Ross, Marion 1928–

PERSONAL

Original name, Marian Ross; born October 25, 1928, in Albert Lea, MN; married Freeman Meskiman, 1951 (divorced 1969); companion of Paul Michael (an actor); children: Jim Meskimen (an actor), Ellen Plummer (an actress, producer, and writer). Education: Graduated from San Diego Stage College (now University).

Addresses: Contact—Dale Olson and Associates, 7420 Mulholland Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90046-1306. Agent—The Artists Agency, 1180 South Beverly Dr., Suite 301, Los Angeles, CA 90035; Cunningham/Escott/Slevin and Doherty Talent Agency, 10635 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 140, Los Angeles, CA 90025.

Career: Actress. Old Globe (theatre), San Diego, CA, associate artist and portrayed Elizabeth I for the theatre's seventieth anniversary celebration, 2005. Appeared in television commercials and print advertisements. Spokesperson for the city of Marion, IL.

Member: Actors' Equity Association, Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers.

Awards, Honors: Emmy Award nominations, outstanding supporting actress in a comedy or comedy-variety series, 1979, and outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series, 1984, both for Happy Days; Q awards, best actress in a quality comedy series, Viewers for Quality Television, 1992 and 1993, and Emmy Award nominations, outstanding lead actress in a comedy series, 1992 and 1993, all for Brooklyn Bridge; Lone Star Film and Television Award, best supporting actress, and Golden Globe Award nomination, best performance by an actress in a supporting role in a motion picture, both 1997, for The Evening Star; Emmy Award nomination, outstanding guest actress in a drama series, 1999, for "The Wind beneath My Wings," an episode of Touched by an Angel; received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, 2001.

CREDITS

Television Appearances; Series:

Nora, Life with Father, CBS, 1953–55.

Susan Green, Mrs. G Goes to College (also known as The Gertrude Berg Show), CBS, 1961.

Assistant dean Ryker, Channing (also known as The Young and the Bold), ABC, 1963–64.

Nurse Bromfield, Mr. Novak, NBC, 1963–64.

Mary Morgan, Paradise Bay, NBC, 1965–66.

Marion Cunningham, Happy Days (also known as Happy Days Again), ABC, 1974 84.

Emily Hayward Stubing, The Love Boat, ABC, 1980, 1986.

Host, Alive and Well, beginning 1984.

Sophie Berger, Brooklyn Bridge, CBS, 1991–93.

Beulah Carey, The Drew Carey Show, ABC, 1997–2004.

Postcards from Heaven, beginning 1999.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Ellie North, Pearl, ABC, 1978.

Voice of Eleanor Roosevelt, A Century of Women, TBS, 1994.

Voices of Anna Eisenmenger and Kathe Kollwitz, The Great War and the Shaping of the 20th Century (documentary; also known as The Great War and 1914–18), PBS, 1996.

Lila Ferrami, The Third Twin (also known as Ken Follett's "The Third Twin"), CBS, 1997.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Elsie May, The Slowest Gun in the West, CBS, 1960.

Mrs. Hoyt, Any Second Now, NBC, 1969.

Mrs. Pilgrim, The Psychiatrist: God Bless the Children (also known as Children of the Lotus Eater), NBC, 1970.

Mrs. Crowe, The Weekend Nun (also known as Matter of the Heart), 1972.

Madeline, The Survival of Dana (also known as On the Edge: The Survival of Dana), 1979.

Natalie Ward, Skyward (also known as Ron Howard's "Skyward"), NBC, 1980.

Emily Moore, Midnight Offerings, ABC, 1981.

Caroline Murchison, Sins of the Father, NBC, 1985.

Emily Stubing, The Love Boat: The Christmas Cruise, ABC, 1986.

Emily Stubing, The Love Boat: The Shipshape Cruise, ABC, 1986.

Emily Stubing, The Love Boat: Who Killed Maxwell Thorn?, ABC, 1986.

Charlotte Brandon, A Perfect Stranger (also known as Danielle Steel's "A Perfect Stranger"), NBC, 1994.

