Madge Blake (née Cummings; May 31, 1899 – February 19, 1969) was an American

character actress A character actor is a supporting actor who plays unusual, interesting, or eccentric characters.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrieved 7 August 2014, "..a breed of actor who has the ability to be ...

best remembered for her role as

Larry Mondello Larry Mondello is a fictional character from the iconic American television series '' Leave It to Beaver'' (1957–1963). He is portrayed by child actor Robert "Rusty" Stevens. Larry Mondello appears in 68 of the show's 234 episodes over the ...

's mother, Margaret Mondello, on the

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...

/ ABC

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 ...

'' Leave It to Beaver'', as Flora MacMichael on the ABC/CBS sitcom ''

The Real McCoys ''The Real McCoys'' is an American situation comedy starring Walter Brennan, Richard Crenna, and Kathleen Nolan. Co-produced by Danny Thomas's Marterto Productions in association with Walter Brennan and Irving Pincus's Westgate Compan ...

'', and as Aunt Harriet Cooper in 96 episodes of ABC's ''

Batman Batman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on March 30, 1939. I ...

''.

Gene Kelly Eugene Curran Kelly (August 23, 1912 – February 2, 1996) was an American actor, dancer, singer, filmmaker, and choreographer. He was known for his energetic and athletic dancing style and sought to create a new form of American dance accessibl ...

had a special affection for her and included her in each of his films following her role in ''

An American in Paris ''An American in Paris'' is a jazz-influenced orchestral piece by American composer George Gershwin first performed in 1928. It was inspired by the time that Gershwin had spent in Paris and evokes the sights and energy of the French capital ...

''.

Early life

Blake was born in Kinsley in Edwards County, south-central Kansas, to Albert Cummings and the former Alice Stone. Her father was a

Methodist Methodism, also called the Methodist movement, is a group of historically related denominations of Protestant Christianity whose origins, doctrine and practice derive from the life and teachings of John Wesley. George Whitefield and John's ...

circuit rider who discouraged her from becoming an actress, thus she did not enter acting until later in life, despite her family's relocation from Kansas to Southern California. During World War II, Blake and her husband James Lincoln Blake worked in Utah on construction of the detonator for the

atomic bomb A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission (fission bomb) or a combination of fission and fusion reactions ( thermonuclear bomb), producing a nuclear explosion. Both bomb ...

and performed such jobs as testing equipment destined for the

Manhattan Project The Manhattan Project was a research and development undertaking during World War II that produced the first nuclear weapons. It was led by the United States with the support of the United Kingdom and Canada. From 1942 to 1946, the project w ...

. The couple received a citation for their work from the U.S. government. Blake was a first cousin of actor

Milburn Stone Hugh Milburn Stone (July 5, 1904 – June 12, 1980) was an American actor, best known for his role as "Doc" (Dr. Galen Adams) on the CBS Western series '' Gunsmoke''. Early life Stone was born in Burrton, Kansas, to Herbert Stone and the for ...

(her mother and his father were sister and brother), who played the role of

Doc Adams Daniel Lucius "Doc" Adams (November 1, 1814 – January 3, 1899) was an American baseball player and executive who is regarded by historians as an important figure in the sport's early years. For most of his career he was a member of the N ...

on ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central chara ...

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 ...

series. She did not begin to study acting until she was 50 years old, when she enrolled at the

Pasadena Playhouse The Pasadena Playhouse is a historic performing arts venue located 39 S. El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, California, United States. The 686-seat auditorium produces a variety of cultural and artistic events, professional shows, and community engage ...

and took advantage of whatever influence or contacts Milburn Stone had to land acting roles. In the middle 1950s, Blake appeared on Rod Cameron's ''

City Detective ''City Detective'' is a half-hour syndicated crime drama starring Rod Cameron as Bart Grant, a tough 1950s New York City police lieutenant. The show's title was a bit of a misnomer, as Grant fought crime "from Mexico to the Mojave Desert to New ...

'' and in

Ray Milland Ray Milland (born Alfred Reginald Jones; 3 January 1907 – 10 March 1986) was a Welsh-American actor and film director. His screen career ran from 1929 to 1985. He is remembered for his Academy Award and Cannes Film Festival Award-winning ...

