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Eve McVeagh

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Eve McVeagh
McVeagh publicity photo for Snafu on Broadway (1945)
Born
Eva Elizabeth McVeagh

(1919-07-15)July 15, 1919
Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
DiedDecember 10, 1997(1997-12-10) (aged 78)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1937–1989
Spouse(s)Gene Rizzi
(m. 1939–1947; divorced)
William C. Appleby
(m. 1947–1956; his death)
Robert Cole
(m. 1956; divorced)
Clarke Gordon
(m. 1957–her death)
Children4

Eva Elizabeth "Eve" McVeagh (July 15, 1919 – December 10, 1997) was an American actress of film, television, stage, and radio. Her career spanned 52 years from her first stage role through her last stage appearance.[1] Her roles included leading and supporting parts as well as smaller character roles in which she proved a gifted character actress.[2]

Early life

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Born in Cincinnati, Ohio to Hugh McVeagh, a railroad clerk, and Eva E. Johnson, she moved to Los Angeles in 1923 with her widowed mother and maternal grandmother, Molly Johnson,[3] where she started acting in theater in her teens.[1]

Stage

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Eve McVeagh Headshot circa 1965

Following stage success in Hollywood, McVeagh moved to New York City in her 20s, performing on radio and on Broadway in several productions including the roles of Martha in Snafu (1944–1945)[4] and Patsy Laverne in Too Hot for Maneuvers (1945).[2] After the well received Broadway run of Snafu, McVeagh took over the female lead at The National Theater in Washington DC in 1945.[5]

In 1947, McVeagh played a supporting role opposite Billie Burke and Grant Mitchell in the original play Accidentally Yours. The production received very favorable reviews on the West Coast and was en route to New York where it was predicted to be the "comedy smash hit of 1948".[6] However, the production was not a commercial success and never made it to Broadway. Ms McVeagh did not perform on Broadway again, but after returning to Los Angeles, and working in film and television for years, she traveled back to New York to perform in the play Scuba Duba in 1971.

After this stage work, McVeagh traveled back to her home base in Los Angeles. She starred in West Coast premieres of Broadway shows at the Pasadena Playhouse, most notably the lead in Come Back Little Sheba. Her Hollywood theater work included one year as Martha in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Her stage career continued in Las Vegas in 1981 in The Ninety Day Mistress, playing the mother of June Wilkinson's character. She continued to act in small stage productions including several with the award-winning Theatre Forty Company in Beverly Hills. In Hollywood, her final role was as a member of a lesbian couple in 1989 concluding an over 50 year stage career.[1]

Film

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McVeagh's first film appearance was a supporting role in the classic High Noon (1952) in which she played Mildred Fuller alongside Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly. In the early 1950s she was under contract with Columbia Pictures. During that time, she co-starred in Tight Spot as Clara Moran playing the sister of Ginger Rogers: Of her performance, The New York Times raved "For our money, the best scene, whipped up by scenarist William Bowers, is the anything-but-tender reunion of Miss Rogers and her sister, Eve McVeagh ... an ugly, blistering pip."[7] Ms. McVeagh was also featured opposite Richard Widmark and Lauren Bacall in The Cobweb as Shirley Irwin. She starred as Viv in The Glass Web, and was featured as Mrs. Clinton in Three in the Attic, Mrs. Masters in The Way West, Mrs. Griggs in Crime & Punishment, USA, a reporter in the Dino De Laurentiis production of King Kong, and The Graduate.[1] Her final co-starring film role was in the independent film Money to Burn (1983) as Vivian. Her last onscreen appearance was a cameo role in Creator (1985) with Peter O'Toole. Ms. McVeagh's contributions to film were recognized by the bestowal of full voting membership in the actor's branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in September 1974.[8] Her contributions in film spanned 33 years.[citation needed]

Television

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McVeagh, a Hitchcock favorite, as Georgia in "Incident at a Corner" (1960)

