Mabel Albertson

Mabel Ida Albertson (July 24, 1901 – September 28, 1982) was an American actress.

Mabel Albertson
Albertson on an episode of The Ghost & Mrs. Muir, 1968
Born
Mabel Ida Albertson

(1901-07-24)July 24, 1901
Haverhill, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedSeptember 28, 1982(1982-09-28) (aged 81)
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
EducationNew England School of Speech and Expression
OccupationActress
Years active1928–1975
TelevisionBewitched (1964–1971)
Spouse(s)Harold Austin Ripley
(m. 19??; div. 19??)
Ken Englund
​
(
m. 1937; 1950)
Children2, including George Englund
Relatives

Early years

Mabel Ida Albertson was born on July 24, 1901, in Haverhill, Massachusetts, to Flora (Craft) and Leopold Albertson, who were Russian-born Jewish immigrants.[1][2] Her younger brother was actor Jack Albertson. Albertson's mother, a stock actress, supported the family by working in a shoe factory.[1]

Albertson graduated from the New England School of Speech and Expression.[3]

Albertson traced her show business career back to age 13, when she was paid $5 per performance to play piano behind palm trees for a reader. She later moved to California and became involved with the Pasadena Playhouse.[4]

She "moved directly into professional stage work in stock, vaudeville, and night clubs, appearing with Jimmy Durante."[3]

Television

Albertson was best known for her role as Phyllis Stephens, Darrin's neurotic, interfering mother, on the television sitcom Bewitched,[5]:97 who invariably ended her stays at the Stephens' home by saying to her husband, "Frank, take me home. I have a sick headache." During 1972-1973, she played Mabel, the mother-in-law of Paul Lynde on The Paul Lynde Show. She appeared in at least one episode of the courtroom drama series Perry Mason: as Carrie Wilson in the season 6, 1962 episode entitled "The Case of the Hateful Hero".[6] Albertson also guest-starred as the mother of Marilyn Munster's would-be suitor in the first broadcast episode of The Munsters, "Munster Masquerade".

Albertson played the mother of Barbara Whiting Smith and Margaret Whiting in Those Whiting Girls.[7] She also played Susannah's mother in Accidental Family,[5] Alice's mother in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice,[5]:119 Donald Hollinger's mother on That Girl,[5]:1065 Irene Brady in The Tom Ewell Show,[5]:1092 Howard Sprague's mother on The Andy Griffith Show, Miss Ramsey on Hazel, Mrs. White on The Lucy Show episode "Lucy and the Missing Stamp", Eileen Ruby, Harry Ruby's wife, in Make Room For Daddy episode "Danny Goes On USO Tour", Dick Van Dyke's mother on The New Dick Van Dyke Show, and Ethel Kendricks on the Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Anyone Who Hates Kids and Dogs", Gertrude Mills on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. Rawhide S2 E24 as Kalla, Gypsy Queen. In 1966 she played Madam Adella in the Bonanza episode "A Dollar's Worth of Trouble".

Radio

Albertson was heard on Dress Rehearsal, Joe Rines' Dress Rehearsal, and the Phil Baker Show.[8] She was also a writer for radio programs.[9]

Film

A memorable early film role for Albertson was as a proper banker's wife who is repulsed by the bucolic title characters in Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki (1955). She was also seen in She's Back on Broadway, So This Is Love, About Mrs. Leslie, Forever, Darling, The Long, Hot Summer, Don't Give Up the Ship,[3] On a Clear Day You Can See Forever[9] and as Mrs. Van Hoskins, a wealthy woman whose jewels are stolen, in the screwball comedy film What's Up, Doc? (1972).

Stage

Albertson's Broadway credits include The Egg (1962) and Xmas in Las Vegas (1965).[10]

Death

According to her former daughter-in-law, Cloris Leachman, Mabel Albertson died on September 28, 1982, of Alzheimer's disease at St. John's Hospital, after suffering seven years of poor health[11] in Santa Monica, California at age 81. Her ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean.

Filmography
YearTitleRoleNotes
1928Gang WarReporter in the Prologue
1939Mutiny on the BlackhawkThe Widow
1952About FaceMrs. CarterUncredited
1952My Pal GusMrs. FrisbeeUncredited
1953She's Back on BroadwayVelma Trumbull
1953So This Is LoveMary Garden
1954About Mrs. LeslieMrs. Sims
1954Black WidowSylviaUncredited
1955Ma and Pa Kettle at WaikikiTeresa Andrews
1955The CobwebRegina Mitchell-Smyth
1956Ransom!Mrs. Partridge
1956Forever, DarlingSociety Reporter
1957Four Girls in TownMrs. Conway
1957Man AfraidMaggie
1958The Female AnimalIrma Jones
1958The Long, Hot SummerElizabeth Stewart
1958Home Before DarkInez Winthrop
1959The HangmanAmy Hopkins
1959Don't Give Up the ShipMrs. Trabert
1959The GazeboMiss Chandler
1960All the Fine Young CannibalsMrs. McDowall
1961All in a Night's WorkMrs. Kingsley Sr.
1962Period of AdjustmentMrs. Alice McGill
1966A Fine MadnessChairwoman
1967Barefoot in the ParkHarriet
1970On a Clear Day You Can See ForeverMrs. Hatch
1972What's Up, Doc?Mrs. Van Hoskins
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References
  1. "Jack Albertson's Kinship to Cloris Leachman". genealogymagazine.com. Archived from the original on 2016-10-08. Retrieved 2012-01-23.
  2. Berkvist, Robert (1973-01-07). "Jack Spreads A Little Sunshine - Jack Spreads Sunshine". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-23.
  3. "Mabel Albertson scrapbook: 1933-1939". The New York Public Library Archives & Manuscripts. New York Public Library. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  4. Leadabrand, Russ (December 17, 1967). "Mabel Albertson Enjoys Roles In Variety of Stage Plays". California, Pasadena. Independent Star-News. p. 43. Retrieved February 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7. P. 6.
  6. "The Case of the Hateful Hero" details, imdb.com; accessed January 14, 2016.
  7. Bird, Bill (July 1, 1957). "A Wedding a Day on TV". California, Pasadena. Pasadena Independent. p. 26. Retrieved February 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. Sies, Luther F. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920-1960, 2nd Edition, Volume 1. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-5149-4. Pp. 203, 350, 520.
  9. "Veteran Actress Is Actually A Softy". Texas, Lubbock. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. February 22, 1970. p. 84. Retrieved February 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Mabel Albertson". Playbill Vault. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  11. "Mabel Albertson is dead at 81". California, Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz Sentinel. September 30, 1982. p. 10. Retrieved February 16, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
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