's sitcom ''

Meet Mr. McNutley ''Meet Mr McNutley'' is a TV series starring Ray Milland that ran from 1953 to 1955 on CBS. It was also known as The Ray Milland Show.Phyllis Avery Blue as Ray Milland's Show Nears Close Ames, Walter. Los Angeles Times 13 Mar 1955: D11. Premise ...

'', renamed in the second season as ''The Ray Milland Show''. Blake appeared in four episodes of the NBC sitcom '' It's a Great Life'' (1954–1956) and twice on CBS's '' December Bride'', with

Spring Byington Spring Dell Byington (October 17, 1886 – September 7, 1971) was an American actress. Her career included a seven-year run on radio and television as the star of '' December Bride''. She was a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract player who appeared i ...

Acting career

Blake portrayed gushy gossip columnist Dora Bailey in ''

Singin' in the Rain ''Singin' in the Rain'' is a 1952 American musical romantic comedy film directed and choreographed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, starring Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds and featuring Jean Hagen, Millard Mitchell and Cyd C ...

'' (1952) and was a model for one of the fairies (Fauna) in

Walt Disney Walter Elias Disney (; December 5, 1901December 15, 1966) was an American animator, film producer and entrepreneur. A pioneer of the American animation industry, he introduced several developments in the production of cartoons. As a film p ...

's animated version of ''

Sleeping Beauty ''Sleeping Beauty'' (french: La belle au bois dormant, or ''The Beauty in the Sleeping Forest''; german: Dornröschen, or ''Little Briar Rose''), also titled in English as ''The Sleeping Beauty in the Woods'', is a fairy tale about a princess cu ...

'' (1959). She appeared as Mrs. Porter, a babysitter, in the 1959 pilot of CBS's '' Dennis the Menace''. About this time, she was cast in a guest-starring role in the sitcoms ''

Guestward, Ho! ''Guestward, Ho!'' is an American sitcom which aired on the ABC network in the 1960-1961 television season. It was based on the 1956 comic memoir of the same title by New Mexico dude ranch operator Barbara "Babs" Hooton, written in cooperation w ...

'', with

Joanne Dru Joanne Dru (born Joan Letitia LaCock;Known as Joan Lacock in th1930 United States census/ref> January 31, 1922 – September 10, 1996) was an American film and television actress, known for such films as '' Red River'', ''She Wore a Yellow Ribbo ...

on ABC, and ''

Angel In various theistic religious traditions an angel is a supernatural spiritual being who serves God. Abrahamic religions often depict angels as benevolent celestial intermediaries between God (or Heaven) and humanity. Other roles ...

'', with

Annie Fargé Annie Fargé (15 April 1934 – 4 March 2011) was a French actress who worked for a few years on U.S. television and was named "most promising new star in a situation comedy" in 1961 when she played the title role in CBS's ''Angel''. Especially i ...

on CBS. In 1960, she guest-starred in "Tom Cuts Off the Credit," the premiere episode of the sitcom ''

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 ...

'' starring

Tom Ewell Tom Ewell (born Samuel Yewell Tompkins, April 29, 1909 – September 12, 1994) was an American film, stage and television actor, and producer. His most successful and most identifiable role was that of Richard Sherman in ''The Seven Year Itch'' ...

. In 1961, she guest-starred in the episode "A View of Murder" of the syndicated crime drama ''

The Brothers Brannagan ''The Brothers Brannagan'' is an American crime drama television series that aired in syndication from September 24, 1960, to July 15, 1961. Synopsis ''The Brothers Brannagan'' features fictitious detectives Mike and Bob Brannagan, portrayed, re ...

''. Blake's Flora MacMichael was a romantic foil to

Walter Brennan Walter Andrew Brennan (July 25, 1894 – September 21, 1974) was an American actor and singer. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performances in '' Come and Get It'' (1936), ''Kentucky'' (1938), and '' The Westerner ...

's Grandpa Amos McCoy on ''

'', a sitcom about a mountain family that relocated to Southern California. Before her role on ''Batman'', she had a recurring role on ''

The Jack Benny Program ''The Jack Benny Program'', starring Jack Benny, is a radio-TV comedy series that ran for more than three decades and is generally regarded as a high-water mark in 20th century American comedy. He played one role throughout his radio and televis ...

