Mary Lee Dearring

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Mary Lee Dearring
Mary Lee Dearring in The Dick Van Dyke Show 1961
Born
Mary Lee Margaret Dearring

(1939-03-11)March 11, 1939
New York City, New York
DiedJune 19, 2019(2019-06-19) (aged 80)
Resting placeArneytown, New Jersey
Other namesMary Lee Dearing
OccupationActress
Years active1947–1973
SpouseWallace Foster Tracy (1966-2009 his death)

Mary Lee Margaret Dearring (March 11, 1939 - June 16, 2019) was an American child actress who was active from 1947 until 1973. Starting as a child model, she performed in films, television, and the stage, including a six-month run on Broadway for Anniversary Waltz, and a regular starring role on a television series as a teenager.

Early life[edit]

She was born in Manhattan on March 11, 1939,[1] the only child of Earnest Dearring and Lene "Lee" Belisario.[2] Her father was a vaudville dancer.[2] During the late 1930s he had travelled the vaudville circuit performing musical comedy tap routines with a female partner under the name of "Lynn & Dearring".[3][4] Its not known whether this partner was his wife, though a booking notice from two months after Dearring's birth suggests otherwise.[5] However, Lene "Lee" Belisario- Dearring was also known as a dance instructor.[6]

According to a later newspaper article, in which Deerring provided a biographical sketch in her own words, she started modeling and studying ballet at age four.[7] From age eleven she attended the Professional Children's School in New York City,[7] both in person and through correspondence work while on the road.[8] She also was a member of the Experimental Theater group in New York City.[9]

Early career[edit]

According to Dearring's own account, her career as a child model was short-lived: "I did quite a bit of modeling before television came in, but when it did I stopped modeling and spent most of my time on TV".[7] However, her earliest known performances were uncredited bits in motion pictures. From 1947 thru 1949, she appeared in four films: Citizen Saint, The Naked City, Portrait of Jennie, and The Window.[7] In 1949, she did her first known television show, Texaco Star Theater with Milton Berle as host.[7] She did three more shows in the following two years: The Ken Murray Show, Four Star Revue when Jimmy Durante was host, and an episode of Fireside Theatre.[7]

From September through November 1952, Dearing played herself for an episode of a documentary series called American Inventory.[10]

This weekly series focused on different aspects of American life; the episode Dearring took part in was about the impact of railroads on America. She travelled 8500 miles by rail from San Francisco through to the East Coast, stopping at many points along the way to film rail-related activities.[10] A columnist covering this show reported extensively on her career to date, quoting from an autobiographical sketch she had prepared.[7]

Broadway stage[edit]

Main article: Anniversary Waltz (play)

A revival of The Children's Hour on Broadway during 1952-1953 led to a national tour starting in the fall of 1953. Dearring was selected to play the role of "Evelyn Munn", touring with six other teenage girls in the road company from September thru November 1953.[8][11] In December 1953 she answered an open casting call in Manhattan for thirteen year-old actresses.[12]

Dearring was cast as "Debbie Walters" in an original comedy called Anniversary Waltz; she performed in all three tryout runs and the Broadway premiere. It was a supporting role with a significant amount of stage time and lines, and triggered the second act climax. Dearring received good reviews from most critics,[13][14] though one accused her of overacting[15] while another described her as "a typical polished output of a school for young professionals".[16] Dearing was with the Broadway production for about six months, but left when the opportunity of a television series opened up in the Fall of 1954.[fn 1]

TV Series[edit]

Main article: His Honor, Homer Bell

This NBC syndicated series was filmed in Brooklyn, and starred Gene Lockhart as Judge Homer Bell.[17] Dearring had second billing as his orphaned fifteen year-old niece, Cassandra "Casey" Bell.[18] Episodes of the series started filming in 1954, and by February 1955 were ready for release to syndication.[17] Many of the 39 episodes were built around Dearring's character, who was a tomboy and active in misguided ways to help her uncle the Judge.[19] The series was shown on different stations around the country from 1955 to 1961.[20][21]