Maureen Morris (some sources cite Maureen Collier), Hart to Hart: Secrets of the Hart (also known as Hart to Hart: The Locket), NBC, 1995.

Mrs. Diamant, Hidden in Silence, Lifetime, 1996.

Maggie, The Lake, NBC, 1998.

Rose, About Sarah, CBS, 1998.

Margaret Smith, "Ladies and the Champ," The Wonderful World of Disney, ABC, 2001.

Leslie Clyde Onstott, Where There's a Will (also known as A Family of Strangers), The Hallmark Channel, 2006.

Some sources cite appearances in The Burning, ABC; and Dinner at Eight.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Lila Dennis (some sources cite Marion Dennis), "Which Mother Is Mine?" (also known as "My Other Mother"), ABC Afterschool Specials, ABC, 1979.

Mrs. Davies, "Have You Ever Been Ashamed of Your Parents?" (also known as "Just Like Us"), ABC Afterschool Specials, ABC, 1983.

The History of White People in America, HBO, 1985.

Dr. Eleanor Taub, You Are the Jury, NBC, 1986.

Host, Star Tour Australia, syndicated, 1986.

Billie Silverman, "The Kid Who Wouldn't Quit: The Brad Silverman Story" (also known as "The Kid Who Wouldn't Quit"), ABC Afterschool Specials, ABC, 1987.

Herself, Stand-Up Comics Take a Stand, Family Channel, 1988.

Voice of Edith Bolling Gait Wilson, "Woodrow Wilson," The American Experience, PBS, 1988.

The Happy Days Reunion (also known as The Happy Days Reunion Special), ABC, 1992.

Star-athon '92: A Weekend with the Stars, syndicated, 1992.

Ruth Robertson, "Me and My Hormones," ABC Afterschool Specials, ABC, 1996.

The 67th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade, UPN, 1998.

Herself, Assignment E! with Leeza Gibbons: Hollywood's Youth Obsession, E! Entertainment Television, 1999.

Herself, Entertainment Tonight Presents: Happy Days—Secrets, syndicated, 1999.

The 70th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade, 2001.

Herself, ABC 50th Anniversary Blooper Celebration, ABC, 2003.

Herself, ABC's 50th Anniversary Celebration, ABC, 2003.

Herself, Great Women of Television Comedy: A Museum of Television & Radio Special (also known as Great Women of Television Comedy), NBC, 2003.

(In archive footage) Brilliant but Cancelled: Pilot Season (also known as Brilliant but Cancelled), Trio, 2003.

Herself, The Funniest Families of Television Comedy: A Museum of Television & Radio Special (also known as The Funniest Families of Television Comedy), ABC, 2004.

Herself, Happy Days: 30th Anniversary Reunion, ABC, 2005.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

Presenter, The 1998 Creative Arts Emmy Awards, TV Land, 1998.

Herself, The Fourth Annual Family Television Awards, ABC, 2002.

Presenter, The Sixth Annual Family Television Awards, The WB, 2004.

Performer in "Desperate Classic Housewives" skit, The Third Annual TV Land Awards, TV Land, 2005.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Dixie, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (also known as The Burns and Allen Show), CBS, 1954.

Ginny Thorpe, "Texas Draw," The Lone Ranger, ABC, 1954.

Nurse, "The Count of Ten," Letter to Loretta (also known as The Loretta Young Show and The Loretta Young Theatre), NBC, 1954.

Edith, "Blithe Spirit," Ford Star Jubilee, CBS, 1956.

"The Reverend John Hardin Story," The Millionaire (also known as If You Had a Million), CBS, 1956.

Drucilla, "Jittery Juror," The Thin Man, NBC, 1958.

Rose, "Hunter's Moon," Buckskin, NBC, 1958.

"Peace Bond," Mike Hammer (also known as Mickey Spillane's "Mike Hammer"), syndicated, 1958.

"The Walkout," The Walter Winchell File, ABC, 1958.