McVeagh's career in television began in 1946 as a primary cast member in the first American network Soap Opera, Faraway Hill. Other notable early television series on which she guest starred included Dragnet and I Love Lucy (as Lucy's hairdresser, Roberta, in the classic "Black Wig" episode). She was featured in three episodes of Perry Mason and two episodes of The Twilight Zone, and was a regular guest on The Johnny Carson Show. Alfred Hitchcock notably hired actors he liked regularly. McVeagh was featured in four episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents and two episodes of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour ("Last Seen Wearing Blue Jeans" in 1963). She co-starred on the Hitchcock-directed episode, "Incident at a Corner", of the television series Startime (pictured).[9] Roles in the 1960s also included Frances Moseby, a series regular, on The Clear Horizon, a recurring character, Miss Hammond, on Petticoat Junction, as well as roles on Bonanza, Ironside and My Three Sons. Continuing in the 1970s, she appeared in the 1972 television movie "The Daughters of Joshua Cabe".

McVeagh was a regular on The Red Skelton Show for its last season. She also regularly performed in guest spots in Room 222 and McMillan & Wife. A favorite of Lucille Ball going back to I Love Lucy, she appeared with her on Here's Lucy. She guest starred in Love, American Style, and was featured in Little House on the Prairie, The Streets of San Francisco, The Virginian, The Bionic Woman, Charlie's Angels, The Jeffersons, Lou Grant, The Incredible Hulk, Knots Landing, Hill Street Blues, Hunter, and Airwolf. She rounded out the 1970s on a high note as socialite Helen Carrington in the 1979 critically acclaimed television movie Murder by Natural Causes with Hal Holbrook.

In the 1980s, her last decade in entertainment, McVeagh co-starred in an episode of Michael Landon's Highway to Heaven and was featured in two episodes of Simon & Simon. McVeagh guest starred in a 1985 episode of Cagney and Lacey as Dorothy Gantney, the grief-stricken mother of a murder victim in "The Psychic". McVeagh's last television credit was in 1988 on an episode of the Pat Morita series Ohara as Mabel Moore. Her career in television spanned 42 years.[citation needed]

Radio

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Eve McVeagh CBS Publicity Photo (1952)

Photograph (right) was taken for "Let's Play Tennis Week" a charity event with stars of that era.

During the "Golden Age of Radio", McVeagh had several leading and supporting series roles and episodic leads in the 1940s and 1950s. She played Mrs. Harriet Beatty on the "Clyde Beatty Show", and was a regular on "Broadway Is My Beat" and "Stars Over Hollywood". She starred in "Hollywood Hostages", an episode of "Suspense", as Grace. McVeagh was a principal performer on "Jeff Regan, Investigator", Jack Webb's radio noir series. "McVeagh's ditzy—and sultry—characterizations were regularly featured"[10] in the series. She also played the lead in the role of convicted murderess Marie Lafarge in the 1953 episode of Crime Classics, "The Seven Layered Arsenic Cake of Madame Lafarge". McVeagh appeared as the title character in the May 29, 1960 episode of "Gunsmoke" entitled "Bad Seed" and again in the January 29, 1961 episode entitled "Harriet".

Acting and voice coach

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McVeagh was an acting and voice coach at the Film Actors Workshop at Warner Brothers Studios. Additionally, she taught privately and guest lectured at the University of Southern California in the School of Theatre.[1]

Family life

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McVeagh was married to character actor and director Clarke Gordon (her fourth husband) at the time of her death and had four children and nine grandchildren.[1]

Death

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Eve McVeagh Gordon died on December 10, 1997, from natural causes in Los Angeles. She was 78 years old.[1]

