Diana Sowle

Diana Mae Sowle (née Laumer; June 19, 1930 – October 19, 2018) was an American actress.

Diana Sowle
Born
Diana Mae Laumer

(1930-06-19)June 19, 1930
Chico, California, U.S.
DiedOctober 19, 2018(2018-10-19) (aged 88)
Laurel, Maryland, U.S.
Resting placeArlington National Cemetery
OccupationActress
Years active1971–1994, 2008
Spouse(s)
Robert K. Gibson
​
(
m. 1956; div. 1961)

William David Sowle (m. 19??; died 2013)
Children2

Early life

Born as Diana Mae Laumer in Chico, California, she was one of five siblings. She attended Chico High School, and appeared in school plays, where she became interested in drama. She graduated in 1949, and attended the University of Denver, after which she appeared in the play "The Drunkard". She did voice-over for American plays and appeared in theater in Germany.[1]

Career

Film roles

Diana is best known for playing Mrs. Bucket, Charlie Bucket's mother, in the 1971 film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and her performance of "Cheer Up Charlie" in that film, although her voice in the song was dubbed by Diana Lee.[2] Sowle joined the cast in Germany, where it was filmed.[1] Apart from Chocolate Factory, her only other screen roles were cameos in Clear and Present Danger and Guarding Tess, both in 1994.[3]

Video game

Sowle also gave voice to "Agatha" and other characters in the 2008 video game Fallout 3.[4]

Theatre

She frequently performed in the long-running play Shear Madness at the Kennedy Center, portraying socialite Eleanor Shubert.[5] Her last-known appearance was in May-June 2013. In mid-2012, she appeared in a production of Love Letters, opposite actor Larry Storch in Farmville, Virginia, to benefit The Tom Mix Rangers.

Personal life

Sowle lived in Germany for about 20 years starting in 1960 and had other homes, including one in Maryland (in the Washington, D.C., area). She was a mother of two and grandmother of four. Her husband Bill Sowle worked for the CIA and died in 2013.[6] She ran a free tutoring program for underprivileged children in Washington D.C. for almost a quarter-century.[7][8]

Death

Sowle died of undisclosed causes in Maryland on October 19, 2018, aged 88.[9][10][4] At the time of her death, she was the last surviving credited cast member from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory who played an adult character.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1971 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory Mrs. Bucket
1994 Guarding Tess Hairdresser
Clear and Present Danger Cartel Maid final film role

Television
Year Title Notes
2003After They Were Famous1 episode, Archive footage

Video games
Year Title Role Notes
2008 Fallout 3 Old Lady Palmer / Agatha / Margaret Primrose / Manya Vargas / Bloomseer Poplar / Tiffany Cheng / Leaf Mother Laurel / Old Lady Dithers / Mother Maya Voice
gollark: Exciting news: I have deanimationified the image and can now read all 98 things it says.
gollark: Did you know?
gollark: ↓ you
gollark: Consider the following.
gollark: ↓ you

References
  1. "Chico native who played in 'Willy Wonka' dies at 88". October 24, 2018.
  2. "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) - Notes - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies.
  3. "Diana Sowle". BFI.
  4. "Willy Wonka actress Diana Sowle dies". bbc.com. October 22, 2018. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  5. Sommers, Pamela (August 7, 1993). "JUST MAD ABOUT 'MADNESS'" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
  6. III, Harris M. Lentz (June 3, 2019). "Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2018". McFarland – via Google Books.
  7. "Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory actress Diana Sowle dies aged 88". October 21, 2018.
  8. Jedra, Christina (December 5, 2015). "Wonka's Mrs. Bucket to appear at Annapolis chocolate festival". Capital Gazette. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
  9. "Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory actress Diana Sowle dies aged 88". October 21, 2018.
  10. "'Willy Wonka' actress Diana Sowle dies at 88". Retrieved October 23, 2018.


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