Film, TV and stage actress Sheila MacRae died on March 6 at the Lillian Booth Actor’s Home in Englewood, New Jersey. She was 93.
MacRae played Alice Kramden, wife of bus driver Ralph Kramden, on musical-comedy episodes of THE HONEYMOONERS featured as part of THE JACKIE GLEASON SHOW in the late 1960s. Alice Kramden was played by a series of actresses: first Pert Kelton in 1955, then Audrey Meadows and later Sue Ane Langdon before MacRae took over the role opposite Gleason.
MacRae briefly had her own series in 1971, and was a series regular on PARENTHOOD in 1990-91. Her primetime guest appearances included THE LOVE BOAT, THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. and MURDER, SHE WROTE.
MacRae also appeared in daytime soap operas. In 1984, she took on the role of publicist Mildred Lascoe on SEARCH FOR TOMORROW. She played Madelyn Richmond in GENERAL HOSPITAL in 1991.
Born in London, Sheila Margaret Stephens married actor-singer Gordon MacRae in 1941, and they appeared together onstage in a number of musical productions, including a 1964 staging of "The Bells Are Ringing" and a Broadway revival of "Guys and Dolls." The MacRaes were divorced in 1967
Her film credits included Caged, Bikini Beach and Sex and the Single Girl.
MacRae's survivors include a daughter, actress Heather MacRae, and two sons, William Gordon MacRae and Robert Bruce MacRae.
Sheila MacRae was so much fun to work with!!!!!! She came on SFT as Hogan's literary agent when he was writing romance novels using a female "nom de plume!" She was full of great stories about Hollywood, working with Jackie Gleason and was so glamorous and charismatic that every day on set with her was a blast!
ReplyDeleteAfter her role ended, we became social friends and shared many meals and many laughs for years after.
I had stayed in touch with Heather, her very talented daughter, who was a star in her own right on Broadway, and drove her out to NJ several times to visit Sheila at the actor's home. She was frail but still glam in her leopard print robe and knew every lyric at the sunday show tune sing along. She was one of a kind, and I treasure the wonderful times we had together. She will be missed!!!
Marcia McCabe