Helen Harvey, "The Case of the Romantic Rogue," Perry Mason, CBS, 1959.

Lucy, "High School Bride," M Squad, NBC, 1959.

Miss McGinnis, "Flowers for the Teacher," The Donna Reed Show, ABC, 1959.

Vera Schultz, "The Dutch Schultz Story," The Untouchables, ABC, 1959.

Ann Bell, "Dark Possession," The Chevy Mystery Show (also known as The Sunday Mystery Hour), NBC, 1960.

Diane Warren, "Duet," The Brothers Brannagan, syndicated, 1960.

Dottie Moll, "We Are the Women Who Wait," The Barbara Stanwyck Show, NBC, 1960.

Helen Craig, "You Kill Me," Philip Marlowe (also known as Philip Marlowe, Private Eye), ABC, 1960.

Elaine, "Night Panic," Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (also known as Desilu Playhouse), CBS, 1960.

Miss Abrams, "Jim's Big Surprise," Father Knows Best (also known as I Told You So), CBS, 1960.

Mrs. Wilson, "Sarah's Laughter," General Electric Theater (also known as G. E. Theater), CBS, 1960.

Mollie, "Seed of Evil," Zane Grey Theater (also known as Dick Powell's "Zane Grey Theater" and The Westerners), CBS, 1960.

Peg Santos, "No Margin for Error," Letter to Loretta (also known as The Loretta Young Show and The Loretta Young Theatre), NBC, 1960.

Kay Forrest, "The Prisoner in the Mirror," Thriller (also known as Boris Karloff's "Thriller"), NBC, 1961.

Martha Sayles, "Death Ride," Death Valley Days (also known as Call of the West, The Pioneers, Trails West, and Western Star Theater), syndicated, 1961.

Meg Landry, "Dante in the Dark," Dante, NBC, 1961.

Ann, "1800 Days to Justice," Route 66, CBS, 1962.

Flora, "The Woman Trap," Rawhide, CBS, 1962.

Laura Harding, "The Debasers," Cain's Hundred, NBC, 1962.

Priscilla Brewer, "Gold Fever," Rawhide, CBS, 1962.

Stacy Newcombe, "Finders Keepers," The Detectives Starring Robert Taylor (also known as The Detectives, The Detectives, Starring Robert Taylor, and Robert Taylor's "Detectives"), NBC, 1962.

"Night Panic," Kraft Television Theatre (also known as Kraft Mystery Theatre and Kraft Theatre), NBC, 1962.

Ann Patterson, "Charlie Wade Makes Lots of Shade," Dr. Kildare, NBC, 1963.

Mrs. Stewart, "Is Mr. Martian Coming Back?," The Eleventh Hour, NBC, 1963.

Sister Marcella, "The Outlaw and the Nun," The Great Adventure, CBS, 1963.

"The Stone Guest," Route 66, CBS, 1963.

Agnes "Aggie" Benjamin, "The Special One," The Outer Limits, ABC, 1964.

Etta Wheeler, "The Henry Bergh Story," The Great Adventure, CBS, 1964.

Marian Eckhardt, "Trial by Fire," The Fugitive, ABC, 1965.

Emma, "Halo for a Badman," Death Valley Days (also known as Call of the West, The Pioneers, Trails West, and Western Star Theater), syndicated, 1967.

Nurse, "An Arrangement with Death: Parts 1 & 2," Felony Squad, ABC, 1967.

Miss Wilkins, "Jury of One," Felony Squad, ABC, 1968.

Mrs. Petrizzi, "Barbara Who," Ironside (also known as The Raymond Burr Show), NBC, 1968.

Dr. Porter, "Is There a Doctor in the House?," The Brady Bunch, ABC, 1969.

Lurene Warinsky, "Return to the Summer Grove," Mannix, CBS, 1969.

Nurse Edith Lavallo, "Blind Tiger," Hawaii Five-O (also known as McGarrett), CBS, 1969.

