Ann Tyrrell

Ann Tyrrell

Tyrrell with guest star Joe E. Brown on The Ann Sothern Show (1960)
Born (1909-02-06)February 6, 1909
Whatcom County, Washington, U.S.
Died July 20, 1983(1983-07-20) (aged 74)
Pasadena, California
Cause of death Heart attack
Nationality American
Other names Ann Tyrell
Occupation Actress
Years active 19491964

Ann Tyrrell (February 6, 1909 July 20, 1983) was an American stage, film and television actress. Tyrrell is best known for her roles in both of the Ann Sothern CBS sitcoms Private Secretary (19531957) and The Ann Sothern Show (19581961).

Career

A native of Whatcom County in northwestern Washington State, Tyrrell won her first film role in 1949 at the age of forty as Miss Swanson in Bride for Sale. The following year she appeared as a clerk in the motion picture version of Tennessee Williams's The Glass Menagerie (1950). In 1951, she was cast as a telephone operator in Ronald Reagan's Bedtime for Bonzo. She and Reagan shared birthdays, but she was two years his senior.

In 1953, she appeared unbilled as Mary Tudor sister of Queen Elizabeth I in the M-G-M historical drama Queen Bess and in 1955, she appeared in the film Seven Angry Men with Raymond Massey and Jeffrey Hunter. Between film appearances, Tyrrell guest starred in episodes of Adventures of Superman, The Adventures of Kit Carson, and The People's Choice.

Her major opportunity came in 1953 when she was cast for four seasons in the role of office receptionist Violet "Vi" Praskins, friend and colleague of Susie MacNamara, played by Ann Sothern, in the sitcom Private Secretary. After the series ended in a contract dispute in 1957, Tyrrell joined The Ann Sothern Show as Olive Smith, roommate and secretary of Sothern's new character, Katy O'Connor.[1] After The Ann Sothern Show ended its run in 1961, Tyrrell made only two more television appearances; as Mrs. Marshall in a 1962 episode of The Danny Thomas Show and as Miss Ruth Potter in a 1964 episode of Burke's Law.

Later years

After retiring from acting, Tyrrell worked as a dialectician and made recordings for the blind.[2]

Tyrrell made her final public appearance in a phone interview on the ABC morning program Good Morning America in November, 1982. In that installment, host Joan Lunden interviewed on camera the cast of both Private Secretary and The Ann Sothern Show which included Sothern, Don Porter, and Jesse White. Tyrrell was not able to physically join them, but she was able to converse with Lunden and reminisce with her former co-stars via telephone from her home in California.

Death

On July 20, 1983, Tyrrell died of a heart attack at a Pasadena, California hospital at the age of 74.[2][3]

Selected filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1949 Bride for Sale Miss Swanson
1950 Mother Didn't Tell Me Mrs. Jones Uncredited
1950 Caged Edna Uncredited
1950 Once a Thief Dr. Borden
1950 Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye Miss Staines Uncredited
1950 No Way Out Nurse Uncredited
1950 Bunco Squad Miss Dilby
1950 The Glass Menagerie Clerk
1950 Emergency Wedding Miss Neilson Uncredited
1950 Father's Wild Game Tilda
1951 Gasoline Alley Miss Ent Uncredited
1951 Cry Danger Woman in Apt. #201 Uncredited
1951 Up Front Nurse Uncredited
1951 My True Story Sophie
1951 Bedtime for Bonzo Telephone Operator
1951 Appointment with Danger Secretary Uncredited
1951 As Young as You Feel Cleveland's secretary Uncredited
1952 Love Is Better Than Ever Mrs. Whitney Uncredited
1952 Paula Nurse Receptionist Uncredited
1952 The Girl in White Nurse Bigley Alternative title: So Bright the Flame
1952 The Sellout Mrs. Jennie Nova Amboy Uncredited
1952 The Unexpected Fortune Teller Episode: "Lifeline"
1952 Because of You Nurse Uncredited
1952 Holiday for Sinners Bit role Uncredited
1953 Young Bess Mary Uncredited
1953 Julius Caesar Citizen of Rome
1953 Take Me to Town Louise Pickett
1953 Half a Hero Neighbor in Village Uncredited
1954 Lucky Me Fortune Teller Uncredited
1954 Executive Suite Miss Nordley Uncredited
1955 Seven Angry Men Mrs. Mary Brown Alternative title: God's Angry Men
1955 Good Morning, Miss Dove Mrs. Makepeace Uncredited
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1952 Adventures of Superman Miss Walton Episode: "The Deserted Village"
19521953 The Adventures of Kit Carson Various roles 3 episodes
1954 Schlitz Playhouse Episode: "The Best of Everything"
19541957 Private Secretary Violet "Vi" Praskins Series regular
1955 Soldier of Fortune Mrs. Anderson Episode: "Drums of Far Island"
1955 Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre Nurse Hanson Episode: "The Key"
1958 The People's Choice Emma Episode: "Missing Moolah"
19581961 The Ann Sothern Show Olive Smith Series regular
1962 The Danny Thomas Show Mrs. Marshall Episode: "Casanova Tonoose"
1964 Burke's Law Miss Ruth Potter Episode: "Who Killed the Paper Dragon?"

References

  1. Schultz, Margie (1990). Ann Sothern: A Bio-bibliography. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 11–12. ISBN 0-313-26463-5.
  2. 1 2 "Actress Tyrrell dies at age 74". The Telegraph-Herald. July 24, 1983. p. 30. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
  3. "Ann Tyrrell, stage and TV actress, dies". The Free Lance-Star. July 23, 1983. p. 3. Retrieved January 20, 2013.

External links

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