Isabel Randolph (December 4, 1889 – January 11, 1973) was an American character actress in

radio Radio is the technology of signaling and communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 30 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a tr ...

and

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmospher ...

from the 1940s through the 1960s and in television from the early 1950s to the middle 1960s.

Early life

She was born in 1889 in

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...

, the daughter of Alexander and May (nee Franklin) Randolph.

Career

Theater

Randolph acted in regional theater all over the American Midwest, from the pre-World War I era up to the start of her radio career in the mid-1930s.Jones, Ken D.; McClure, Arthur F; Twomey, Alfred E. (1976) "Character People" A.S. Barnes, , p. 170 She became leading lady at the Princess Theater in

Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines () is the capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small part of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moine ...

in 1917 and was still acting there in 1918,University of Virginia (1951) "Iowa Journal of History (Volume 49): the Princess Theater of Des Moines", State Historical Society of Iowa, pp. 13, 21 (available online at th
Google Books online archive
accessed January 1, 2017. and, in 1931, at the Loyola Community Theater in Chicago. On Broadway, Randolph portrayed Mrs. Pembrook in ''If I Was Rich'' (1926) and Henrietta Scott in ''Ink'' (1927).

Radio

Isabel Randolph gained nationwide popularity on the radio show ''

Fibber McGee and Molly ''Fibber McGee and Molly'' (1935–1959) was a longtime highly popular husband-and-wife team radio comedy program. The situation comedy was a staple of the NBC Red Network from 1936 on, after originating on NBC Blue in 1935. One of the most p ...

'' (on the air 1935–1959), where she began in various "snooty" roles January 13, 1936,Dunning, John (1998) "On the Air: the Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio" Oxford University Press US; , p. 245 eventually becoming a long-running series character, the pompous Mrs. Abigail Uppington, a snooty society matron whom Fibber addressed as "Uppy," and whose pretensions Fibber delighted in deflating. She stayed with the comedy series for seven years until the show began its eighth season in the fall of 1943."Radio: Fibber McGee and Molly" (review), Billboard, October 16, 1943, p. 12 (also available at th
Google Books online archive
accessed January 1, 2017. She also starred as the wife in NBC's soap opera '' Dan Harding's Wife'' (on the air January 20, 1936 through February 10, 1939),Cox, Jim (2005) "Historical Dictionary of American Radio Soap Operas" Eowman & Littlefield, , p. 69 and was in the cast of two other serials, ''

One Man's Family ''One Man's Family'' is an American radio soap opera, heard for almost three decades, from 1932 to 1959. Created by Carlton E. Morse, it was the longest-running uninterrupted dramatic serial in the history of American radio. Television versions ...

''Cox, Jim "Historical Dictionary of American Radio Soap Operas" (2005), Eowman & Littlefield; and television's '' Ben Jerrod, Attorney at Law''. , p. 161 and ''

The Story of Mary Marlin ''The Story of Mary Marlin'' is an American soap opera radio program. It was broadcast from October 3, 1934, until April 12, 1945, and returned from September 24, 1951, until April 11, 1952. After 1937 it was among the highest-rated soap operas. ...

''.

Film

Even while young, Randolph specialized in middle-aged "grand dame" roles on stage and radio, continuing in these roles when she entered films in 1940. She re-created her character of Mrs. Uppington in RKO's '' Look Who's Laughing'' in 1941 and '' Here We Go Again'' in 1942, both spin-offs of the ''Fibber McGee and Molly'' radio series. In 1943, she co-starred in the Republic musical ''

O, My Darling Clementine ''O, My Darling Clementine'' is a 1943 American musical film directed by Frank McDonald and written by Dorrell McGowan and Stuart E. McGowan. The film stars Roy Acuff, Isabel Randolph, Harry Cheshire, Frank Albertson, Lorna Gray, and Irene Ry ...

''. She worked in more than a few 1940s films with

Lucille Ball Lucille Désirée Ball (August 6, 1911 – April 26, 1989) was an American actress, comedienne and producer. She was nominated for 13 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning five times, and was the recipient of several other accolades, such as the Gold ...

