Actress Rosemary Rice [Mama] 1925-2012

[Zoneboy]

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Rosemary Rice, an actress who found fame in the early days of television playing the perky oldest daughter, Katrin, on “Mama,” a beloved family show broadcast live on CBS for many years, died on Aug. 14 at her home in Stamford, Conn. She was 87.


The cause was a heart attack, her son, John Merrell, said.

“Mama” was about the Hansens, a family of Norwegian immigrants facing the trials of life in San Francisco at the beginning of the 20th century. The series was based on the book, “Mama’s Bank Account,” by Kathryn Forbes, which was also adapted as a play, a radio show and a 1948 movie, “I Remember Mama,” starring Irene Dunne as Mama and Barbara Bel Geddes as Katrin. The television show was broadcast from 1949 to 1957, initially from a studio in Grand Central Terminal over the Oyster Bar.

“ ‘Mama’ was very important as the precursor of the domestic comedies to come,” said Robert Batscha, president of the Museum of Broadcasting, in 1985, when the museum held an exhibition of some of the show’s surviving episodes.

Ms. Rice’s flaxen good looks made her perfect for the wholesome but occasionally saucy Katrin. The show also starred Peggy Wood as the mother, Marta; Judson Laire as the father, Lars; Dick Van Patten as the brother, Nels; and Robin Morgan as the sister, Dagmar.

Katrin began each episode by flipping through a photo album and reminiscing to the audience, ending with the phrase, “But most of all, I remember Mama.”

“I literally grew up with the show,” Ms. Rice told The New York Times in 1985. “Since we spent five days a week together, we really were like a family. To the day he died I always called papa, ‘Papa.’ ”

Rosemary Rice was born on May 3, 1925, in Montclair, N.J. She appeared in Broadway shows like Gypsy Rose Lee’s 1943 comedy, “The Naked Genius,” and on the radio in soap operas and mystery shows. She married John B. Merrell in 1954 and released a handful of children’s records on Columbia. She also appeared at gatherings of “Mama” fans for decades.

“Mama” was recorded on kinescopes, most of which were later destroyed or reused. But Ms. Rice kept several for herself and donated them to the broadcasting museum (now the Paley Center for Media) for the 1985 exhibition.

Besides her son, Ms. Rice is survived by a daughter, Marcie Schonborn; a brother, Rogers; and three grandchildren.

[Zoneboy]

[Marvo301]

Rosemary Rice

[Coffeecup]

Talk about a show from the past. That's a show I would like to get a glance to look at. But it says few episodes available.

[WalrusIsPaul]

R.I.P this has been a bad year, seems everyday when i first get on line i see a tv or music star passed away. i have never heard of ms Rice before nor have i ever seen that mama show. Was she in anything else?
Too many have passed

[Mr. Television]

Mama was one of the most critically acclaimed shows of the 1950's. It's sad that most of the episodes are lost. It's also sad that Ms Rice is not a household name. I've never seen Mama but I sure have read about it. R.I.P Ms. Rice.

[Jude The Obscure]

I remember fondly seeing the movie and reading the book. It's a shame the TV show is virtually lost...too bad more people didn't think to film shows earlier after the success of I Love Lucy

[Coffeecup]

You are right Walrus Paul. I hate to open the paper or turn on the news for someone from the past who I knew has died. Now Neil Armstrong. Just seems like yesterday my family was huddled around the tv set watching the black and white clip of Neil taking his giant step. Where has the time gone. Sad to say I haven't had all that great fun. Average fun but nothing eventful.

[MRPITT]

R.I.P. Rosemary.

I have a couple Mama episodes it was pretty good though I have never seen all the episodes.