Louise, "The Loser," The Mod Squad, ABC, 1970.

Anita Putnam, "Air Cargo … Dial for Murder," Hawaii Five-O (also known as McGarrett), CBS, 1971.

Gloria Bosner, "Contract: Kill Ironside," Ironside (also known as The Raymond Burr Show), NBC, 1971.

Ilene Decker, "Wednesday's Child," Longstreet, ABC, 1971.

Jean, "Wine from These Grapes," Mannix, CBS, 1971.

Mrs. Foster, "A Ghost Story," Mission: Impossible, CBS, 1971.

Sandy, "Operation: Deadhead," O'Hara, United States Treasury (also known as O'Hara, U.S. Treasury), CBS, 1971.

"A Push over the Edge," Sarge, NBC, 1971.

Dr. Cartwright, "He Could Sell Iceboxes to the Eskimos," Marcus Welby, M.D. (also known as Robert Young, Family Doctor), ABC, 1972.

Marion Cunningham, "Love and the Happy Days," Love, American Style, ABC, 1972, served as the pilot for the series Happy Days (also known as Happy Days Again), ABC.

Mrs. Bartel, "Buddy, Can You Spare a Life?," Ironside (also known as The Raymond Burr Show), NBC, 1972.

Fran McGowen, "The Wilderness," Escape, NBC, 1973.

Margaret, "Inheritance Tax," Emergency! (also known as Emergency One and Emergencia), NBC, 1973.

Muriel Enright, "A Problem of Innocence," Mannix, CBS, 1973.

Mary Sloan, "The Outsiders," Petrocelli, NBC, 1975.

Janet Williamson, "Deadly Journey," Petrocelli, NBC, 1976.

Mrs. Ross, "The Thrill Killers: Parts 1 & 2," The Streets of San Francisco, ABC, 1976.

Herself, Break the Bank, ABC, 1976.

Herself, $20,000 Pyramid, ABC, 1976, 1977.

Rose, "The Last of the Stubings/The Million Dollar Man/Sisters," The Love Boat, ABC, 1978.

Gladys, "Love, Honor and Obey/Gladys and Agnes/Radioactive Isaac," The Love Boat, ABC, 1981.

Marion Cunningham, "Chicago," Joanie Loves Chachi, ABC, 1982.

Marion Cunningham, "The Roommate," Joanie Loves Chachi, ABC, 1982.

Mary Hammond, "Hidden Treasure/Pictures from the Past/Ace's Salary," The Love Boat, ABC, 1985.

Nora Wheeler, "Rallying Cry," Hotel (also known as Arthur Hailey's "Hotel"), ABC, 1985.

Celeste, "Personals," You Again?, NBC, 1986.

Margaret Sturdevant, "The Initiation," Alfred Hitchcock Presents, USA Network, 1987.

Mrs. Daley, "The Trouble Is Not in Your Set," Night Court, NBC, 1989.

Sister Robin, "Harry's Will," MacGyver, ABC, 1990.

Mother Superior, "Silent Night, Holy Cow," Dream On, HBO, 1993, also broadcast on Fox.

Geraldine, "Kidnapped Boyfriend," Robin's Hoods, syndicated, 1994.

Helen, "The Favorite," The Boys Are Back, CBS, 1994.

Ruth Eggers, "A Cult to the System," The John Larroquette Show (also known as Larroquette), NBC, 1994.

Frances Farnsworth, "Who Killed the King of the Country Club?," Burke's Law, CBS, 1995.

Sophie, "There but for the Grace of God," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 1995.

Lillian Hightower, "The Motel," Promised Land (also known as Home of the Brave), CBS, 1996.

Eunice Fadiman, "The Cat," Early Edition, CBS, 1997.

Emma Winowitz, "The Wind beneath My Wings," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 1998.

Grandma Bernice Forman, "The Best Christmas Ever," That '70s Show (also known as Feelin' Alright, The Kids Are Alright, Reeling in the Years, and Teenage Wasteland), Fox, 1998.

