Kathryn Card
Encyclopedia
Kathryn Card was an American radio, television and film actress who may be best remembered for her role as Mrs. McGillicuddy, Lucy's mother on I Love Lucy
.
Born in Butte, Montana
, Card did radio roles in the late 1930s, notably Uncle Walter's Doghouse
, broadcast on NBC from 1939 to 1942. Her first screen credit was in 1945 for her role as Louise in the Corliss Archer
movie, Kiss and Tell, starring Shirley Temple
as Corliss Archer.
where she played Minnie Finch. The following year she was cast as Mrs. McGillicuddy, Lucy's bird-brained mother, who annoyed Lucy's husband Ricky immeasurably by always mispronouncing his name as Mickey and even mistaking him for his fellow bandleader Xavier Cugat
. She portrayed that character for a total of seven episodes, yet never appeared once the Ricardos moved to Connecticut in later episodes. She reprised that role in an episode of The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show
in 1959.
In addition to I Love Lucy
, Card guest starred on several other television shows including Make Room for Daddy, Alfred Hitchcock Presents
, Perry Mason
, and Rawhide
. Her final film appearance was in the 1964 MGM musical The Unsinkable Molly Brown.
On March 1, 1964, Card suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 71 at her home in Costa Mesa, California
. She is interred in Harbor Lawn-Mount Olive Memorial Park in Costa Mesa.
I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy is an American television sitcom starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. The black-and-white series originally ran from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, on the Columbia Broadcasting System...
.
Born in Butte, Montana
Butte, Montana
Butte is a city in Montana and the county seat of Silver Bow County, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. As of the 2010 census, Butte's population was 34,200...
, Card did radio roles in the late 1930s, notably Uncle Walter's Doghouse
Uncle Walter's Doghouse
Uncle Walter's Doghouse was a radio situation comedy and musical variety program broadcast on NBC from May 2, 1939 to July 8, 1942. The series was sponsored by Raleigh Cigarettes.The host of the series was Tom Wallace who portrayed Uncle Walter...
, broadcast on NBC from 1939 to 1942. Her first screen credit was in 1945 for her role as Louise in the Corliss Archer
Meet Corliss Archer
Meet Corliss Archer, a program from radio's Golden Age, ran from January 7, 1943 to September 30, 1956. Although it was CBS's answer to NBC's popular A Date with Judy, it was also broadcast by NBC in 1948 as a summer replacement for The Bob Hope Show. From October 3, 1952 to June 26, 1953, it aired...
movie, Kiss and Tell, starring Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple Black , born Shirley Jane Temple, is an American film and television actress, singer, dancer, autobiographer, and former U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia...
as Corliss Archer.
Television
In 1954, Card made her first television appearance in an episode of I Love LucyI Love Lucy
I Love Lucy is an American television sitcom starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. The black-and-white series originally ran from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, on the Columbia Broadcasting System...
where she played Minnie Finch. The following year she was cast as Mrs. McGillicuddy, Lucy's bird-brained mother, who annoyed Lucy's husband Ricky immeasurably by always mispronouncing his name as Mickey and even mistaking him for his fellow bandleader Xavier Cugat
Xavier Cugat
Xavier Cugat was a Spanish-American bandleader who spent his formative years in Havana, Cuba. A trained violinist and arranger, he was a key personality in the spread of Latin music in United States popular music. He was also a cartoonist and a successful businessman...
. She portrayed that character for a total of seven episodes, yet never appeared once the Ricardos moved to Connecticut in later episodes. She reprised that role in an episode of The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show
The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour is a CBS television situation comedy. The show is a collection of occasional specials rather than a regular series and originally served as part of Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse...
in 1959.
In addition to I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy is an American television sitcom starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and William Frawley. The black-and-white series originally ran from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, on the Columbia Broadcasting System...
, Card guest starred on several other television shows including Make Room for Daddy, Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Alfred Hitchcock Presents is an American television anthology series hosted by Alfred Hitchcock. The series featured dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. By the premiere of the show on October 2, 1955, Hitchcock had been directing films for over three decades...
, Perry Mason
Perry Mason (TV series)
Perry Mason is an American legal drama produced by Paisano Productions that ran from September 1957 to May 1966 on CBS. The title character, portrayed by Raymond Burr, is a fictional Los Angeles defense attorney who originally appeared in detective fiction by Erle Stanley Gardner...
, and Rawhide
Rawhide (TV series)
Rawhide is an American Western series that aired for eight seasons on the CBS network on Friday nights, from January 9, 1959 to September 3, 1965, before moving to Tuesday nights from September 14, 1965 until January 4, 1966, with a total of 217 black-and-white episodes...
. Her final film appearance was in the 1964 MGM musical The Unsinkable Molly Brown.
On March 1, 1964, Card suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 71 at her home in Costa Mesa, California
Costa Mesa, California
Costa Mesa is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 109,960 at the 2010 census. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to a primarily suburban and "edge" city with an economy based on retail, commerce, and light...
. She is interred in Harbor Lawn-Mount Olive Memorial Park in Costa Mesa.