 1980 | Make Me an Offer | Pru Babcock | |
| 1981 | Darkroom | Sally Anne | Episode: "The Partnership"[27] |
| 1982 | Laverne & Shirley | Mrs. Harmon | Episode: "I Do, I Don't"[19] |
| Strike Force | Mitzi | Episode: "The John Killer"[28] | |
| Trapper John, M.D. | Natasha | Episode: "The Object of My Affliction"[19] | |
| Knight Rider | Sen. Maggie Flynn | Episode: "Just My Bill"[19] | |
| Something So Right | Cahuenga | Television film[19] | |
| Hart to Hart | Christine Garrick | Episode: "One Hart Too Many"[19] | |
| CBS Children's Mystery Theatre | Florence Dumont | Episode: "The Zertigo Diamond Caper"[29] | |
| 1983 | The Love Boat | Phyllis Faraday | Episode: "Paroled to Love / First Impressions / Love Finds Florence Nightingale"[19] |
| Quincy, M.E. | Winslow | 2 episodes[19] | |
| Now We're Cookin' | Marge | Television film[30] | |
| 1983–1984 | Capitol | Sugar Laine | [31] |
| 1985, 1988 | Murder, She Wrote | Christine Carpenter / Shayna Grant | 2 episodes[19] |
| 1986 | The A-Team | Mrs. Prescott | Episode: "Members Only"[19] |
| Magnum, P.I. | Sarah Tate | Episode: "All Thieves on Deck"[19] | |
| 1986–1988 | Cagney & Lacey | Donna LaMarr | 5 episodes[6] |
| 1986–1987 | Dynasty | Cora Van Husen | 4 episodes[32] |
| 1987 | Carly's Web | Myrtle | Television film[33] |
| 1990 | A Family for Joe | Medium | Episode: "The Medium"[28] |
| 1993 | Gloria Vane | Mona Lewis | Television film[34] |
| 2000 | Strip Mall | Doreen Krudup | Episode: "Burbank Bigfoot"[35] |
| 2006 | Grey's Anatomy | Sophie Larson | Episode: "Tell Me Sweet Little Lies"[19] |
| 2014 | Major Crimes | Marcella Brewster | Episode: "Frozen Assets"[36] |
| 2015, 2018 | Break a Hip | Pearl Goodfish | 3 episodes[37] |
Theatre
| Year | Play | Role | Venue | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | The Threepenny Opera | Mrs. Peacham | Off-Broadway, New York City | [10] |
| 1960 | Kismet | The Melody Tent, Pittsburgh | [7] | |
| 1961 | Parade | Performer | Hollywood Theatre Center, Los Angeles, CA | |
| 1961 | The Matchmaker | Dolly Levi | Dallas Theatre Center, Dallas, Texas and Tour of Texas | |
| 1965–1966 | Hello, Dolly! | Dolly Levi | Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney; Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne; His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland | [9] |
| 1964 | Stop the World – I Want to Get Off | Evie | [38] | |
| 1974, 1978 | Father's Day | Louise | Huntington Hartford Theatre, Los Angeles (1974); Total Theatre, Melbourne; Mayfair Theatre, Sydney | [39][40] |
| 1979–1980 | Romantic Comedy | Blanche Dailey | Broadway, New York | [8] |
| 1980–1984 | 42nd Street | Maggie Jones | Broadway; US Tour (1984), Tokyo, Japan | |
| 1981 | Patio/Porch | Pearl | Dallas, Texas with Tom Troupe | |
| 1982 | The Supporting Cast | Huntington Hartford Theatre, Los Angeles, Summer Tour Also with Barbara Rush and Sandy Dennis | [41] | |
| 1988–1989 | Steel Magnolias | Ouiser Boudreaux | Pasadena Playhouse, Pasadena; John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C. National Tour With Barbara Rush, June Lockhart, and Marion Ross | [42][43] |
| 1992; 2007 | Dress Up | Herself | Pasadena Playhouse, Pasadena (1992); New Conservatory Theatre Center, San Francisco (2007) | [44][45] |
| 1994 | The Lion in Winter | Eleanor | Pasadena Playhouse, Pasadena | [46] |
| 1995 | Ladies in Retirement | Leonora Fiske | Coconut Grove Playhouse, Miami | [47] |
| 1996 | Radio Gals | Hazel C. Hunt | John Houseman Theatre, New York | [48] |
| 1998 | Arsenic and Old Lace | Aunt Martha | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with Betty Garrett | |
| 2002 | Follies | Hattie Walker | Wadsworth Theatre, Los Angeles | [49] |
| 2006 | 70, Girls, 70 | Gert Appleby | New York City Center, New York | [7] |
References
- ^ "1940 Census". FamilySearch. Archived March 3, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved Jan 24, 2020.
- ^ "Mildred Frances Cook". FamilySearch. Archived March 4, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved Jan 24, 2020.
