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Olive Blakeney

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Olive Blakeney
Blakeney in That Uncertain Feeling (1941)
Born(1894-08-21)August 21, 1894
DiedOctober 21, 1959(1959-10-21) (aged 65)
Years active1933–1959
Spouse(s)Bernard Nedell
(m. 19??)
Children1

Olive Blakeney (August 21, 1894 – October 21, 1959)[1] was an American actress.

Early years

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Blakeney was born in Newport, Kentucky[2][1] and attended the Cincinnati School of Expression.[3]

Career

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Blakeney made her screen debut in England in 1932.[citation needed] In the early 1910s, she acted with the Pittsfield (Massachusetts) Stock Company.[4] In 1914, she was engaged with the Lucille La Verne stock theater company.[5] After working as William Gaxton's partner in vaudeville, she acted on stage in England. While there, she helped to introduce the play Broadway to British audiences.[2] Her Broadway credits include The Royal Family (1951) and The Browning Version / Harlequinade (1949).[6]

Blakeney portrayed Mrs. Alice Aldrich, the mother of Henry Aldrich, in eight (seven of which were consecutive) films about The Aldrich Family. (She played a related role, Mary Aldrich, in a ninth related film, Henry and Dizzy.)[7]

On television, she played the housekeeper in the syndicated medical drama Dr. Hudson's Secret Journal (1955–1956)[8] and guest-starred in "The Mothers," a 1957 episode of the CBS situation comedy Mr. Adams and Eve, and "Mr. Tutt," also known as "Strange Counsel," a 1958 episode of Colgate Theatre.

Personal life

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Blakeney was married to Bernard Nedell[2][1] and was the mother of Betty Lou Lydon and mother-in-law of Jimmy Lydon, who played her son in all but the first of the Henry Aldrich films.[citation needed]

Blakeney died at the age of 65 due to complications of cancer on October 21, 1959, in Encino, California. She was cremated and interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale in California.[1]

Partial filmography

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Olive Blakeney death certificate #7053-20662". California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994, California State Archives via FamilySearch. Retrieved September 15, 2019. Alt URL
  2. ^ a b c Schallert, Edwin (October 23, 1940). "Brian Donlevy Likely To Star in 'Dance Hall'". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. p. Part II - 10. Retrieved August 27, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. ^ "In Dramatic Studios". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Ohio, Cincinnati. September 19, 1909. p. 55. Retrieved August 27, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  4. ^ "To-Night at Orpheum". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Ohio, Cincinnati. May 23, 1913. p. 2. Retrieved August 27, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. ^ "The Lucille LaVerne Company". The Atlanta Constitution. Georgia, Atlanta. April 5, 1914. p. 7. Retrieved August 27, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. ^ "Olive Blakeney". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on August 28, 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  7. ^ Johnson, Erskine (July 6, 1943). "In Hollywood". The Newark Advocate. Ohio, Newark. p. 4. Retrieved August 27, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  8. ^ Erickson, Hal (1989). Syndicated Television: The First Forty Years, 1947-1987. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 0-7864-1198-8. P. 64.
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