'' as the president of the Jack Benny Fan Club - Pasadena Chapter. She played Millie Brinkerhoff in the episode "Instant Wedding" in the 1963 NBC military drama ''

The Lieutenant ''The Lieutenant'' is an American television series, the first created by Gene Roddenberry. It aired on NBC on Saturday evenings in the 1963–1964 television schedule. It was produced by Arena Productions, one of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's most ...

'' starring

Gary Lockwood Gary Lockwood (born John Gary Yurosek; February 21, 1937) is an American actor. Lockwood is best known for his roles as astronaut Frank Poole in the film '' 2001: A Space Odyssey'' (1968), and as Lieutenant Commander Gary Mitchell in the '' Star ...

in the title role, and Larry Mondello's mother on '' Leave It to Beaver''. Blake appeared in the pilot episode of ''

The Addams Family ''The Addams Family'' is a fictional family created by American cartoonist Charles Addams. They originally appeared in a series of 150 unrelated single-panel cartoons, about half of which were originally published in ''The New Yorker'' over ...

'' (broadcast in the U.S in September 1964) as Miss Comstock, an official from the Addams' children's school. Blake also appeared in a memorable episode of '' I Love Lucy'' in 1957 with

George Reeves George Reeves (born George Keefer Brewer; January 5, 1914 – June 16, 1959) was an American actor. He is best known for portraying Superman in the television series '' Adventures of Superman'' (1952–1958). His death at age 45 from a g ...

guest-starring as

Superman Superman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, and debuted in the comic book '' Action Comics'' #1 ( cover-dated June 1938 and pu ...

and in an earlier episode in 1954 as store clerk Mrs. Mulford. She played the mother of Joey Barnes on '' The Joey Bishop Show'' from 1961 to 1964. At one point, the producers of ''Batman'' wanted to fire Blake for unknown reasons. Adam West, with whom she had become friends, stood up for her and she kept her job. The next day, he found a freshly baked cake in his dressing room.

Declining health and death

Declining health caused Blake's role as Aunt Harriet to be reduced, and with the introduction of

Batgirl Batgirl is the name of several superheroines appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, depicted as female counterparts and allies to the superhero Batman. Although the character Betty Kane was introduced into publication in ...

in the third and final season of ''Batman'', she appeared in only two episodes that season in a guest role. Shortly before her death, she appeared as Mrs. Hardy in the episode "The Con Man" of the CBS sitcom ''

The Doris Day Show ''The Doris Day Show'' is an American sitcom which was originally broadcast on CBS from September 1968 until March 1973, remaining on the air for five seasons and 128 episodes. The series is remembered for its multiple format and cast chang ...

''. Blake was admitted to Huntington Memorial Hospital where she died at age 69, the result of a heart attack. She was interred beside her mother in the family plot at Grand View Memorial Park Cemetery.

Filmography

*'' Two Sisters from Boston'' (1946) as Opera Chorus Member (uncredited) *''

Adam's Rib ''Adam's Rib'' is a 1949 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by George Cukor from a screenplay written by Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin. It stars Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn as married lawyers who come to oppose each other in ...

'' (1949) as Mrs. Bonner, Adam's Mother (uncredited) *''

A Life of Her Own ''A Life of Her Own'' is a 1950 American melodrama film directed by George Cukor and starring Lana Turner and Ray Milland. The screenplay by Isobel Lennart focuses on an aspiring model who leaves her small town in the Midwest to seek fame and ...

'' (1950) as Regent Studios' Wardrobe Woman (uncredited) *''

Between Midnight and Dawn ''Between Midnight and Dawn'' is a 1950 American film noir crime film directed by Gordon Douglas and starring Mark Stevens, Edmond O'Brien and Gale Storm.. Plot Childhood friends Rocky Barnes (Stevens) and Dan Purvis (O'Brien) are Los Angeles ...

'' (1950) as Mrs. Mallory *'' M'' (1951) as Police Station Witness (uncredited) *'' The Prowler'' (1951) as Martha Gilvray *'' No Questions Asked'' (1951) as Mrs. Brent, Ellen's Landlady (uncredited) *''

Queen for a Day ''Queen for a Day'' is an American radio and television game show that helped to usher in American listeners' and viewers' fascination with big-prize giveaway shows. ''Queen for a Day'' originated on the Mutual Radio Network on April 30, 1945, i ...

