American actress (1924–2023)
Carole Cook
Born Mildred Frances Cook
(1924-01-14 ) January 14, 1924[ 1] [ 2] Died January 11, 2023(2023-01-11) (aged 98) Occupation Actress Years active 1954–2018 Spouse
Mildred Frances Cook (January 14, 1924 – January 11, 2023), known professionally as Carole Cook , was an American actress, active on screen and stage, best known for appearances on Lucille Ball 's comedy television series The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy .
Her best known film roles include The Incredible Mr. Limpet , American Gigolo and Sixteen Candles .[ 3]
Biography
Early life
Mildred Frances Cook was born on January 14, 1924, in Abilene, Texas , one of four children of Leland Preston (L.P.) Cook Sr. and his wife, Maudine.[ 1] [ 2] She studied Greek drama at Baylor University .[ 4] After graduating in 1945, she worked in regional theater.[ 4] By 1954, she had moved to New York, where she made her theatrical debut.[ 4]
Lucille Ball, having recently seen her success in a stage production of Annie Get Your Gun , invited her to work for her production company Desilu Studios and changed her stage name to Carole, after her favourite actress Carole Lombard .[ 4]
Film and television
She appeared in such feature films as The Incredible Mr. Limpet , American Gigolo , Sixteen Candles , Grandview, U.S.A. , Summer Lovers , and Palm Springs Weekend .[ 5] [ 6]
She made guest appearances on such television shows as The Lucy Show , Here's Lucy , Darkroom , Knight Rider , Emergency! , Magnum, P.I. , McMillan and Wife , Murder, She Wrote , Dynasty , Charlie's Angels , Cagney & Lacey , Grey's Anatomy , and a starring role in a Season 4 episode of Hart to Hart .[ 5] [ 6]
Cook starred in the animated Walt Disney Pictures film Home on the Range voicing Pearl Gesner.[ 5]
Theatre
In addition to her film and television work, Cook appeared in the original Broadway productions of 42nd Street and Romantic Comedy , and was the second actress (after Carol Channing ) to star as Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly! [ 7] [ 8] [ 9]
She made her theatrical debut playing Mrs. Peacham in the 1956 off-Broadway production of The Threepenny Opera , starring Lotte Lenya .[ 10]
In 2024, parts of Carole Cook's life and career were celebrated in the stage production Carole Cook Died for My Sins starring Mason McCulley. LA Weekly described the show as “a heartfelt tribute” that explored themes of love, loss, and transformation while honoring Cook's enduring legacy.[ 11]
Personal life
Source:[ 12]
She was married to actor and writer Tom Troupe from 1964 until her death.[ 4] Lucille Ball was her matron of honor .[ 4]
Cook died from heart failure in Beverly Hills, California , on January 11, 2023, at the age of 98, three days before her 99th birthday.[ 4]
Controversy
On September 9, 2018, a reporter from TMZ approached Cook to ask her opinion about an actor who grabbed a Trump 2020 sign from someone who had held it up in the audience during a performance of the musical Frozen . She replied "Where's John Wilkes Booth when you need him?" Someone off camera questioned "So we need to kill President Trump ?", to which she replied "Why not?"[ 13] Cook's comment received widespread attention and criticism.[ 14] [ 15]
Filmography
Film
Television
Betty Garrett , Carole Cook and Michael Lee Stever in Arsenic and Old Lace
Theatre
Year
Play
Role
Venue
Ref.
1956
The Threepenny Opera
Mrs. Peacham
Off-Broadway , New York City
[ 10]
1960
Kismet
The Melody Tent, Pittsburgh
[ 7]
1961
Parade
Performer
Hollywood Theatre Center, Los Angeles, CA
1961
The Matchmaker
Dolly Levi
Dallas Theatre Center, Dallas, Texas and Tour of Texas
1965–1966
Hello, Dolly!
Dolly Levi
Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney ; Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne ; His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland
[ 9]
1964
Stop the World – I Want to Get Off
Evie
[ 38]
1974, 1978
Father's Day
Louise
Huntington Hartford Theatre , Los Angeles (1974); Total Theatre , Melbourne; Mayfair Theatre, Sydney
[ 39] [ 40]
1979–1980
Romantic Comedy
Blanche Dailey
Broadway , New York
[ 8]
1980–1984
42nd Street
Maggie Jones
Broadway; US Tour (1984), Tokyo, Japan
1981
Patio/Porch
Pearl
Dallas, Texas with Tom Troupe
1982
The Supporting Cast
Huntington Hartford Theatre, Los Angeles, Summer Tour Also with Barbara Rush and Sandy Dennis
[ 41]
1988–1989
Steel Magnolias
Ouiser Boudreaux
Pasadena Playhouse , Pasadena ; John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts , Washington, D.C. National Tour With Barbara Rush, June Lockhart, and Marion Ross
[ 42] [ 43]
1992; 2007
Dress Up
Herself
Pasadena Playhouse, Pasadena (1992); New Conservatory Theatre Center , San Francisco (2007)
[ 44] [ 45]
1994
The Lion in Winter
Eleanor
Pasadena Playhouse, Pasadena
[ 46]
1995
Ladies in Retirement
Leonora Fiske
Coconut Grove Playhouse , Miami
[ 47]
1996
Radio Gals
Hazel C. Hunt
John Houseman Theatre, New York
[ 48]
1998
Arsenic and Old Lace
Aunt Martha
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma with Betty Garrett
2002
Follies
Hattie Walker
Wadsworth Theatre , Los Angeles
[ 49]
2006
70, Girls, 70
Gert Appleby
New York City Center , New York
[ 7]
References
^ a b "1940 Census" . FamilySearch . Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2020 .
