Barbara Meek 1934-2015 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 10-04-2015, 08:30 PM

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Barbara Meek, the longtime member of Trinity Repertory Company whose acting career included playing Ellen Canby on the CBS sitcom "Archie Bunker's Place" and world premieres at Vienna's English Theater and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, has died, according to an announcement posted on Trinity Rep's Facebook page on Saturday.

"It is with deep sadness that we announce that long-time company member Barbara Meek has passed away," says the posting.

Meek, 81, and her husband, the late Martin Molson, joined Trinity Repertory in 1968. She went on to perform in more than 100 productions on the theater's stages.

"Fiercely intelligent, intensely funny and a brilliant and dedicated actress, Barbara will be deeply missed," says the posting.

Meek grew up in Detroit and began putting on musicals as a high school student.

"I just loved having people clap," Meek told The Journal in 2004. "I think that was part of it."

Meek's television career was promising for many years. In the early 1980s, she was a regular on "Archie Bunker's Place," the "All in the Family" spinoff in which she played Carroll O'Connor's truculent housekeeper Ellen Canby.

In addition, she appeared in a pilot and in about a half-dozen episodes of the ill-fated sitcom "Melba."

During the '90s, she played a foster mother on "Big Brother Jake." The show was shot in Virginia for Pat Robertson's Family Channel.

"We couldn't make jokes because it was a Christian channel," Meek later said. "We couldn't say 'God Bless us all' at the end of the Christmas show because it was taking the Lord's name in vain."

Meek also told The Journal that she would have appreciated it if Big Brother had publicized the plight of foster kids, to deal with some of the issues they face.

"There were lessons to be taught," she said, "and we could have been funny, too."

"But all the kids were cute and well-adjusted," she said. "We couldn't even tell the audience why they were in foster care in the first place."

At Trinity, Meek played miserly Ebenezer Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol" and took the part of a diva, Maria Callas, in Terrence McNally's "Master Class." She played some 16 characters — both black and white — in Anna Deavere Smith's "Fires in the Mirror," an examination of race relations in the 1990s.

And as recently as September, she carried a cane onto the stage to play the part of Cicero in Trinity's production of "Julius Caesar."

That production was under way Saturday night as word of Meek's death rippled through social media.

"Tonight, we raise a glass of her favorite spirit, Akvavit, in her honor," says the company's Facebook posting.

OOliver · 10-04-2015, 08:59 PM

Yes, many in the RI theater community were stunned by this article in this morning's newspaper. I saw her in many productions at TR, and she was a long-time customer of mine when I owned my own business near her residence (1996-2011). She was a very private woman who didn't always like being noticed in public, from what I remember.

WatcherofOldTV · 10-29-2015, 12:49 AM

Why was she never seen on this show more? They didn't use her nearly enough to be a foil to Archie's ways. He was too watered down for her to make an impact, other than just smile and laugh him off.

OH Nuts! · 10-29-2015, 01:39 PM

She was great as Ellen Canby on ABP, and clearly had a rich acting career. May she rest in peace and live on through her joyous works.

Johnny be good! · 11-05-2016, 03:48 PM

She'll live on forever.

10-04-2015, 08:30 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,338	Barbara Meek 1934-2015 Link PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Barbara Meek, the longtime member of Trinity Repertory Company whose acting career included playing Ellen Canby on the CBS sitcom "Archie Bunker's Place" and world premieres at Vienna's English Theater and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, has died, according to an announcement posted on Trinity Rep's Facebook page on Saturday. "It is with deep sadness that we announce that long-time company member Barbara Meek has passed away," says the posting. Meek, 81, and her husband, the late Martin Molson, joined Trinity Repertory in 1968. She went on to perform in more than 100 productions on the theater's stages. "Fiercely intelligent, intensely funny and a brilliant and dedicated actress, Barbara will be deeply missed," says the posting. Meek grew up in Detroit and began putting on musicals as a high school student. "I just loved having people clap," Meek told The Journal in 2004. "I think that was part of it." Meek's television career was promising for many years. In the early 1980s, she was a regular on "Archie Bunker's Place," the "All in the Family" spinoff in which she played Carroll O'Connor's truculent housekeeper Ellen Canby. In addition, she appeared in a pilot and in about a half-dozen episodes of the ill-fated sitcom "Melba." During the '90s, she played a foster mother on "Big Brother Jake." The show was shot in Virginia for Pat Robertson's Family Channel. "We couldn't make jokes because it was a Christian channel," Meek later said. "We couldn't say 'God Bless us all' at the end of the Christmas show because it was taking the Lord's name in vain." Meek also told The Journal that she would have appreciated it if Big Brother had publicized the plight of foster kids, to deal with some of the issues they face. "There were lessons to be taught," she said, "and we could have been funny, too." "But all the kids were cute and well-adjusted," she said. "We couldn't even tell the audience why they were in foster care in the first place." At Trinity, Meek played miserly Ebenezer Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol" and took the part of a diva, Maria Callas, in Terrence McNally's "Master Class." She played some 16 characters — both black and white — in Anna Deavere Smith's "Fires in the Mirror," an examination of race relations in the 1990s. And as recently as September, she carried a cane onto the stage to play the part of Cicero in Trinity's production of "Julius Caesar." That production was under way Saturday night as word of Meek's death rippled through social media. "Tonight, we raise a glass of her favorite spirit, Akvavit, in her honor," says the company's Facebook posting.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

11-05-2016, 03:48 PM	#5
Johnny be good! Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 18, 2007 Location: Westland, Michigan Posts: 1,629	She'll live on forever.
	__________________ Alex Bogue

10-04-2015, 08:59 PM	#2
OOliver Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 28, 2009 Location: Providence RI Posts: 569	Yes, many in the RI theater community were stunned by this article in this morning's newspaper. I saw her in many productions at TR, and she was a long-time customer of mine when I owned my own business near her residence (1996-2011). She was a very private woman who didn't always like being noticed in public, from what I remember.

10-29-2015, 12:49 AM	#3
WatcherofOldTV Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 23, 2011 Posts: 138	Why was she never seen on this show more? They didn't use her nearly enough to be a foil to Archie's ways. He was too watered down for her to make an impact, other than just smile and laugh him off.

10-29-2015, 01:39 PM	#4
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	She was great as Ellen Canby on ABP, and clearly had a rich acting career. May she rest in peace and live on through her joyous works.