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Catherine McLeod

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Catherine McLeod
McLeod in 1946
Born(1921-07-02)July 2, 1921
DiedMay 11, 1997(1997-05-11) (aged 75)
OccupationActress
Spouse(s)Bill Gerds (1947–1949) (divorced)
Don Keefer (1950–1997; her death)
Children3

Catherine McLeod (July 2, 1921 – May 11, 1997) was an American actress who made over 60 television and movie appearances between 1944 and 1976. She memorably portrayed the one woman whom James Garner's character Bret Maverick wanted to marry on the 1957 ABC/Warner Brothers television series Maverick, in the episode "Rage for Vengeance."

Early years

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McLeod was born in Santa Monica, California. Her schooling came in an Alhambra convent. She acted in a Los Angeles little theater and studied in the Bliss-Hayden drama workshop.[1] She worked in a movie theater in Reno and later became a chorus girl in musicals.[2]

Cinema

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MacLeod's films included the leading role as a concert pianist in Frank Borzage's I've Always Loved You (1946), Courage of Lassie (1946), The Fabulous Texan (1947), Borzage's That's My Man (1947), Old Los Angeles (1948), My Wife's Best Friend (1952), A Blueprint for Murder (1953), William Witney's The Outcast (1954), Ride the Wild Surf (1964), and Lipstick (1976).

Television

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On October 10, 1950, McLeod starred in "Criminal's Mark" on the TV version of Suspense.[3] She made two guest appearances on the television series Perry Mason: Lorraine Ferrell in "The Case of the Vagabond Vixen" (1957) and Nora Huxley in "The Case of the Glittering Goldfish" (1959). In both roles, she played the wife of the murder victim, but was neither the defendant nor actual murderer.

McLeod appeared in dozens of other series, including The Millionaire, Meet McGraw, Richard Diamond, Private Detective, Maverick with James Garner in the episode "A Rage for Vengeance," 77 Sunset Strip, Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer, Bronco, Colt .45, Lawman (in the 1961 episode "The Prodigal Mother," with child actor Billy Booth), Bonanza, Hazel, Hawaiian Eye, Have Gun - Will Travel, The Outer Limits, The Virginian, Gunsmoke (as “Letty Rickers”, an abused wife of a homesteader turned cowardly killer in S2E29’s “Wrong Man” - played by her real-life husband Don Keefer), and the "Ten Thousand Horses Singing" episode of Studio One opposite James Dean and John Forsythe.[4]

McLeod's greatest impact upon American consciousness by far, however, was as purveyor of one of the most ubiquitous catchphrases of its era when she portrayed the woman in the 1963 headache remedy Anacin television commercial, who plaintively but irritably said, "Mother, please! I'd rather do it myself!" The announcer's voiceover would then intone, "Sure you have a headache... tense, irritable.... but don't take it out on her."

Personal life

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McLeod married San Francisco dental student Bill Gerds in 1947. They divorced in 1949. [5] McLeod's second husband was actor Don Keefer. They were married from May 7, 1950 until her death in 1997. They had three children.[6]

Radio appearances

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Year Program Episode/source
1946 Lux Radio Theatre I've Always Loved You[7]

Filmography

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Film
Year Title Role Notes
1944 The Tiger Woman Temple Dancer Serial, [Chs. 1-2], Uncredited
The Thin Man Goes Home Daughter Uncredited
1945 Forever Yours Martha
1946 The Harvey Girls Louise Uncredited
Courage of Lassie Alice Merrick
I've Always Loved You Myra Hassman
1947 That's My Man Ronnie Grange
The Fabulous Texan Alice Sharp
1948 Old Los Angeles Marie Marlowe
1950 So Young, So Bad Miss [Ruth] Levering
1952 My Wife's Best Friend Jane Richards
1953 Sword of Venus Claire
A Blueprint for Murder Maggie Sargent
1954 The Outcast Alice Austin
1958 Return to Warbow Kathleen Fallam
1961 Tammy Tell Me True Mrs. Bateman
The Sergeant Was a Lady Major Hay
1963 The Virginian Amy Sturgis Episode "To Make This Place Remember"
1964 Ride the Wild Surf Mrs. Kilua
1976 Lipstick Vogue Lady
1994 The Story of Lassie Herself final film

References

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  1. ^ Gunson, Victor (November 26, 1945). "Film Fans -- Meet Miss Catherine McLeod, Movie Star You Have Not Yet Seen". The Bradford Era. The Bradford Era. p. 9. Retrieved September 29, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. ^ Swan, Gilbert (October 26, 1946). "Cinderella Waits Years To See Name In Lights -- Then Misses Her Own Premiere". The Evening Independent. The Evening Independent. p. 3. Retrieved September 29, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ "Air Attractions". The Boston Globe. October 10, 1950. p. 19. Retrieved April 29, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Hal Erickson (2012). "Biography: Catherine McLeod". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 2, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
  5. ^ Carroll, Harrison (January 27, 1949). "Behind the Scenes in Hollywood". The Times Leader. The Wilkes-Barre Record. p. 10. Retrieved September 29, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ Carroll, Harrison (October 2, 1947). "Behind the Scenes in Hollywood". The Monroe News-Star. The Monroe News-Star. p. 4. Retrieved September 29, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  7. ^ "Radio Debut". Harrisburg Telegraph. Harrisburg Telegraph. November 2, 1946. p. 19. Retrieved September 28, 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon

Sources

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