Later stage and television[edit]

Dearring did episodes of two different TV anthology series during 1955–1956, and reprised her role in Anniversary Waltz for the touring company.[22] When the Broadway comedy The Happiest Millionaire went on national tour in 1957 virtually the entire original cast went with it, including stars Walter Pidgeon and George Grizzard.[23] However, one ingenue supporting role was open, as Gaye Jordan had been promoted to a lead.[24] Dearring stepped into the part and toured with the road company for seven months.[23][24]

Sometime around 1959-1960 Dearring relocated to Los Angeles, taking an apartment in West Hollywood, California.[25] She then went into summer stock, appearing in two plays at the La Jolla Playhouse during 1960,[26][27] and in a regular season performance in Phoenix in early 1961.[28] This led to a small flurry of TV parts on The Dick Van Dyke Show, It's a Man's World, and two episodes of The Danny Thomas Show.[29] However, with the exception of a single appearance on The Brian Keith Show in 1973, this was her last known performing work.

Personal life[edit]

As a girl, Dearring was a bit like her character Casey Bell: she liked to climb trees and play baseball.[7] However, she also did oil painting and collected stamps.[7]

Dearring married Wallace Foster Tracy in New York City during 1966.[30] They remained married until his death in 2009.[31] Dearring died on June 16, 2019, and is buried with her husband in Arneytown, New Jersey.[32]

Stage performances[edit]

Listed by year of first performance (excluding student productions)
Year Play Role Venue Notes
1953 The Children's Hour Evelyn Munn Touring Company This was the road company for Lillian Hellman's 1952-53 Broadway revival.[8][11]
1954 Anniversary Waltz Debbie Walters Broadhurst Theatre Dearring was with this production from the tryouts thru six months of the Broadway run.
1956 Anniversary Waltz Debbie Walters Touring Company Dearring reprised her role, joining the road company in February 1956.[22]
1957 The Happiest Millionaire Cousin Lucy Touring Company Road company for the Broadway production, which included most of the original cast.[23][24]
1960 Dark at the Top of the Stairs Flirt Conroy La Jolla Playhouse [26]
Made in Heaven Nancy Tennant La Jolla Playhouse A reviewer thought Dearring outshone the leads in the Hagar Wilde play.[27]
1961 Personal Appearance Gladys Keicey Sombrero Playhouse This week-long run starred Martha Raye, Hayden Rorke, and Jody McCrea.[28]

Filmography[edit]

Film (by year of first release)
Year Title Role Notes
1947 Citizen Saint Uncredited[7]
1948 The Naked City Uncredited[7]
Portrait of Jennie Choir Girl Uncredited; she was one of many young girls in the convent choir scene.[7]
1949 The Window Uncredited[7]
Television (in original broadcast order, excluding commercials)
Year Series Episode Role Notes
1949 Texaco Star Theater (Unknown episode) Known only from later newspaper article.[7]
1950 The Ken Murray Show (Unknown episode) Known only from later newspaper article.[7]
1951 Four Star Revue (Unknown episode) Known only from later newspaper article.[7]
Fireside Theatre A Christmas Carol Belinda Cratchit This was her first work with Gene Lockhart, whom she would later star with in a series.
1952 American Inventory Let's Go America Herself Deerring travelled 8500 miles across the country by rail in this documentary series.[10]
1955 His Honor, Homer Bell (All 39 Episodes) Cassandra "Casey" Bell Dearring's only stint as a regular on a television series.
Kraft Theatre The Failure
1956 Goodyear Playhouse The Film Director
1961 Danny Thomas Show Everything Happens to Me Julie This was a tryout for a spin-off series, with Dearring and Marlo Thomas as Joey Bishop's sisters.[29]
Dick Van Dyke Show The Sick Boy and the Sitter Janie
Danny Thomas Show Danny and Durante Nightclub College Patron
1962 It's a Man's World Chicago Gains a Number Miranda Overhill
1973 The Brian Keith Show The Camp Doctor Mother

