Section 30, Building 5, Niche S12
Graduated from Julienne High School in 1942, attended University of Dayton
Studied dance with Hermione and Josephine Schwartz in their Dayton School of Ballet since early childhood; she and her brother Norman had roles in many productions at Renaissance Auditorium of the Dayton Art Institute, including Peter Pan
Came from a musical family, parents members of St Agnes and St Albert church choir; her Uncle Bob Spragg went to New York as a dancer
Went to New York at age 22, danced on Broadway
Cast in Goodbye, Mr. Fancy and then as Lt Ann Girard opposite Henry Fonda in Mr. Roberts, held the role from February of 1948 to January 1951
Played Nels Hansen’s girlfriend on Mama, the CBS TV series version of I Remember Mama, with Dick Van Patten in the role of Nels from 1949 to 1951
Also played Mary Aldrich on The Henry Aldrich TV show on NBC from 1950 to 1952
Was befriended by Helen Hayes (whom she considered her mentor) and Hayes’ daughter, Mary, who was an aspiring actress but tragically died of polio at age 19; Hayes was a fellow Catholic and small town girl
Met many future stars during her time on Broadway and early television including James Dean, Paul Newman, and Jack Lemmon. She had long time friendships with Florence Henderson (Carol, The Brady Bunch) and Isabel Sanford (Weezy, The Jeffersons) who started their careers on Broadway as well.
Met Jack Cleary, a widower with two small children, when he came to NYC on business, saw her in Mr. Roberts , and “swept her off her feet” .They married in 1952, and had their reception at Peerless Mill Inn.
They moved to Hope, Arkansas and had four children, then Jack’s business brought the family to Long Island, NY where she renewed her interest in acting.
She did commercials for Dash and Oxydall detergent, Jello (with her children Pat and Beth), and Alka- Seltzer and summer stock theatre with friends from her Broadway days.
She died in 1988.
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