^ a b "Mildred Frances Cook" . FamilySearch . Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2020 .
^ Knox, David (January 13, 2023). "Vale: Carole Cook" . TV Tonight .
^ a b c d e f g Barnes, Mike (January 11, 2023). "Carole Cook, Lucille Ball Protégé and 'Sixteen Candles' Actress, Dies at 98" . The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023 .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Carole Cook" . British Film Institute . Archived from the original on April 4, 2020.
^ a b c d e "Carole Cook" . TV Guide .
^ a b c "Carole Cook theatre profile" . About the Artists . Retrieved March 3, 2020 .
^ a b "Carole Cook – Broadway Cast & Staff" . Internet Broadway Database . Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020 .
^ a b "Hello, Dolly! (Australian Production, 1965)" . Ovrtur . Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020 .
^ a b Green, Stanley (2011). "The Threepenny Opera" . Broadway Musicals: Show by Show . Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 978-1-5578-3784-4 .
^ "CAROLE COOK DIED FOR MY SINS COMES TO THE SKYLIGHT THEATER" . LA Weekly . September 9, 2024.
^ Flood, Brian (September 10, 2018). "Hollywood grande dame Carole Cook goes after Trump" . Fox News . Archived from the original on September 10, 2018. Retrieved September 10, 2018 .
^ Flood, Brian (September 10, 2018). "Hollywood grande dame Carole Cook goes after Trump" . Fox News . Archived from the original on September 10, 2018. Retrieved September 10, 2018 .
^ Deb, Sopan (September 10, 2018). "Actress Carole Cook Jokes About a Trump Assassination" . The New York Times . Archived from the original on April 28, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2020 .
^ "Carole Cook: Broadway star criticized for Trump comments" . The Washington Post . September 10, 2018. Archived from the original on January 9, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2020 .
^ "A Very Sordid Wedding" . TV Guide .
^ Clement, Olivia (May 1, 2020). "Musical Film Still Waiting in the Wings Sets Spring Release Date" . Playbill . Retrieved March 28, 2023 .
^ a b c Zee, Michaela (January 12, 2023). "Carole Cook, Actor and Lucille Ball Protégé, Dies at 98" . Variety .
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "Carole Cook" . Rotten Tomatoes .
^ "The New Phil Silvers Show (1963)" . The A.V. Club .
^ "Kentucky Jones (1964)" . The A.V. Club .
^ "Sarge: Identity Crisis" . TV Maze .
^ "McMillan And Wife series regulars and episode guide" . Ultimate70s .
^ "McMillan and Wife: The Night of the Wizard (1972)" . British Film Institute . Archived from the original on October 22, 2018.
^ a b "Carole Cook" . Turner Classic Movies .
^ "Ellery Queen Mysteries translate well in modern era" . The Reminder . September 28, 2010.
^ "Carole Cook" . LezWatch.TV .
^ a b "Carole Cook" . Kinorium .
^ "CBS Children's Mystery Theatre (1980)" . Video Detective . December 26, 1980.
^ Corry, John (April 19, 1983). "Tv: Now We're Cookin' " . The New York Times .
^ "Daytime Soap Operas: Capitol Cast List" . AlmostHuman99 .
^ "Carole Cook, 'Sixteen Candles' star, has died at 98" . Today . January 12, 2023.
^ "Carly's Web" . TV Guide .
^ "Gloria Vane (1993)" . The A.V. Club .
^ "Carole Cook (Creator)" . TV Tropes .
^ "Marcella Brewster - Major Crimes" . TV Maze .
^ "Carole Cook, Actor Who Appeared in Sixteen Candles and Grey's Anatomy, Dies at 98" . Looper . January 11, 2023.
^ "Photo: 'Stop the World I Want to Get Off' cast" . The Sacramento Bee . July 29, 1964. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 28, 2023 – via Center for Sacramento History. Kenneth Nelson as Littlechap and Carole Cook, top, as Evie perform in "Stop the World - I Want to Get Off." Assisting them are Eleen Diamond and Sandra Nitz in Pierette costumes.
^ "Calendar: Theater — 'Father's Day' " . The San Bernardino Sun . July 21, 1974. Archived from the original on January 13, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
^ "Carole Cook" . AusStage . Archived from the original on January 13, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023 .
^ "Special Collections Registry" . Ohio State University Library . Retrieved March 3, 2020 .[failed verification ]
^ Arkatov, Janice (September 27, 1988). " 'Magnolias'--a Celebration of Women" . Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020 .
^ Richards, David (February 24, 1989). " 'STEEL MAGNOLIAS' GRIT WITH A GRIN" . The Washington Post . ISSN 0190-8286 . Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020 .
^ Koehler, Robert (April 10, 1992). "STAGE REVIEWS : Carole Cook Reveals Her Life in 'Dress Up' " . Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020 .
^ "Carole Cook in Dress Up (Closed December 09, 2007) | San Francisco | reviews, cast and info | TheaterMania" . TheaterMania . Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020 .
^ Hilsman, Hoyt (November 15, 1994). "The Lion in Winter" . Variety . Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020 .
^ Gordon, Pamela (November 30, 1995). "Gonna Take a Miracle" . Miami New Times . Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2020 .
^ "Carole Cook" . Internet Off-Broadway Database . Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020 .
^ Hirschhorn, Joel (June 17, 2002). "Follies" . Variety . Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020 .
External links
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