Shirley J. Mitchell (November 4, 1919 – November 11, 2013) was an American radio, film, and television actress.
Early life
Mitchell was born in Toledo, Ohio, the daughter of Sam Mitchell & Mary Ann Daniels,
[ Jews who emigrated to America to escape the Russian Civil War. She also had a younger brother, Dr. Marvin Mitchell of Watertown, Massachusetts, with whom she was raised in Toledo, Ohio.
]
Career
Following a move to Chicago, Mitchell appeared in the network broadcast of ''The First Nighter Program
''The First Nighter Program'' was a long-running radio anthology comedy-drama series broadcast from November 27, 1930, to September 27, 1953. The host was Mr. First Nighter (Charles P. Hughes, Macdonald Carey, Bret Morrison, Marvin Miller (actor) ...
'' and played small parts in various soap operas, including '' The Story of Mary Marlin'' and ''The Road of Life''. After she moved to Los Angeles, she played opposite Joan Davis
Josephine "Joan" Davis (June 29, 1907 – May 22, 1961) was an American comedic actress whose career spanned vaudeville, film, radio, and television. Remembered best for the 1950s television comedy '' I Married Joan'', Davis had a successful e ...
and Jack Haley
John Joseph Haley Jr. (August 10, 1897 – June 6, 1979) was an American actor, comedian, dancer, radio host, singer and vaudevillian. He was best known for his portrayal of the Tin Man and his farmhand counterpart Hickory in the 1939 Metro-G ...
in ''The Sealtest Village Store''. She also starred as Louella in ''The Life of Riley
''The Life of Riley'' is an American radio situation comedy series of the 1940s that was adapted into a 1949 feature film, a 1950s television series, and a 1958 comic book.
Radio
The radio program initially aired on the Blue Network (later kn ...
'' and joined the cast of ''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 ...
'' as Alice Darling in 1943. She also played in Amos & Andy and '' The Charlotte Greenwood Show''.The Great Gildersleeve
''The Great Gildersleeve'' is a radio situation comedy broadcast in the United States from August 31, 1941 to 1958. Initially written by Leonard Lewis Levinson, it was one of broadcast history's earlies