'' (1951) as Mrs. Kimpel, High Diver segment *''

'' (1951) as Edna Mae Bestram (uncredited) *''

Rhubarb Rhubarb is the fleshy, edible stalks ( petioles) of species and hybrids (culinary rhubarb) of '' Rheum'' in the family Polygonaceae, which are cooked and used for food. The whole plant – a herbaceous perennial growing from short, thick rhi ...

'' (1951) as Mrs. Emily Thompson (uncredited) *'' Little Egypt'' (1951) *''

A Millionaire for Christy ''A Millionaire for Christy'' is a 1951 American comedy film directed by George Marshall and starring Fred MacMurray, Eleanor Parker and Richard Carlson. The film is a screwball comedy, in which Christy Sloane (Parker) is a legal secretary from ...

'' (1951) as Mrs. Rapello (scenes deleted) *''

Finders Keepers Finders, keepers, sometimes extended as the children's rhyme finders, keepers; losers, weepers, is an English language, English adage with the premise that when something is unowned or abandoned, whoever finds it first can claim it for themself pe ...

'' (1952) *''

'' (1952) as Dora Bailey (uncredited) *''

Skirts Ahoy! ''Skirts Ahoy!'' is a 1952 MGM musical film directed by Sidney Lanfield and starring Esther Williams, Vivian Blaine and Joan Evans. It was shot in Technicolor. The film follows the adventures of several women who join the WAVES with sequences fi ...

'' (1952) as Mrs. Jane Vance (uncredited) *''

Washington Story ''Washington Story'' is a 1952 American drama film directed by Robert Pirosh and starring Van Johnson and Patricia Neal. The screenplay concerns a reporter in search of government corruption who falls for a congressman. Plot On her first trip to ...

'' (1952) as Woman Bystander (uncredited) *''

It Grows on Trees ''It Grows on Trees'' is a 1952 fantasy comedy film directed by Arthur Lubin starring Irene Dunne in her final screen role. Plot The story is about a couple who discover two trees in their backyard that grow money. One morning a few days after Po ...

'' (1952) as Woman (uncredited) *''

Something for the Birds ''Something for the Birds'' is a 1952 film directed by Robert Wise and starring Victor Mature and Patricia Neal. Plot Johnnie Adams, an engraver in Washington, uses some of the invitations his firm makes to crash Washington parties. He gets to ...

'' (1952) as Mrs. J.L. Chadwick *'' The Iron Mistress'' (1952) as Mrs. Cuny (uncredited) *''

The Bad and the Beautiful ''The Bad and the Beautiful'' is a 1952 American melodrama that tells the story of a film producer who alienates everyone around him. The film was directed by Vincente Minnelli, written by George Bradshaw and Charles Schnee, and starring Lana T ...

'' (1952) as Mrs. Rosser (uncredited) *'' It Happens Every Thursday'' (1953) as Clubwoman (uncredited) *''

The Band Wagon ''The Band Wagon'' is a 1953 American musical romantic comedy film directed by Vincente Minnelli, starring Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. It tells the story of an aging musical star who hopes a Broadway show will restart his career. However, ...

'' (1953) as Investor (uncredited) *''

Dangerous Crossing ''Dangerous Crossing'' is a 1953 American film noir mystery film directed by Joseph M. Newman and starring Jeanne Crain and Michael Rennie, based on the 1943 play ''Cabin B-13'' by John Dickson Carr. The plot of the film centers on the gaslig ...

'' (1953) as Ship's Passenger at Purser's Office (uncredited) *''

The Long, Long Trailer ''The Long, Long Trailer'' is a 1954 American Anscocolor road comedy film based on a novel of the same name written by Clinton Twiss in 1951 about a couple who buy a new travel trailer home and spend a year traveling across the United States.''V ...

'' (1953) as Aunt Anastacia *'' Rhapsody'' (1954) as Mrs. Cahill *'' Fireman Save My Child'' (1954) as Mrs. Spencer - Fire Commissioner's Wife *''

Brigadoon ''Brigadoon'' is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, and music by Frederick Loewe. The song "Almost Like Being in Love", from the musical, has become a standard. It features two American tourists who stumble upon Brigadoon, a m ...

'' (1954) as Mrs. McIntosh (uncredited) *''

Ricochet Romance "Ricochet" (sometimes rendered "Rick-o-Shay" and also as "Ricochet Romance") is a popular song. The credits show it to be written by Larry Coleman, Joe Darion, and Norman Gimbel, without apportioning the work on the lyrics and music, in 1953. In ...

