Louise Latham

Louise Latham (September 23, 1922 – February 12, 2018) was an American actress, perhaps best known for her portrayal of Bernice Edgar in Alfred Hitchcock's 1964 film Marnie.

Louise Latham
Born(1922-09-23)September 23, 1922
Hamilton, Texas, U.S.
DiedFebruary 12, 2018(2018-02-12) (aged 95)
Montecito, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1961-2000

Early years

Latham came from Hamilton, Texas. She was from a family of ranchers, "mostly around San Saba and Mason counties in Texas." She graduated from Dallas' Sunset High School.[1] Latham was a Democrat who donated over $500 to The Friends of Lois Capps in the 2000 Election.[2]

Television

Most of Latham's work was on television. In 1965 she made two appearances on Perry Mason, both roles as the murderer; Matilda Shore in "The Case of the Careless Kitten" and Shirley Logan in "The Case of the Cheating Chancellor".

She made an appearance on The Waltons, playing Olivia's Aunt Kate who consoles Olivia through her ordeal with menopause. She also appeared in The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Kojak, Hawaii Five-O, Ironside, Columbo, Quincy, M.E., Rhoda, Murder, She Wrote and The Streets of San Francisco. On Family Affair she appeared as Aunt Fran, who leaves Buffy (Anissa Jones) in the care of Uncle Bill (Brian Keith) in the show's first episode. On Bonanza in the 1966 episode "A Real Nice, Friendly Little Town" she was Willie Mae Rikeman and in the 1971 episode "The Silent Killer" she was Mrs. Harriet Clinton). She appeared on Designing Women as Perky, the mother of Julia and Suzanne Sugarbaker, The X-Files, and The Invaders in the 1967 episode "Genesis". Latham's character (Betsy Chandler) was the first to learn the real circumstances of Dr. Richard Kimble's wife's death (Hellen) in the final episode of The Fugitive (1967). She was a regular in the cast of the short-lived 1976 CBS series Sara.

Film

Latham's role in Marnie (1964) proved to be a turning point in her career. A newspaper's photo caption in 1965 noted:

A stage actress, Louise now leans to making films because "Marnie changed my life, satisfied my soul," she says, "now I want some more of the same."[3]

She also appeared in such films as Firecreek (1968), Adam at 6 A.M. (1970), White Lightning (1973), The Sugarland Express (1974), Mass Appeal (1984), The Philadelphia Experiment (1984), Paradise (1991) and Love Field (1992).

Stage

Latham's Broadway credits include the 1956 revival of Major Barbara, Invitation to a March (1960), and Isle of Children (1962).[4]

Her other stage performances included work "under the personal direction of Margo Jones" in Theater '54 in Dallas, Texas.[5] In 1958, she was in a touring company that performed Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.[6]

Death

Latham died on February 12, 2018 at Casa Dorinda, a retirement community in Montecito, California, at the age of 95.[7][8]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1964MarnieBernice Edgar
1968FirecreekDulcie
1969Hail, Hero!Miss Mirabel
1970Adam at 6 A.M.Mrs. Hopper
1971Making ItMrs. Wilson
1973White LightningMartha Culpepper
1974The Sugarland ExpressMrs. Looby
197592 in the ShadeMrs. Skelton
1984The Philadelphia ExperimentPamela
1984Mass AppealMargaret
1991ParadiseCatherine Reston Lee
1992Love FieldMrs. Enright

References
  1. Kleiner, Dick (February 24, 1965). "Hollywood Today". Standard-Speaker. Retrieved November 1, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. "Louise Latham - $950 in Political Contributions for 2000". www.campaignmoney.com.
  3. "(photo caption)". The Courier News. February 23, 1965. p. 2. Retrieved November 1, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Louise Latham". Playbill Vault. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  5. Comerer, Marshall (November 30, 1954). "Humor Lacking In Theater '54 'As You Like It'". Corsicana Daily Sun. p. 4. Retrieved November 1, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "(advertisiment)". The Pocono Record. September 6, 1958. p. 5. Retrieved November 1, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Noozhawk. "Louise Latham of Santa Barbara, 1922-2018".
  8. "Louise Latham, Tippi Hedren's Mother in Hitchcock's 'Marnie,' Dies at 95".
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