Mary Jane Croft (February 15, 1916 - August 24, 1999)

Mary Jane Croft is someone who has not been given the recognition and admiration she deserves. Before she became known as Lucy Carmichael's bubbly pal on "The Lucy Show" in 1965, she was one of Hollywood's hardest working character actresses. Croft's voice could be heard on radio programs like "My Favorite Husband", "Our Miss Brooks", "The Beulah Show", "The Mel Blanc Show", "Joan Davis Time", The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes", "Those We Love", "Open House", "Blondie", "Twelve Players", "The Adventures of Sam Spade", and "Jane Edicott, Girl Reporter." On January 30, 1949 she performed opposite Robert Montgomery in "The Screen Director's Guild" production of Alfred Hitchcock's "Mr. & Mrs. Smith." Montgomery reprised his role of Mr. Smith from the film version and Croft portrayed Mrs. Smith, replacing actress Carole Lombard who passed away unexpectedly in 1942. On television she reprised her role as Daisy Enright on "Our Miss Brooks." She also played Clara Randolph on "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriett" and provided the voice of Cleo the bassett hound on "The People's Choice." Her television career with Lucille Ball began on March 29, 1954. Croft played Cynthia Harcourt in the "I Love Lucy" episode "Lucy is Envious." Croft followed up that appearance with another on May 14, 1956 in the episode entitled "Return Home from Europe" in which she played Evelyn Bigsby. The following year the Ricardos and the Mertzes moved to Westport, CT and Croft appeared in five episodes as their neighbor Betty Ramsey. When Lucille Ball returned to weekly television in 1962's "The Lucy Show" Croft was brought into the play the occasional role of Audrey Simmons. She appeared in the role spiradically between 1962 and 1964. In 1965, Lucy's longtime comic partner Vivian Vance, left the series and Croft was brought in to fill the void. She remained until the show ended in 1968. Ball's third television series "Here's Lucy", began in the fall of 1968 and Croft reprised her role as Mary Jane Lewis in 1969. She remained with the show until it closed its door in 1974. Croft's final television appearance was in the 1977 TV special "Lucy Calls the President" which was also the final time she appeared on screen with Lucille Ball, Vivian Vance, and Gale Gordon. Croft retired after "Lucy Calls the President" and lived her final 22 years in Century City, California. Throughout the 1990's she participated in many "Lucy" related tributes and fan shows. In 1998, a year before her passing, she was the guest of honor at "Loving Lucy '98" where she received the Lifetime of Excellence Award. From Maggie Baldwin to Daisy Enright to Cynthia Harcourt to Evelyn Bigsby to Betty Ramsey to Audrey Simmons to Mary Jane Lewis to Midge Bowser...Mary Jane Croft was a lot more than just a lovely lady with a striking voice.

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