. Randolph also was prominently featured in ''

Hoosier Holiday ''Hoosier Holiday'' is a 1943 American comedy film directed by Frank McDonald and written by Dorrell McGowan and Stuart E. McGowan. The film stars George D. Hay, Isabel Randolph, Shug Fisher, Lillian Randolph, Dale Evans and George Byron. The ...

'', a 1945 movie from

Republic Pictures Republic Pictures Corporation (currently held under Melange Pictures, LLC) was an American motion picture production-distribution corporation in operation from 1935 to 1967, that was based in Los Angeles. It had studio facilities in Studio City a ...

. She played many small roles in major pictures, and starred in major (though stereotypical) roles in B-pictures — though, in at least one

Republic Studios Republic Pictures Corporation (currently held under Melange Pictures, LLC) was an American motion picture production-distribution corporation in operation from 1935 to 1967, that was based in Los Angeles. It had studio facilities in Studio City an ...

western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

of the early 1950s ('' Thundering Caravans'', one of the Sheriff Rocky Lane film series), she was cast against type as an evil criminal mastermind.

Television

In her television career from 1951 to 1966, Isabel appeared most often on comedies, with an occasional drama (such as '' Perry Mason''). She was a member of the cast of ''The Jerry Colonna Show'' on ABC in 1951. Her first role on television was a protagonist on the 1951 version of ''

Dick Tracy ''Dick Tracy'' is an American comic strip featuring Dick Tracy (character), Dick Tracy (originally Plainclothes Tracy), a tough and intelligent police detective created by Chester Gould. It made its debut on Sunday, October 4, 1931, in the ''De ...

'' She played the recurring character of neighbor Mrs. Boone in '' Meet Millie'', one of the first of the

sitcom A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ...

hits for CBS in 1954. She was seen as private-school proprietress Mrs. Nestor during the final (1955–1956) season of '' Our Miss Brooks''. She was also a regular comedic actor in 1952 on '' The Abbott and Costello Show'', and from 1957–1962 on ''

The Red Skelton Show ''The Red Skelton Show'' is an American television comedy/variety show that aired from 1951 to 1971. In the decade prior to hosting the show, Richard "Red" Skelton had a successful career as a radio and motion pictures star. Although his televi ...

''. In 1958, Randolph appeared as Grandma Wilkins on the episode "Wyatt Earp Rides Shotgun" of the ABC/

Desilu Desilu Productions () was an American television production company founded and co-owned by husband and wife Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball. The company is best known for shows such as ''I Love Lucy'', ''The Lucy Show'', ''Mannix'', ''The Untouchabl ...

western series, ''

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp ''The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp'' is the first Western television series written for adults, premiering four days before '' Gunsmoke'' on September 6, 1955. Two weeks later came the Clint Walker western ''Cheyenne''. The series is loosely ...

.'' In the story line, deputy

Wyatt Earp Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp (March 19, 1848 – January 13, 1929) was an American lawman and gambler in the American West, including Dodge City, Deadwood, and Tombstone. Earp took part in the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral, during which la ...

(

Hugh O'Brian Hugh O'Brian (born Hugh Charles Krampe; April 19, 1925 – September 5, 2016) was an American actor and humanitarian, best known for his starring roles in the ABC Western television series ''The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp'' (1955–1 ...

) is trying to stop the Dan Purvis gang from attacking

Wells Fargo Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational financial services company with corporate headquarters in San Francisco, California; operational headquarters in Manhattan; and managerial offices throughout the United States and intern ...

and encounters unexpected help from Grandma Wilkins in his task. Mason Alan Dinehart appears in this episode a young

Bat Masterson Bartholemew William Barclay "Bat" Masterson (November 26, 1853 – October 25, 1921) was a U.S. Army scout, lawman, professional gambler, and journalist known for his exploits in the 19th and early 20th-century American Old West. He was born to ...

. Randolph appeared in ''

The Tom Ewell Show ''The Tom Ewell Show'', also known as ''The Trouble With Tom'', is an American situation comedy that aired on CBS during the 1960-61 television season. It depicts the challenges a husband and father faces as he resides in a household otherwise c ...

'' episode "Storm Over Shangri-La" in 1961 and in ''

The Andy Griffith Show ''The Andy Griffith Show '' is an American sitcom, situation comedy television series that aired on CBS from October 3, 1960, to April 1, 1968, with a total of 249 half-hour episodes spanning eight seasons—159 in black and white and 90 in colo ...