- ^ Knox, David (January 13, 2023). "Vale: Carole Cook". TV Tonight
- ^ Barnes, Mike (January 11, 2023). "Carole Cook, Lucille Ball Protégé and 'Sixteen Candles' Actress, Dies at 98". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived January 11, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
- ^ "Carole Cook". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on April 4, 2020.
- ^ "Carole Cook". TV Guide
- ^ "Carole Cook theatre profile". About the Artists. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
- ^ "Carole Cook – Broadway Cast & Staff". Internet Broadway Database. Archived March 3, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
- ^ "Hello, Dolly! (Australian Production, 1965)". Ovrtur. Archived March 3, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
- ^ Green, Stanley (2011). "The Threepenny Opera". Broadway Musicals: Show by Show. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 978-1-5578-3784-4.
- ^ "CAROLE COOK DIED FOR MY SINS COMES TO THE SKYLIGHT THEATER". LA Weekly. September 9, 2024.
- ^ Flood, Brian (2018-09-10). "Hollywood grande dame Carole Cook goes after Trump". Fox News. Archived September 10, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2018-09-10.
- ^ Flood, Brian (2018-09-10). "Hollywood grande dame Carole Cook goes after Trump". Fox News. Archived September 10, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2018-09-10.
- ^ Deb, Sopan (Sep 10, 2018). "Actress Carole Cook Jokes About a Trump Assassination". The New York Times. Archived April 28, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved Jan 24, 2020.
- ^ "Carole Cook: Broadway star criticized for Trump comments". The Washington Post. 2018-09-10. Archived January 9, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-01-24.
- ^ "A Very Sordid Wedding". TV Guide
- ^ Clement, Olivia (May 1, 2020). "Musical Film Still Waiting in the Wings Sets Spring Release Date". Playbill. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
- ^ Zee, Michaela (January 12, 2023). "Carole Cook, Actor and Lucille Ball Protégé, Dies at 98". Variety
- ^ "Carole Cook". Rotten Tomatoes
- ^ "The New Phil Silvers Show (1963)". The A.V. Club
- ^ "Kentucky Jones (1964)". The A.V. Club
- ^ "Sarge: Identity Crisis". TV Maze
- ^ "McMillan And Wife series regulars and episode guide". Ultimate70s
- ^ "McMillan and Wife: The Night of the Wizard (1972)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on October 22, 2018.
- ^ "Carole Cook". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on December 5, 2011.
- ^ "Ellery Queen Mysteries translate well in modern era". The Reminder. September 28, 2010.
- ^ "Carole Cook". LezWatch.TV
- ^ "Carole Cook". Kinorium
- ^ "CBS Children's Mystery Theatre (1980)". Video Detective. December 26, 1980.
- ^ Corry, John (April 19, 1983). "Tv: Now We're Cookin'". The New York Times
- ^ "Daytime Soap Operas: Capitol Cast List". AlmostHuman99
- ^ "Carole Cook, 'Sixteen Candles' star, has died at 98". Today. January 12, 2023.
- ^ "Carly's Web". TV Guide
- ^ "Gloria Vane (1993)". The A.V. Club
- ^ "Carole Cook (Creator)". TV Tropes
- ^ "Marcella Brewster - Major Crimes". TV Maze
- ^ "Carole Cook, Actor Who Appeared in Sixteen Candles and Grey's Anatomy, Dies at 98". Looper. January 11, 2023.
- ^ "Photo: 'Stop the World I Want to Get Off' cast". The Sacramento Bee. July 29, 1964. Archived March 3, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-03-28. – via Center for Sacramento History.
Kenneth Nelson as Littlechap and Carole Cook, top, as Evie perform in "Stop the World - I Want to Get Off." Assisting them are Eleen Diamond and Sandra Nitz in Pierette costumes.
- ^ "Calendar: Theater — 'Father's Day'". The San Bernardino Sun. July 21, 1974. Archived January 13, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-03-28. – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
- ^ "Carole Cook". AusStage. Archived January 13, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
- ^ "Special Collections Registry". Ohio State University Library. Retrieved 2020-03-03.[failed verification]
- ^ Arkatov, Janice (1988-09-27). "'Magnolias'--a Celebration of Women". Los Angeles Times. Archived March 3, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
- ^ Richards, David (1989-02-24). "'STEEL MAGNOLIAS' GRIT WITH A GRIN". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived March 3, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
- ^ Koehler, Robert (1992-04-10). "STAGE REVIEWS : Carole Cook Reveals Her Life in 'Dress Up'". Los Angeles Times. Archived March 3, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
- ^ "Carole Cook in Dress Up (Closed December 09, 2007) | San Francisco | reviews, cast and info | TheaterMania". TheaterMania. Archived March 3, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
- ^ Hilsman, Hoyt (1994-11-15). "The Lion in Winter". Variety. Archived March 3, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
- ^ Gordon, Pamela (1995-11-30). "Gonna Take a Miracle". Miami New Times. Archived March 3, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
- ^ "Carole Cook". Internet Off-Broadway Database. Archived March 3, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
- ^ Hirschhorn, Joel (2002-06-17). "Follies". Variety. Archived March 3, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
External links
- Carole Cook at IMDb