Gloria Jacqueline LeRoy (November 7, 1925 – May 26, 2018) was an American character actress. She had a diverse career on stage, in film, and on television. Her film career began after Norman Lear spotted her on stage and cast her in The Night They Raided Minsky's in 1968. She is perhaps best known for playing the voluptuous Mildred "Boom Boom" Turner in the 1970s sitcom All in the Family.
Biography LeRoy was born in 1925 to vaudeville performers Loletta and Russell LeRoy in Bucyrus, Ohio. When she was a young girl the family moved to New York, where they owned a dance school, which both Gloria and her brother Kenneth studied. Kenneth went on to star on Broadway as a dancer and singer and was the first Bernardo in West Side Story. Gloria performed on Broadway in Artists and Models with Jackie Gleason in 1943 at age 17 as a Specialty Dancer. Her early career started in night clubs as a dancer and singer for Barbara Walters's father, impresario Lou Walters, at the Latin Quarter. She later headlined Nouvelle Eve, a Parisian cabaret show import, at the Hotel El Rancho Vegas from 1951 to 1952.
She was cast in a production of Hello, Dolly! (1964) as Ernestina Money, but was replaced by Mary Jo Catlett. She toured with Ann Corio's This Was Burlesque as a tassel-twirler.https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/75427913/ She also appeared in George M! A New Musical.
She had recurring roles on the soaps Days of Our Lives as Queenie (1989), The Young and the Restless as Beatrice Tucker (1998) and Passions as Ruth (2000). She appeared in Three's Company as Nancy in the episode "The Goodbye Guy" (1980), as well as on Married... with Children as Chesty LaRue in the episode "Live Nude Peg" (1997). In 2001, she appeared in the season 8 Frasier episode "A Day in May" as Mrs. Smolenski, a prospective house buyer. In 2007, LeRoy appeared in the pilot episode of Rules of Engagement. In 2009, she appeared in season 5 of Desperate Housewives as Rose Kemper. She also appeared in season 1 and season 2 episodes of the Showtime series Shameless as Aunt Ginger. Her final appearances were in season 3 episodes of the HBO series Getting On in 2015.
LeRoy died in Los Angeles, California, on May 26, 2018, at age 92.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1968 The Night They Raided Minsky's Mae Harris 1971 Cold Turkey Lottie Davenport (Masseuse) The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight Ida 1974 Welcome to Arrow Beach Ginger 1975 The Day of the Locust Mrs. Loomis 1978 Bloodbrothers Sylvia 1980 Cheaper to Keep Her Woman on Diving Board Tricks of the Trade 1981 Honky Tonk Freeway Fish Restaurant Waitress Pennies from Heaven A Prostitute 1986 Sid and Nancy Grandma Stewardess School Grandma Polk 1987 Barfly Grandma Moses 1990 Cool Blue Ida Video1992 Body Waves Mrs. Matthews Final Embrace Velvet 1993 Snapdragon Nurse 1994 Bad Blood Elderly Bank Lady 1996 Going Home Toni Short1997 Sparkler Maxine Jack Mrs. Goodman 1999 The Clock Gracie Short Pumpkin Hill Gracie Short2000 Sordid Lives Peggy Ingram Face the Music Grandma 2001 All You Need Nana Sabistan 2003 Shotgun Minnie Short2005 The Amateurs Mrs. Mendelson 2010 Quit Pawn Clerk 2014 Out Louise Short
Television Year Title Role Note1972 Gunsmoke Claire Episode: Eleven Dollars Gunsmoke Hannah Kincaid Episode: The River part 1&2 All in the Family Bobbi Jo Loomis Episode: The Threat1973 Love, American Style Episode: Love and the Cozy Comrades Cannon Episode: The Perfect Alibi The Blue Knight TV film Miracle on 34th Street Mother #1 TV film 1974 Mannix Jenny Episode: Mask for a Charade Gunsmoke Mady 2 episodes The Streets of San Francisco Mrs. Ledbetter 2 episode 1974, 1976 All in the Family Mildred 'Boom Boom' Turner 2 episodes 1974, 19781975 Hot L Baltimore Millie Baretta Doris Mazurski Episode: When Dues Come Down Petrocelli Mrs Ames / Zasu O'Brien 2 episode The Bob Crane Show Lola Episode: Son of the Campus Capers1976 Richie Brockelman: The Missing 24 Hours Hooker TV film Baretta Wicked Wanda Episode: "Shoes" In the Glitter Palace Norma Addison TV film1977 The Strange Possession of Mrs. Oliver Saleslady TV film Alice Bar Waitress Episode: Alice by Moonlight1978-1979 Kaz Mary Parnell 22 episodes1979 But Mother! Trixie TV film Topper Saleswoman TV film1980 Scruples Rosie The Ropers Gloria Mealy Episode: Old Flames Three's Company Nancy Episode: The Goodbye Guy1981 Behind the Screen Drunk Lady Episode: 1.21982 WKRP in Cincinnati Sheila 1 episode Hill Street Blues Rena 2 episodes1983 Automan Landlady Episode: Automan1985 Crazy Like a Fox Episode: The Man Who Cried Fox It's a Living Customer Episode: Harassed1986 Falcon Crest Minister's Wife Episode: Captive Hearts1987 Warm Hearts, Cold Feet Waitress TV film Hunter Landlady Episode: The Girl Next Door)1989 Days of Our Lives Queenie 1991 The Flash Pearl 1 episode Flash III: Deadly Nightshade Pearl 1993 Doogie Howser, M.D. Nancy Jameson Episode: Dorky Housecall, M.D.1994 The Larry Sanders Show Helen Episode: Next Stop Bottom Viper Elderly Bank Lady 1995 Dad, the Angel & Me Opera Diva Nanny TV film Weird Science Grandma Episode: Grampira1996 Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Ilsa Lawsenstrom Episode: Woman of the Year ER Beth Lang Episode: Homeless for the Holidays1997 Married... with Children Stripper Episode:Live Nude Peg1998 Tracey Takes On... Mrs. Jordache Episode: Loss 3rd Rock from the Sun Dolores Episode: Portrait of Tommy as an Old Man Saved by the Bell: The New Class Florence Episode: Free for All The Young and the Restless Beatrice Tucker Recurring Guest Role1999 Tracey Takes On... Woman Episode: Books Chicago Hope Alzheimer-patiente Episode: Vanishing Acts2000 Passions Ruth 9 episodes2001 Dharma & Greg Jeannette Episode: How This Happened Diagnosis Murder Christine Wilson Episode: The Blair Nurse Project Frasier Mrs. Smolenskis Episode: A Day in May2002 Malcolm in the Middle Martha Episode: Hal Coaches2004 My Wife and Kids Grandmother Episode: Childcare ClassDrake & JoshPopcorn BuyerEpisode: The Gary Grill Charmed Old Brenda Episode: Charrrmed!2006 Malcolm in the Middle Judith Episode: Malcolm's Money2007 Rules of Engagement Margaret Episode: Pilot2009 Desperate Housewives Rose Kemper 2 episodes2011-2012 Shameless Aunt Ginger Episodes: Aunt Ginger and Summer Loving2014 Suburgatory Esther 1 episode2015 Getting On Vivian 'Mama Viv' Hartley 2 episodes, (final appearance)
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