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.
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. She studied Greek drama at Baylor University. After graduating in 1945, she worked in regional theater. By 1954, she had moved to New York, where she made her theatrical debut.
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.
Film and television She appeared in such feature films as The Incredible Mr. Limpet, American Gigolo, Sixteen Candles, The Gauntlet, Grandview, U.S.A., Summer Lovers, and Palm Springs Weekend.
Her appearance in "The Gauntlet" was a small role near the beginning as a sassy waitress who has a brief, but funny, conversation with Clint Eastwood while he's sitting at a bar.
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.
Cook starred in the animated Walt Disney Pictures film Home on the Range voicing Pearl Gesner.
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!
She made her theatrical debut playing Mrs. Peacham in the 1956 off-Broadway production of The Threepenny Opera, starring Lotte Lenya.
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.
Personal life and death
Source:
She was married to actor and writer Tom Troupe from 1964 until her death. Lucille Ball was her matron of honor.
Cook died from heart failure in Beverly Hills, California, on January 11, 2023, at the age of 98, three days before her 99th birthday.
Controversy On September 9, 2018, a reporter from TMZ approached Cook outside a restaurant 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?" Cook's comment received widespread attention and criticism.
Filmography Film YearTitleRoleNotes1963Palm Springs WeekendNaomi Yates1964The Incredible Mr. LimpetBessie Limpet1977The GauntletWaitress1980American GigoloMrs. Dobrun1982Summer LoversBarbara Foster1984Sixteen CandlesHelenGrandview, U.S.A.Betty Welles1996Fast MoneyEster1999Lost & FoundSylvia2004Home on the RangePearl GesnerVoice2017A Very Sordid WeddingHortense2018Waiting in the Wings: Still WaitingErika Ericson
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1959–1960U.S. MarshalMrs. Parker / Nurse2 episodes1963The Many Loves of Dobie GillisFifi LaVerne / Molly O'Day1963–1968The Lucy ShowThelma Green / Woman in Station (uncredited) / Hotel Guest / Mrs. Valance / Lady at the Health Club / Mrs. Baldwin / Lady Cynthia (voice) / Carrie / Effie Higgins / Piano Bar Patron (uncredited) / Gladys18 episodes1964The New Phil Silvers ShowGertrude / Mrs. Kerrigan2 episodesKentucky JonesDodie WippleEpisode: "The Dread Disease"1966Vacation PlayhouseNurseEpisode: "The Hoofer"Daniel BooneAnnie BoydEpisode: "The Symbol"1969My World and Welcome to ItAunt KateEpisode: "The Disenchanted"That GirlDorothy DesmondEpisode: "My Part Belongs to Daddy"1969–1974Here's LucySecond Woman / Mrs. Sheila Casten / Lillian Rylander / Ma Parker / Cynthia Duncan5 episodes1971SargeCassEpisode: "Identity Crisis"1972–1974McMillan & WifeMarnie / Carole Crenshaw4 episodes1973Lady LuckFranTelevision film1974MaudeMartaEpisode: "Walter's Ex"1975BarettaMrs. MarriottEpisode: "Woman in the Harbor"1975–1976Chico and the ManFlora3 episodes1976Ellery QueenGossip ColumnistEpisode: "The Adventure of the Sinister Scenario"Emergency!NurseEpisode: "The Nuisance"BronkBeatriceEpisode: "The Vigilante"1976–1977Charlie's AngelsMadam Dorian / Hildy Slater2 episodes1977Starsky & HutchScorchyEpisode: "Huggy Bear and the Turkey"In the Glitter PalaceDaisy DolonTelevision filmKojakMarie Stella4 episodes1979Rendezvous HotelLucille GreenwoodTelevision film1980Make Me an OfferPru Babcock1981DarkroomSally AnneEpisode: "The Partnership"1982Laverne & ShirleyMrs. HarmonEpisode: "I Do, I Don't"Strike ForceMitziEpisode: "The John Killer"Trapper John, M.D.NatashaEpisode: "The Object of My Affliction"Knight RiderSen. Maggie FlynnEpisode: "Just My Bill"Something So RightCahuengaTelevision filmHart to HartChristine GarrickEpisode: "One Hart Too Many"CBS Children's Mystery TheatreFlorence DumontEpisode: "The Zertigo Diamond Caper"1983The Love BoatPhyllis FaradayEpisode: "Paroled to Love / First Impressions / Love Finds Florence Nightingale"Quincy, M.E.Winslow2 episodesNow We're Cookin''' |Marge |Television film |- |1983–1984 |Capitol|Sugar Laine
|1985, 1988 |Murder, She Wrote|Christine Carpenter / Shayna Grant |2 episodes |- | rowspan="2" |1986 |The A-Team|Mrs. Prescott |Episode: "Members Only" |- |Magnum, P.I.|Sarah Tate |Episode: "All Thieves on Deck" |- |1986–1988 |Cagney & Lacey|Donna LaMarr |5 episodes |- |1986–1987 |Dynasty|Cora Van Husen |4 episodes |- |1987 |Carly's Web|Myrtle |Television film |- |1990 |A Family for Joe|Medium |Episode: "The Medium" |- |1993 |Gloria Vane|Mona Lewis |Television film |- |2000 |Strip Mall|Doreen Krudup |Episode: "Burbank Bigfoot" |- |2006 |Grey's Anatomy|Sophie Larson |Episode: "Tell Me Sweet Little Lies" |- |2014 |Major Crimes|Marcella Brewster |Episode: "Frozen Assets" |- |2015, 2018 |Break a Hip''Pearl Goodfish3 episodes
Theatre YearPlayRoleVenueRef.1956The Threepenny OperaMrs. PeachamOff-Broadway, New York City1960KismetThe Melody Tent, Pittsburgh1961Parade PerformerHollywood Theatre Center, Los Angeles, CA1961The MatchmakerDolly LeviDallas Theatre Center, Dallas, Texas and Tour of Texas1965–1966Hello, Dolly!Dolly LeviHer Majesty's Theatre, Sydney; Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne; His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland 1964Stop the World – I Want to Get OffEvie1974, 1978Father's DayLouiseHuntington Hartford Theatre, Los Angeles (1974); Total Theatre, Melbourne; Mayfair Theatre, Sydney1979–1980Romantic ComedyBlanche DaileyBroadway, New York1980–198442nd StreetMaggie JonesBroadway; US Tour (1984), Tokyo, Japan1981Patio/PorchPearlDallas, Texas with Tom Troupe1982The Supporting CastHuntington Hartford Theatre, Los Angeles, Summer Tour Also with Barbara Rush and Sandy Dennis1988–1989Steel MagnoliasOuiser BoudreauxPasadena Playhouse, Pasadena; John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C. National Tour With Barbara Rush, June Lockhart, and Marion Ross1992; 2007Dress UpHerselfPasadena Playhouse, Pasadena (1992); New Conservatory Theatre Center, San Francisco (2007)1994The Lion in WinterEleanorPasadena Playhouse, Pasadena1995Ladies in RetirementLeonora FiskeCoconut Grove Playhouse, Miami1996Radio GalsHazel C. HuntJohn Houseman Theatre, New York1998 Arsenic and Old LaceAunt MarthaOklahoma City, Oklahoma with Betty Garrett2002FolliesHattie WalkerWadsworth Theatre, Los Angeles200670, Girls, 70Gert ApplebyNew York City Center, New York
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