Stage, Radio, Television and Film Credits

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Year Title Role Notes
1943 Silk Hat Harry Jayne Spence Stage (Music Box Theater, Hollywood – original cast)
1944–1945 Snafu Martha Stage (Broadway – original cast)
1945 Too Hot for Maneuvers Patsy Laverne Stage (Broadway – original cast)
1946 Faraway Hill Series Regular Television Soap Opera. First soap opera on American Television network.
1947 Public Prosecutor Dorcas Lyndon TV series, 1 episode
1947 Accidentally Yours Jean Erwin Stage (Touring Company – original cast – see "Stage" section for more details)
1948–1950 Jeff Regan, Investigator Principal Actor CBS Radio Series
1950–1951 Clyde Beatty Show Mrs. Harriet Beatty Syndicated Radio Series
1949–1954 Broadway Is My Beat Series Regular CBS Radio Series
1952–1954 Stars Over Hollywood Series Regular CBS Radio Series
1952 Racket Squad Guest Star TV series, 1 episode
1952 High Noon Mildred Fuller Film
1952 Your Jeweler's Showcase TV series, 1 episode
1952-1953 Schlitz Playhouse Elly TV series, 2 episodes
1953 Crime Classics Madame Marie Lafarge Episode: "The Seven Layered Arsenic Cake of Madame Lafarge" (CBS Radio Series)
1953 The Glass Web Viv Film
1953 Life with Luigi TV series, 1 episode
1954 Dragnet TV series, 1 episode
1951-1954 Fireside Theatre Marge / Murial Tannant TV series, 4 episodes
1954 I Love Lucy Roberta TV series, 1 episode
1954 Climax! TV series, 1 episode
1955 The Ford Television Theatre Suzie TV series, 1 episode
1955 Tight Spot Clara Moran Film
1955 Stage 7 Miss Shelby Episode: "The Traveling Salesman" (TV series)
1955 The Cobweb Mrs. Shirley Irwin Film
1955 Not as a Stranger Mr. Ferris Film, Uncredited
1955 Crossroads Myrtle Greenspant TV series, 1 episode
1955 I'll Cry Tomorrow Ethel Film, Uncredited
1955 It's a Dog's Life Elsa, Piano Player Film, Uncredited
1955 I Led 3 Lives Miss Cutler TV series, 1 episode
1956 Crusader Pearl Winacheck TV series, 1 episode
1956 The 20th Century-Fox Hour Nurse TV series, 1 episode
1956 Science Fiction Theatre Ann Page TV series, 1 episode
1956 Highway Patrol Mrs. West TV series, 1 episode
1956 Reprisal! Nora Shipley Film, Uncredited
1956 The Opposite Sex Departing Woman Film, Uncredited
1956 The Rack Woman at Airfield Film, Uncredited
1956 Suspense Grace Episode: "Hollywood Hostages" (CBS Radio Series)
1957 The Shadow on the Window Bessie Warren Film, Uncredited
1957 The Jack Benny Program Reunion Guest TV series, 1 episode
1957 Sierra Stranger Ruth Gaines Film
1957 Adventures of Superman Mrs. Wilson TV series, 1 episode
1957 The George Sanders Mystery Theater Thelma TV series, 1 episode
1957 Casey Jones Nell Dixon TV series, 1 episode
1958 The Court of Last Resort Edith Elwell TV series, 1 episode
1958 Mike Hammer Veronica Karnes TV series, 1 episode
1958 The Left Handed Gun Mrs. McSween Film, Uncredited
1958 General Electric Theater Woman TV series, 1 episode
1958 Unwed Mother Film
1958 Man with a Camera Mrs. Collins TV series, 1 episode
1959 Alcoa Theatre Miss Bellows TV series, 1 episode
1959 Crime and Punishment U.S.A. Mrs. Griggs Film
1959 The Thin Man Dakota Dane TV series, 1 episode
1959 Rawhide Beulah TV series, 1 episode
1959 Dennis the Menace Mrs. Purcell TV series, 1 episode
1959 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Waitress Season 5 Episode 4: "Coyote Moon"
1960 Johnny Ringo Molly Crawford TV series, 1 episode
1957-1960 Perry Mason Saleswoman / Laura Richards / Nora Fleming TV series, 3 episodes
1960 Lawman Josie, Saloon Gal TV series, 1 episode
1960 Riverboat Julie Scott TV series, 1 episode
1960 Man on a String Madame Pusawa Film, Uncredited
1960 Startime Georgia TV series, 1 episode
1960 The Clear Horizon Frances Moseby (1960-1962) TV series
1960 The Wizard of Baghdad Oracle Film, Uncredited
1961 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Eve the Reporter (uncredited) Season 6 Episode 31: "The Gloating Place"
1961 Coronado 9 Laura Tyler TV series, 1 episode
1961 Surfside 6 Blosson McKenzie TV series, 1 episode
1961 The Real McCoys Myra McCoy TV series, 3 episodes
1961 Tales of Wells Fargo The Woman TV series, 1 episode
1961 Cain's Hundred Bunny Baxter TV series, 1 episode
1962 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Mrs. Archer Season 7 Episode 20: "The Test"
1962 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Mae Season 7 Episode 30: "What Frightened You, Fred?"
1962 Checkmate Bess Conrad TV series, 1 episode
1962 Have Gun - Will Travel Katherine TV series, 1 episode
1962 Thriller Bonnie / Mrs. Curtis TV series, 2 episodes
