Shirley Mitchell (Marion Strong) 1919-2013 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 11-13-2013, 07:27 PM

She played Lucille Ball’s cackling pal Marion Strong and was believed to be last surviving adult castmember from the classic CBS sitcom.

Link

Shirley Mitchell, the comic actress who played Marion Strong, Lucy Ricardo's friend with the cackling laugh on the TV classic I Love Lucy, has died. She was 94.

Mitchell, who was believed to be the last surviving adult castmember from the legendary CBS sitcom, died Nov. 11 of heart failure at her condominium in Westwood, her sister-in-law, the Oscar-nominated Sunset Blvd. actress Nancy Olson, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Mitchell was the widow of Jay Livingston, the pop composer and lyricist who collaborated with Ray Evans on the Academy Award-winning songs “Mona Lisa” (performed by Nat King Cole), “Que Sera, Sera” (Doris Day) and “Buttons and Bows” (Bob Hope). The couple was married from 1992 until his death in 2001.

Mitchell joined the cast of Lucille Ball’s I Love Lucy for the 1953-54 season and appeared in three episodes. In one, “Lucy Tells the Truth,” Marion gets frank opinions about her new hat and her laugh during the girls’ weekly bridge game. (Lucy has bet Fred and Ethel Mertz $100 that she can go 24 hours without telling a lie.)

“Marion, stop cackling. I’ve been waiting 10 years for you to lay that egg!” Lucy says.

The Marion character, which was originated by Margie Liszt in the second season and appeared in one episode, set Lucy and Ricky (Desi Arnaz) up on their first date.

Mitchell was very much an in-demand TV actress in the 1950s and ’60s. She played John Forsythe’s secretary Kitty Deveraux on several episodes of Bachelor Father; neighbor Marge Thornton on Please Don’t Eat the Daisies; Mae Belle Jennings, Kate Bradley’s (Bea Benaderet’s) cousin, on Petticoat Junction; and Opal Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies.

On The Red Skelton Show, she appeared as the shrill Clara Appleby, the wife of henpecked husband George Appleby (Red Skelton), in several sketches.

Her TV résumé also includes Pete and Gladys, The Jack Benny Program, Make Room for Daddy, Perry Mason, The Loretta Young Show, The Mothers-in-Law, The Doris Day Show, Green Acres, The Odd Couple, Chico & the Man, Three’s Company, Trapper John, M.D., Dallas and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

In 1972, Mitchell was the voice of Laurie Holiday on the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series The Roman Holidays.

Born Nov. 4, 1919, in Toledo, Ohio, Mitchell was a radio star on such shows as The Great Gildersleeve and Fibber, McGee & Molly, and she became good friends with Ball during the redhead’s radio days on My Favorite Husband. She came to Los Angeles in the 1940s and transitioned to television on such shows as I Married Joan.

Mitchell also appeared on the big screen in such films as Jamboree (1944), Desk Set (1957), Big Business (1988) and The War of the Roses (1989).

In addition to Olson -- the widow of late Capitol Records president Alan Livingston -- survivors include her children, Scott and Brooke.

HuntingtonM15 · 11-13-2013, 08:09 PM

Sad news.

Shirley Mitchell

ThisLittlePiggy · 11-14-2013, 01:58 PM

She was in one of my favorite I Love Lucy episodes, Lucy Tells the Truth.

TV_on_the_Porch · 11-14-2013, 01:58 PM

And she never really retired, did she? One the greatest of the 'unknown' greats.

Marvo301 · 11-14-2013, 02:44 PM

Shirley Mitchell

Leigh Ann · 11-15-2013, 10:22 AM

I liked Marion Strong. It's sad that the adult cast is all gone now.

I guess Keith Thibodeaux is one of the last ones now.

Coffeecup · 11-15-2013, 07:18 PM

She was in the episode of Friendship. She spoke on how she could be hostess for she was in the Chipperwanna school for girls. and Lucy says, the time you say all that the show will be over.

vodootees · 11-16-2013, 05:08 PM

Hello All,

I create a limited edition t-shirt in loving memory of Shirley Mitchell aka Marion Strong,

This shirts are only available through Sunday November 24 2013. Act Fast!

