11.29.2012

BEWITCHED AUNT CLARA: ACTRESS MARION LORNE

Aunt Clara (Marion Lorne) and Samantha Stephens (Elizabeth Montgomery)



I discovered some interesting facts about actress Marion Lorne aka "Aunt Clara".  Ms Lorne was in her 80's when she filmed 4 seasons of Bewitched. They really had her doing all types of stunts. Standing on the roof, yachting, parachute jumping, and mostly falling in from the fire place. Whata good sport she must have been...



Marion Lorne was an American film, television and theater actress. After a career in theater in New York City and London, Lorne made her first film in 1951, and for the remainder of her life, played small roles in films and television.



Born: August 12, 1883, West Pittston. Died: May 9, 1968, New York City Spouse: Walter C. Hackett (m. 1911–1944)


Actress. Fondly remembered as the dithery, bumbling Aunt Clara on the "Bewitched" (1964) television series, endearing character actress Marion Lorne had a five decade career on the stage before she became a household name.

My favorite episode with Aunt Clara is when Endora loses her powers and Aunt Clara gets them!



Born Marion Lorne MacDougall, she grew up in her native Pennsylvania, the daughter of Scottish and English immigrants. Trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, she appeared in stock shows, and was on the Broadway boards by 1905.


She married playwright Walter C. Hackett and performed in many of his plays throughout the 20s and 30s, eventually settling in England where they founded the Whitehall Theater. It was there that she began to patent her comedy eccentrics. Upon Hackett's death in 1944, she returned to the States and became a hit in such tailor-made stage shows as "Harvey".



She made her film debut with Alfred Hitchcock's classic Strangers on a Train (1951) as Robert Walker's smothering mother while in her mid-60s. Shortly thereafter she turned to TV and became a hit in such sitcoms as "Mr. Peepers" (1952) and "Sally" (1957), and gained quirky comedy status as well on the "The Garry Moore Show" (1958).


But it was her role as the befuddled, amusingly perplexed witch-aunt on "Bewitched" - whether bouncing into walls or conjuring up some unintended piece of witchcraft -- which put a lasting glow on her long career. She was rewarded, albeit posthumously, with an Emmy award; sadly, Marion died of a heart attack a few months before the ceremony in 1968. Elizabeth Montgomery accepted the award on her behalf.
Awards: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress - Comedy Series
Nominations: Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress - Comedy Series

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I wish there were more actresses like Marion Lorne and Elizabeth Montgomery. Then maybe there would be more comedy shows that are funny without the bad language and with better values. I love those two from Bewitched. I wish there were more to watch and feel good after watching these kinds of wonderful feel good showed. Thanks, from Arlinda a number one fan.

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