Maureen Arthur
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Maureen Louise Arthur (April 15, 1934 – June 15, 2022) was an American film, television, and stage actress.


Life and career

Arthur appeared in numerous movies and television programs from the late 1950s through the early 1990s as well as on Broadway. On television, she appeared in '' Bourbon Street Beat'', '' The Red Skelton Hour'', '' Perry Mason'', '' Branded'', '' I Spy'', ''
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'', ''
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'', ''
The Flying Nun ''The Flying Nun'' is an American fantasy television, fantasy sitcom television series about a community of nuns, which included one who could fly when the wind caught her cornette. It was produced by Screen Gems for American Broadcasting Comp ...
'', '' Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.'', '' Love, American Style'', '' The New Dick Van Dyke Show'', ''
Night Gallery ''Night Gallery'' is an American anthology television series that aired on NBC from December 16, 1970, to May 27, 1973, featuring stories of horror and the macabre. Rod Serling, who had gained fame from an earlier series, '' The Twilight Zon ...
'', '' Kolchak: The Night Stalker'', '' Sanford and Son'', ''
Laverne & Shirley ''Laverne & Shirley'' is an American television sitcom that ran for eight seasons on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from January 27, 1976, to May 10, 1983. A spin-off of ''Happy Days'', ''Laverne & Shirley'' stars Penny Marshall and Cindy Wi ...
'', ''
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'', ''
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'', ''
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'', '' The Red Hand Gang'' as child-kidnapper Lola, and '' Matlock''. In 1967, in arguably her most prominent single movie role, she portrayed Hedy La Rue in the film version of the Broadway hit '' How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying''. In 1969, she co-starred with
Don Knotts Jesse Donald Knotts (July 21, 1924February 24, 2006) was an American actor and comedian. He is widely known for his role as Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife on the 1960s sitcom ''The Andy Griffith Show'', for which he earned five Emmy Awards. He als ...
in the screwball comedy '' The Love God?'', and with
Bob Hope Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) was an American comedian, actor, entertainer and producer with a career that spanned nearly 80 years and achievements in vaudeville, network radio, television, and USO Tours. He appeared ...
,
Jackie Gleason Herbert John Gleason (born Herbert Walton Gleason Jr.; February 26, 1916June 24, 1987), known as Jackie Gleason, was an American comedian, actor, writer, and composer also known as "The Great One". He developed a style and characters from growin ...
and
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in the romantic comedy '' How to Commit Marriage''. In the mid-1960s, she recorded a pop tune on the Carlton record label titled "Don't Make the Angels Cry" and "What Does He Do with Her". Another single titled "Don't Leave Me" was unreleased, though an acetate recording exists. In New York, she studied singing and also studied drama with
Wynn Handman Wynn Handman (May 19, 1922 – April 11, 2020) was the artistic director of The American Place Theatre, which he co-founded with Sidney Lanier and Michael Tolan in 1963. His role in the theatre was to seek out, encourage, train, and present ...
of the Neighborhood Playhouse. She made frequent appearances on '' The Steve Allen Show'' and on ''
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'' before moving on to play the Rivera Hotel in Las Vegas with the Latin Quarter Review. She traveled to Los Angeles to star in movies, beginning with ''
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'', '' Thunder Alley'' and '' Killers Three''. While in Los Angeles, she auditioned for the national cast of '' How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying'' and landed the part of Hedy La Rue. She toured across the U.S. for two years and was in the Broadway production for one year before returning to Los Angeles for another audition, this time for the movie. After several more movies, she headed back to Broadway for '' Something Different'', a play written and directed by
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, and starring
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and Linda Lavin. When that play closed, she returned to Los Angeles to marry producer/creator Aaron Ruben. Her performance as Miss Adelaide in the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera revival of '' Guys and Dolls'' brought her a Drama Critics' Best Performance Award. In a 2007 book, ''Glamour Girls of Sixties Hollywood,'' author Tom Lisanti wrote that in the late 1960s, this “light leading lady with the kewpie doll voice was the popular choice to play kooky gold diggers and dumb bimbos.”


Personal life

Arthur was married to musician George William Weidler from 1957 to 1970 when they divorced. She then was married to producer Aaron Ruben from October 30, 1971 until his death on January 30, 2010. Arthur died on June 15, 2022, in her home in
Beverly Hills, California Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. A notable and historic suburb of Los Angeles, it is located just southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Beverly Hills ...
, at the age of 88 from natural causes after a long battle with
Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events. As the disease advances, symptoms can include problems wit ...
.


Affiliations

Arthur performed at the Variety of Iowa Telethons yearly for over 25 years and was a member of the Iowa Chapter of Variety. Her longtime association with Variety earned her the title of "First Lady of Variety Clubs Telethons", and then she earned the official title of International Ambassador. She was a longtime president of Variety, the Children's Charity of Southern California, Tent 25.


Filmography


Television


References


External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Arthur, Maureen 1934 births 2022 deaths Actresses from San Jose, California American film actresses American stage actresses American musical theatre actresses American television actresses American women singers Musicians from San Jose, California Singers from California