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Marion Lorne(1883-1968)

  • Actress
  • Soundtrack
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
"Bewitched" Marion Lorne c. 1967 ABC
Forever embraced as the mumbling, bumbling Aunt Clara on the Bewitched (1964) television series, endearing character actress Marion Lorne had a five-decade-long career on the stage before ever becoming a familiar TV household name.

Born Marion Lorne MacDougall on August 12, 1883 (other sources list 1885 and 1888), she grew up in her native Pennsylvania, the daughter of Scottish and English immigrants. Trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, she appeared in stock shows, and was on the Broadway boards by 1905. She married English playwright Walter C. Hackett and performed in many of his plays throughout the 1920s and 1930s, including "Hyde Park Corner" and "The Gay Adventure". They at one point settled in England where they co-founded the Whitehall Theater. It was there that Marion began to sharpen and patent her fidgety comedy eccentrics in such plays as "Pansy's Arabian Knight," "Sorry You've Been Troubled," "Espionage" and "London After Dark". Upon Hackett's death in 1944, she returned to the States and again, after a brief retirement, became a hit in such tailor-made stage shows as "Harvey".

Marion made a definitive impression via her movie debut at age 60+ in Alfred Hitchcock's immortal suspenser Strangers on a Train (1951) as murderer Robert Walker's clueless, smothering mother. Surprisingly Hollywood used her only a couple more times on film after that auspicious beginning -- a grievously sad waste of a supremely talented comedienne. Marion wisely turned to TV instead and proved a dithery delight in such sitcoms as Mister Peepers (1952) and Sally (1957), gaining quirky status as well as part of the comedy ensemble on The Garry Moore Show (1958).

It was, however, her role as Elizabeth Montgomery's befuddled, muttering, doorknob-collecting witch-aunt on Bewitched (1964) -- whether bouncing into walls or conjuring up some unintended piece of witchcraft -- that put a lasting sheen on her long career. For that role she deservedly won an Emmy trophy for "Best Supporting Actress" -- albeit posthumously. Montgomery accepted her award. Sadly, Marion succumbed to a heart attack on May 9, 1968, just ten days before the actual ceremony. Elizabeth Montgomery gave a touching acceptance speech on her behalf.
BornAugust 12, 1883
DiedMay 9, 1968(84)
BornAugust 12, 1883
DiedMay 9, 1968(84)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Won 1 Primetime Emmy
    • 1 win & 4 nominations total

Photos15

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Known for

Farley Granger, Ruth Roman, and Robert Walker in Strangers on a Train (1951)
Strangers on a Train
7.9
  • Mrs. Antony
  • 1951
Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft in The Graduate (1967)
The Graduate
8.0
  • Miss DeWitte
  • 1967
Elizabeth Montgomery, Agnes Moorehead, and Dick York in Bewitched (1964)
Bewitched
7.6
TV Series
  • Aunt Clara
Mister Peepers (1952)
Mister Peepers
7.4
TV Series
  • Mrs. Gurney

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actress



  • Elizabeth Montgomery, Agnes Moorehead, and Dick York in Bewitched (1964)
    Bewitched
    7.6
    TV Series
    • Aunt Clara
    • 1964–1968
  • Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft in The Graduate (1967)
    The Graduate
    8.0
    • Miss DeWitte
    • 1967
  • The DuPont Show of the Month (1957)
    The DuPont Show of the Month
    7.2
    TV Series
    • Veta Louise Simmons
    • 1958
  • Suspicion (1957)
    Suspicion
    8.1
    TV Series
    • Mrs. Foster
    • 1958
  • Joan Caulfield and Marion Lorne in Sally (1957)
    Sally
    8.1
    TV Series
    • Myrtle Banford
    • 1957–1958
  • Gloria DeHaven and Rosalind Russell in The Girl Rush (1955)
    The Girl Rush
    5.1
    • Aunt Clara
    • 1955
  • Mister Peepers (1952)
    Mister Peepers
    7.4
    TV Series
    • Mrs. Gurney
    • 1952–1954
  • Kraft Theatre (1947)
    The Philco Television Playhouse
    7.4
    TV Series
    • 1951
  • Farley Granger, Ruth Roman, and Robert Walker in Strangers on a Train (1951)
    Strangers on a Train
    7.9
    • Mrs. Antony
    • 1951
  • Success (1931)
    Success
    5.6
    Short
    • Molly's Mother (uncredited)
    • 1931

Soundtrack



  • Elizabeth Montgomery, Agnes Moorehead, and Dick York in Bewitched (1964)
    Bewitched
    7.6
    TV Series
    • performer: "When the Saints Come Marching In"
    • 1967
  • The Garry Moore Show (1958)
    The Garry Moore Show
    6.9
    TV Series
    • performer: "Everybody Loves a Lover", "Thanks for Dropping By"
    • performer: "The Big Apple", "My Heart Belongs to Daddy", "Heigh-Ho", "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby"
    • 1958–1961
  • Mister Peepers (1952)
    Mister Peepers
    7.4
    TV Series
    • performer: "Button Up Your Overcoat"
    • 1953

Personal details

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  • Born
    • August 12, 1883
    • West Pittston, Pennsylvania, USA
  • Died
    • May 9, 1968
    • New York City, New York, USA(heart attack)
  • Spouse
    • Walter C. HackettSeptember 18, 1911 - January 20, 1944 (his death)
  • Parents
      Jane MacDougall
  • Relatives
    • Lorne Taylor MacDougall(Sibling)
  • Other works
    She acted in Walter C. Hackett's play, "Espionage," at the Apollo Theatre in London, England with Frank Cellier, Edwin Styles, Jeanne Stuart, J.H. Roberts, Cyril Smith, Eric Maturin, Ronda Keane, and Elvira Henderson in the cast.
  • Publicity listings
    • 4 Articles

Did you know

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  • Trivia
    Marion owned a collection of antique doorknobs, a hobby that was incorporated into her quirky Aunt Clara character on Bewitched (1964). The props department often used some of her pieces on the show.

FAQ

Powered by Alexa
  • When did Marion Lorne die?
    May 9, 1968
  • How did Marion Lorne die?
    Heart attack
  • How old was Marion Lorne when she died?
    84 years old
  • Where did Marion Lorne die?
    New York City, New York, USA
  • When was Marion Lorne born?
    August 12, 1883

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