'' episodes "A Plaque for Mayberry" in 1961 and "Rafe Hollister Sings" in 1963. One of her last appearances on television was in 1966 in her recurring role as Clara Petrie, the mother of Rob (Dick Van Dyke) on ''

The Dick Van Dyke Show ''The Dick Van Dyke Show'' is an American television sitcom created by Carl Reiner that initially aired on CBS from October 3, 1961 to June 1, 1966, with a total of 158 half-hour episodes spanning five seasons. It was produced by Calvada Prod ...

''. Later that year she concluded her television career when she played the role of Madam Rosa Bruening in the '' Perry Mason'' episode "The Case of the Misguided Model."

Personal life

Randolph died January 11, 1973, in Burbank, California, survived by two daughters.

Selected filmography

Randolph worked on over seventy films from 1939 to 1959. Among them were: * '' The Women'' (1939) as Woman in Cabinet (uncredited) * ''

Barnyard Follies ''Barnyard Follies'' is a 1940 Republic Pictures musical B movie directed by Frank McDonald with music directed by Cy Feuer and dance choreography by Josephine Earl. In the rural American West, a small-town orphanage struggles to become self-supp ...

'' (1940) as Mrs. Uppington * '' The Corsican Brothers'' (1941) as Countess Isabelle's Mother (uncredited) * '' Look Who's Laughing'' (1941) as Mrs. Uppington * '' Here We Go Again'' (1942) as Mrs. Uppington * ''

Take a Letter, Darling ''Take a Letter, Darling'' is a 1942 American romantic comedy film directed by Mitchell Leisen and starring Rosalind Russell. It was nominated for three Academy Awards; Best Cinematography, Best Score and Best Art Direction ( Hans Dreier, ...

'' (1942) as Mrs. French (uncredited) * '' My Favorite Blonde'' (1942) as Frederick's Mother (uncredited) * ''

Henry Aldrich Gets Glamour ''Henry Aldrich Gets Glamour'' is a 1943 American comedy film directed by Hugh Bennett and written by Edwin Blum and Aleen Leslie. The film stars Jimmy Lydon, Charles Smith, John Litel, Olive Blakeney, Diana Lynn and Frances Gifford. The fi ...

'' (1943) as Mrs. Stacey (uncredited) * '' Shadow of a Doubt'' (1943) as Mrs. Margaret Green (uncredited) * ''

'' (1943) as Mrs. Uppington * ''

The Missing Corpse ''The Missing Corpse'' is a 1945 American comedy mystery film directed by Albert Herman. Plot summary The publisher of The Tribune newspaper, Henry Kruger, who is used to ordering his staff around, finds that he is ignored by everyone in his ow ...

'' (1945) as Alice Kruger * ''

'' (1945) as Abigail Fairchild * '' Our Hearts Were Growing Up'' (1946) as Mrs. Southworth * ''

Little Women ''Little Women'' is a coming-of-age novel written by American novelist Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888). Alcott wrote the book, originally published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869, at the request of her publisher. The story follows the live ...

'' (1949) as Mrs. Gardiner (uncredited) * ''

The Fuller Brush Girl ''The Fuller Brush Girl'' is a 1950 slapstick comedy starring Lucille Ball and directed by Lloyd Bacon. Animator Frank Tashlin wrote the script. Ball plays a quirky door-to-door cosmetics saleswoman for the Fuller Brush Company. The film also sta ...

'' (1950) as bridge player Mrs. Annabel South (uncredited) * '' Secrets of Monte Carlo'' (1951) as Mrs. Gussy * '' The Shanghai Story'' (1954) as Mrs. Merryweather * ''

You're Never Too Young ''You’re Never Too Young'' is a 1955 American semi-musical comedy film directed by Norman Taurog and starring the team of Martin and Lewis and co-starring Diana Lynn, Nina Foch, and Raymond Burr. It was released on August 25, 1955 by Paramount ...

'' (1955) * '' Hot Shots'' (1956) as Mrs. Taylor * '' It Started with a Kiss'' (1959) as Mrs. Chalmers (uncredited)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Randolph, Isabel 1889 births American film actresses American radio actresses American television actresses 1973 deaths Actresses from Chicago American stage actresses 20th-century American actresses