1962 The Law and Mr. Jones Mrs. Pierce TV series, 1 episode
1962 The Tall Man Lily Varnell TV series, 1 episode
1963 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Rose Cates Season 1 Episode 28: "Last Seen Wearing Blue Jeans"
1963 The Lieutenant Marge Fowler TV series, 1 episode
1961–1963 77 Sunset Strip Landlady / Elizabeth Dawson TV series, 2 episodes
1962-1963 Wagon Train Mrs. Sharp / Yolanda TV series, 2 episodes
1963 Petticoat Junction Miss Hammond TV series, 3 episodes
1964 Arrest and Trial Mrs. Nello TV series, 1 episode
1964 Twilight Zone Ella Koch / Nurse TV series, 2 episodes
1964 Karen Mrs. Peters TV series, 1 episode
1965 The Man from U.N.C.L.E Baroness TV series, 1 episode
1965 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Sylvia Boggs Season 3 Episode 27: "The Second Wife"
1965 Dr. Kildare Dr. Ruth Becker TV series, 1 episode
1965 Daniel Boone Eleanor Tully / Kate Bothwell TV series, 1 episode
1966 Hank Miss Krimmer TV series, 1 episode
1966 My Favorite Martian Mother TV series, 1 episode
1966 My Mother the Car Goldie TV series, 1 episode
1966 F Troop Wilma McGee TV series, 1 episode
1966 My Three Sons Clara TV series, 1 episode
1967 The F.B.I. Bea Jensen TV series, 1 episode
1967 The Way West Mrs. Masters Film
1967 Bonanza Harriet Guthrie TV series, 1 episode
1967 The Graduate Mrs. Carlson, Party Guest Film, Uncredited
1968 Ironside Manager TV series, 1 episode
1968 Three in the Attic Mrs. Clinton Film
1969 Mayberry R.F.D. Mrs. Whitakker TV series, 1 episode
1969 Dragnet Mrs. Shore / Margaret Chance / Bonnie McKenzie TV series, 3 episodes
1969 Roberta Anna TV movie
1969 The Virginian Mrs. Foster / Maude TV series, 2 episodes
1970 Airport Mrs. Henry Bron, Passenger Film, Uncredited
1970 The Liberation of L.B. Jones Miss Griggs Film
1970 The Odd Couple Mrs. Lachman TV series, 1 episode
1970–1971 The Red Skelton Show Series Regular (Various Characters) Television Variety Series
1969-1971 Room 222 Madge Morano / PTA member TV series, 2 episodes
1971 Love, American Style Eloise Hempsted TV series, 1 episode, (segment "Love and the Artful Codger")
1971 Scuba Duba Landlady Stage Studio Arena Theater (Buffalo, NY)
1972 Glass Houses
1972 The Courtship of Eddie's Father Lorraine Karn TV series, 1 episode
1972 The Daughters of Joshua Cabe Mother Superior TV movie
1972 Alias Smith and Jones Woman TV series, 1 episode
1973 The Streets of San Francisco Mrs. Logan TV series, 1 episode
1973 Here's Lucy Woman with Dog TV series, 1 episode
1968-1973 Adam-12 Margaret Willis / Marge Jenkins / Thelma Walker TV series, 3 episodes
1972-1974 McMillan & Wife Lady in Elevator / Mrs. Denny / Woman TV series, 3 episodes
1974 The Snoop Sisters Coven Member TV series, 1 episode
1974 Police Story Ethel TV series, 1 episode
1974 Movin' On Rosalie TV series, 1 episode
1975 The Texas Wheelers Mrs. Klate TV series, 1 episode
1975 Little House on the Prairie Mrs. Hillstrom TV series, 1 episode
1975 Maude Renee TV series, 1 episode
1976 King Kong Reporter Film, Uncredited
1977 The Bionic Woman Middle Aged Woman TV series, 1 episode
1979 Charlie's Angels Old Lady (with Lasso) TV series, 1 episode
1979 Murder by Natural Causes Helen Carrington TV movie
1979 Barnaby Jones Millie Kelley TV series, 1 episode
1980 Days of Our Lives Mrs. Kositchek (Recurring) Television Soap Opera
1980 Spoon River Anthology Several Characters Stage (Theatre Forty Company, Beverly Hills)
1980 The Jeffersons Mrs. Simpson TV series, 1 episode
1980 CHiPs Wife TV series, 1 episode
1979-1981 Lou Grant Clare / Elizabeth Benson Television
1981 The Incredible Hulk Landlady TV series, 1 episode
1982 Long Day's Journey Into Night Mary Stage (Richmond Shepard Theater Studios, Hollywood)
1982 Knots Landing Mrs. Green TV series, 1 episode
1982 Life of the Party: The Story of Beatrice Mrs. Rugolo TV movie
1982 Hill Street Blues Tenant TV series, 1 episode
1983 Knight Rider Slot Granny TV series, 1 episode
1983 Money to Burn Vivian Film
1984 Jennifer Slept Here Mrs. McGovern TV series, 1 episode
1984 Hunter Mrs. Onadon TV series, 1 episode
1984 Airwolf Annie TV series, 1 episode
1985 Highway to Heaven Flora TV series, 1 episode
1985 T. J. Hooker Manager TV series, 1 episode
1985 Creator Woman with monkey Film
1985 Cagney & Lacey Dorothy Gantney TV series, 1 episode
1985-1986 Simon & Simon Mrs. Talbot TV series, 2 episodes
1987 Mathnet Mrs. Swaggle TV series, 1 episode
1987 Square One TV Mrs. Swaggle TV series, 1 episode
1988 Ohara Mabel Moore TV Series, 1 episode (final appearance)