'' (1954) as Dowager (uncredited) *''

Athena Athena or Athene, often given the epithet Pallas, is an ancient Greek goddess associated with wisdom, warfare, and handicraft who was later syncretized with the Roman goddess Minerva. Athena was regarded as the patron and protectress of v ...

'' (1954) as Mrs. Smith (uncredited) *'' Ain't Misbehavin''' (1955) as Mrs. Hildegarde Grier (uncredited) *''

The Private War of Major Benson ''The Private War of Major Benson'' is 1955 comedy film starring Charlton Heston, Julie Adams, Sal Mineo and Tim Hovey, about a tough-talking U.S. Army officer who must shape up the JROTC program at Sheridan Academy, a Catholic boys' military a ...

'' (1955) as Woman at Airport (uncredited) *''

It's Always Fair Weather ''It's Always Fair Weather'' is a 1955 MGM musical satire scripted by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, who also wrote the show's lyrics, with music by André Previn and starring Gene Kelly, Dan Dailey, Cyd Charisse, Dolores Gray, and dancer/chore ...

'' (1955)as Mrs. Stamper (uncredited) *'' The Tender Trap'' (1955) as Society Reporter (uncredited) *'' Glory'' (1956) as Aunt Martha (uncredited) *'' Please Murder Me'' (1956) as Jenny (uncredited) *''

The Solid Gold Cadillac ''The Solid Gold Cadillac'' is a 1956 comedy film directed by Richard Quine and written by Abe Burrows, Howard Teichmann, and George S. Kaufman. It was adapted from the hit Broadway play of the same name by Teichmann and Kaufman that pillories bi ...

'' (1956) as Commentator on TV (uncredited) *'' You Can't Run Away from It'' (1956) as Proprietor's Wife (uncredited) *'' Kelly and Me'' (1957) as Stout Woman (uncredited) *''

All Mine to Give ''All Mine to Give'' (British title: ''The Day They Gave Babies Away'') is a 1957 Technicolor melodrama film directed by Allen Reisner and starring Glynis Johns, Cameron Mitchell, and Rex Thompson. When first one parent, then the other, dies, th ...

'' (1957) as Woman who opens door (uncredited) *''

Designing Woman ''Designing Woman'' is a 1957 American Metrocolor romantic comedy film, in CinemaScope, about two young, whirlwind-romanced newlywed professionals and their misadventures in adjusting to each other's lifestyles. Vincente Minnelli directed the fi ...

'' (1957) as Party Guest (uncredited) *'' Loving You'' (1957) as Hired Agitator (uncredited) *''

The Restless Gun ''The Restless Gun'' is an American Western television series that appeared on NBC between 1957 and 1959, with John Payne in the role of Vint Bonner, a wandering cowboy in the era after the American Civil War. A skilled gunfighter, Bonner is a ...

'' (1957) as Emily Davis in Episode "The Gold Buckle" *'' The Heart Is a Rebel'' (1958) as Mrs. Carlson *'' Please Don't Eat the Daisies'' (1960) as Mrs. Kilkinny (scenes deleted) *'' Bells Are Ringing'' (1960) as Woman on Street (uncredited) *'' Sergeants 3'' (1962) as Mrs. Parent (uncredited) *'' Looking for Love'' (1964) as Mrs. Press (uncredited) *'' Joy in the Morning'' (1965) as Miss Vi (uncredited) *'' The Trouble with Angels'' (1966) as Exasperated Lady on Train (uncredited) *''

The Last of the Secret Agents? ''The Last of the Secret Agents?'' is a 1966 American comedy film that spoofs the spy film genre, starring the then-popular comedy team of Allen & Rossi. Plot Two Americans in Paris (Allen & Rossi) are reluctantly recruited by the Good Guys Inst ...

'' (1966) as Middle-Aged Lady at Topless a Go-Go (uncredited) *'' Batman'' (1966) as Aunt Harriet Cooper *'' Follow Me, Boys!'' (1966) as Cora Anderson (uncredited)

References

External links

1966 Batman TV Heroes - Madge Blake
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Blake, Madge 1899 births 1969 deaths American film actresses Methodists from Kansas American television actresses Actresses from Kansas Actresses from Los Angeles People from Kinsley, Kansas 20th-century American actresses Burials at Grand View Memorial Park Cemetery