You can order the t-shirt here
teespring. com/shirleymitchell

thank You

11-13-2013, 07:27 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: 34,391	Shirley Mitchell (Marion Strong) 1919-2013 She played Lucille Ball’s cackling pal Marion Strong and was believed to be last surviving adult castmember from the classic CBS sitcom. Link Shirley Mitchell, the comic actress who played Marion Strong, Lucy Ricardo's friend with the cackling laugh on the TV classic I Love Lucy, has died. She was 94. Mitchell, who was believed to be the last surviving adult castmember from the legendary CBS sitcom, died Nov. 11 of heart failure at her condominium in Westwood, her sister-in-law, the Oscar-nominated Sunset Blvd. actress Nancy Olson, told The Hollywood Reporter. Mitchell was the widow of Jay Livingston, the pop composer and lyricist who collaborated with Ray Evans on the Academy Award-winning songs “Mona Lisa” (performed by Nat King Cole), “Que Sera, Sera” (Doris Day) and “Buttons and Bows” (Bob Hope). The couple was married from 1992 until his death in 2001. Mitchell joined the cast of Lucille Ball’s I Love Lucy for the 1953-54 season and appeared in three episodes. In one, “Lucy Tells the Truth,” Marion gets frank opinions about her new hat and her laugh during the girls’ weekly bridge game. (Lucy has bet Fred and Ethel Mertz $100 that she can go 24 hours without telling a lie.) “Marion, stop cackling. I’ve been waiting 10 years for you to lay that egg!” Lucy says. The Marion character, which was originated by Margie Liszt in the second season and appeared in one episode, set Lucy and Ricky (Desi Arnaz) up on their first date. Mitchell was very much an in-demand TV actress in the 1950s and ’60s. She played John Forsythe’s secretary Kitty Deveraux on several episodes of Bachelor Father; neighbor Marge Thornton on Please Don’t Eat the Daisies; Mae Belle Jennings, Kate Bradley’s (Bea Benaderet’s) cousin, on Petticoat Junction; and Opal Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies. On The Red Skelton Show, she appeared as the shrill Clara Appleby, the wife of henpecked husband George Appleby (Red Skelton), in several sketches. Her TV résumé also includes Pete and Gladys, The Jack Benny Program, Make Room for Daddy, Perry Mason, The Loretta Young Show, The Mothers-in-Law, The Doris Day Show, Green Acres, The Odd Couple, Chico & the Man, Three’s Company, Trapper John, M.D., Dallas and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. In 1972, Mitchell was the voice of Laurie Holiday on the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series The Roman Holidays. Born Nov. 4, 1919, in Toledo, Ohio, Mitchell was a radio star on such shows as The Great Gildersleeve and Fibber, McGee & Molly, and she became good friends with Ball during the redhead’s radio days on My Favorite Husband. She came to Los Angeles in the 1940s and transitioned to television on such shows as I Married Joan. Mitchell also appeared on the big screen in such films as Jamboree (1944), Desk Set (1957), Big Business (1988) and The War of the Roses (1989). In addition to Olson -- the widow of late Capitol Records president Alan Livingston -- survivors include her children, Scott and Brooke.
	__________________ '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.

11-14-2013, 02:44 PM	#5
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	Shirley Mitchell
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

11-16-2013, 05:08 PM	#8
vodootees Member First Time Poster Join Date: Nov 16, 2013 Posts: 1	T-Shirt in Loving Memory of Shirley Mitchell aka Marion stron from I Love Lucy Hello All, I create a limited edition t-shirt in loving memory of Shirley Mitchell aka Marion Strong, This shirts are only available through Sunday November 24 2013. Act Fast! You can order the t-shirt here teespring. com/shirleymitchell thank You

11-13-2013, 08:09 PM	#2
HuntingtonM15 That Bothers Me Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jun 20, 2003 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 11,060	Sad news. Shirley Mitchell

11-14-2013, 01:58 PM	#3
ThisLittlePiggy Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Nov 02, 2013 Posts: 84,661	She was in one of my favorite I Love Lucy episodes, Lucy Tells the Truth.

11-14-2013, 01:58 PM	#4
TV_on_the_Porch anything good on? Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Posts: 879	And she never really retired, did she? One the greatest of the 'unknown' greats.

11-15-2013, 10:22 AM	#6
Leigh Ann Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 15, 2002 Posts: 2,189	I liked Marion Strong. It's sad that the adult cast is all gone now. I guess Keith Thibodeaux is one of the last ones now.

11-15-2013, 07:18 PM	#7
Coffeecup coffeecup. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2003 Location: snoozeville Posts: 3,183	She was in the episode of Friendship. She spoke on how she could be hostess for she was in the Chipperwanna school for girls. and Lucy says, the time you say all that the show will be over.