[2][11][12][13] [14] [15]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Eve McVeagh Gordon dies at 78". Variety. January 5, 1998.
  2. ^ a b c "Eve McVeagh on IBDB". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
  3. ^ 1930 Federal Census Records, Los Angeles
  4. ^ "Eve McVeagh Theatre Credits". Broadway World. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
  5. ^ Solomon, Louis; et al. (1945). Snafu. Richard L. Coe Theater Programs Collection (Library of Congress). Retrieved September 12, 2012.
  6. ^ Column, Arts & Entertainment (April 22, 1947). ""Accidentally Yours" Coming Here Thursday". San Jose Evening News. Retrieved November 9, 2013..
  7. ^ T., H.H. (March 19, 1955). "The Screen: Tight Spot; Crime Drama Bows on Bill at Palace". The New York Times.
  8. ^ "Eve McVeagh - Actors Branch Member". The Academy Members Project. May 14, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  9. ^ McDevitt, Jim; San Juan, Eric (2009). A Year of Hitchcock: 52 weeks with the master of suspense. Lanham, MD: The Scarecrow Press. p. 399. ISBN 9780810863880. Retrieved October 2, 2014.
  10. ^ "Digital Deli Too". Perry Mason Connection. digitaldeliftp.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  11. ^ "77 Sunset Strip: A Titles and Airdates Guide". epguides.com. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
  12. ^ "Eve McVeagh – Filmography". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  13. ^ Miller, Christine A. "Escape and Suspense!". escape-suspense.com. Retrieved March 16, 2012.
  14. ^ Abbott, Sam (August 28, 1943). "Silk Hat Harry (Reviewed at the Music Box Theater, Hollywood)". Billboard. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
  15. ^ "The Digital Deli Too: Preserving the Golden Age of Radio for a Digital Future". thedigitaldeliftp.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2013. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
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