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Dearring perhaps had a hint that she was growing beyond the character; Patty Foster, her replacement, was later dismissed for maturing out of the role.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Mary L Dearring in the New York, New York, U.S., Birth Index, 1910-1965, retrieved from Ancestry.com
  2. ^ a b 1940 United States Federal Census for Mary Lee Dearring, New York > Queens > New York > 41-117, retrieved from Ancestry.com
  3. ^ "Casino presenting Old-Time Burlesque". The Pittsburgh Press. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. October 12, 1937. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Vaudville Tonite (ad)". Poughkeepsie Eagle News. Poughkeepsie, New York. July 8, 1938. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Floradora Satire Given by Powhatan Dance Team". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. May 5, 1939. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "New Legion Post Meets Wednesday". The News. Paterson, New Jersey. July 14, 1947. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Ladd, Bill (November 15, 1952). "Bill Ladd's Almanac". The Courier Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b c Moffit, Mary Irene (October 15, 1953). "Novel Classroom Used By Children". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Lynn Thatcher Feted By Professional Youngsters". The Tribune. Scranton, Pennsylvania. June 29, 1950. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b c "Chatter!". Daily News. New York, New York. November 15, 1952. p. 45 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b Tuger, Barbara (November 4, 1953). "'Theater Brats' Teach Teacher". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Anabella Quits Role; 'Sympathy' in the Black". Daily News. New York, New York. December 17, 1953. p. 73 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Durgin, Cyrus (March 9, 1954). "The Stage". The Boston Globe. Boston, Massachusetts. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Atkinson, Brooks (April 8, 1954). "Theatre: 'Anniversary Waltz' Opens". New York Times. New York, New York. p. 34 – via nytimes.com.
  15. ^ Shaeffer, Louis (April 8, 1954). "'Anniversary Waltz' Flat Comedy of Married Life". Brooklyn Eagle. Brooklyn, New York. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Battelle, Phyllis (April 8, 1954). "Broadway Caliber Wallop Lacking in New Comedy". Corsicana Daily Sun. Corsicana, Texas. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ a b "(Two page ad)". The Billboard. January 15, 1955. pp. 10–11.
  18. ^ Inge, Gene (March 5, 1955). "TV Welcomes Another Lovable Character". Daily News-Post. Monrovia, California. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Bob Leszczak (2012). Single Season Sitcoms, 1948-1979: A Complete Guide. McFarland & Company. p. 80. ISBN 978-0-7864-6812-6.
  20. ^ Bird, Bill (February 24, 1955). "Bill Bird Reports". Pasadena Independent. Pasadena, California. p. 42 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Monday-Friday Morning Listings". The Daily American. Somerset, Pennsylvania. January 7, 1961. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ a b "A Play Comes to Town Wednesday-- The Comedy of "Anniversary Waltz"". Cedar Rapids Gazette. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. February 26, 1956. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ a b c "'Sergeants' in Final Week; 'Happiest Millionaire' Next". Globe-Democrat. St. Louis, Missouri. November 10, 1957. p. 74 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ a b c Howard, Edwin (May 13, 1958). "A Knockout for Pidgeon". Press-Scimitar. Memphis, Tennessee. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ Mary Lee Dearring in the California, U.S., Voter Registrations, 1900-1968, retrieved from Ancestry.com
  26. ^ a b Dunlap, Velma (July 15, 1960). "Youngsters Score in La Jolla Drama". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. p. 28 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ a b Dunlap, Velma (August 12, 1960). "Marriage Comedy Seen at La Jolla". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ a b Smoot, Joanne (February 22, 1961). "Martha Raye Wows Fans at Sombrero". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ a b "A Preview: Will It Click". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. March 25, 1961. p. 89 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ Mary L Dearring in the New York, New York, U.S., Marriage License Indexes, 1907-2018 retrieved from Ancestry.com
  31. ^ Wallace Foster Tracy in the New Jersey, U.S., Death Index, 1848-1878, 1901-2017, retrieved from Ancestry.com
  32. ^ Mary Lee Margaret Tracy in the U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current, retrieved from Ancestry.com
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