Grandma Bernice Forman, "Sunday, Bloody Sunday," That '70s Show (also known as Feelin' Alright, The Kids Are Alright, Reeling in the Years, and Teenage Wasteland), Fox, 1998.

Judy Glacken, "How Long Has This Been Going on?," The Love Boat: The Next Wave, UPN, 1998.

Herself, The View, ABC, 1998.

Grandma Bernice Forman, "Grandma's Dead," That '70s Show (also known as Feelin' Alright, The Kids Are Alright, Reeling in the Years, and Teenage Wasteland), Fox, 1999.

Grandma Bernice Forman, "Halloween," That '70s Show (also known as Feelin' Alright, The Kids Are Alright, Reeling in the Years, and Teenage Wasteland), Fox, 1999.

Mrs. Jean Richardson, "The Nanny," Family Law, CBS, 1999.

Carol, "Thinking of You; Mama's Soup Pot; The Letter," Chicken Soup for the Soul, PAX TV, 2000.

Herself, "I Love 1975," I Love 1970s, BBC, 2000.

Voice of Rebecca the elephant queen, "Forget Me Not," The Wild Thornberrys (animated; also known as The Thornberrys), Nickelodeon, 2000.

Herself, "The Way We Were," In Food Today (also known as In Food Today: The Way We Were), Food Network, c. 2000.

Lorelai "Trix" Gilmore (Gran), "The Third Lorelai," Gilmore Girls (also known as Gilmore Girls: Beginnings and The Gilmore Way), The WB, 2001.

Herself, "Happy Days," TVography (also known as TVography: Happy Days), Arts and Entertainment, 2001.

Voice of Grandma SquarePants, "Grandma's Kisses/Squidville," SpongeBob SquarePants (animated; also known as SpongeBob and Spongeboy Squarepants), Nickelodeon, 2001.

Herself, Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher (also known as Politically Incorrect), ABC, 2001 (multiple appearances).

Herself, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, ABC, 2001 (multiple episodes).

Herself, "The Love Boat," TV Tales (also known as The Love Boat: TV Tales), E! Entertainment Television, 2002.

Herself, Intimate Portrait: Marion Ross, Lifetime, 2002.

Lorelai "Trix" Gilmore (Gran), "Face-Off," Gilmore Girls (also known as Gilmore Girls: Beginnings and The Gilmore Way), The WB, 2003.

Lorelai "Trix" Gilmore (Gran), "That'll Do, Pig," Gilmore Girls (also known as Gilmore Girls: Beginnings and The Gilmore Way), The WB, 2003.

Herself, "Happy Days," ET in TV Land, TV Land, 2003.

Sophie, "I Will Walk with You: Parts 1 & 2," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 2003.

Host, Intimate Portrait: Mothers and Daughters, Lifetime, 2003.

Herself, The Wayne Brady Show, syndicated, 2003.

Herself, Hollywood Squares (also known as H2 and H2: Hollywood Squares), syndicated, 2003, 2004.

Lorelai "Trix" Gilmore (Gran), "The Incredible Shrinking Lorelais," Gilmore Girls (also known as Gilmore Girls: Beginnings and The Gilmore Way), The WB, 2004.

Marilyn, "The Reigning Lorelai," Gilmore Girls (also known as Gilmore Girls: Beginnings and The Gilmore Way), The WB, 2004.

Voice of Ms. Wakefield, "Ms. Wakefield," King of the Hill (animated), Fox, 2004.

(In archive footage) Herself, Celebrities Uncensored, E! Entertainment Television, 2004.

Herself, Pyramid, syndicated, 2004.

Marilyn, "Wedding Bell Blues," Gilmore Girls (also known as Gilmore Girls: Beginnings and The Gilmore Way), The WB, 2005.

Voice of Marion Cunningham, "The Father, the Son and the Holy Fonz," Family Guy (animated; also known as Padre de familia and Padre del familia), Fox, 2005.

Grandma Bernice Forman, "The Final Goodbye," That '70s Show (also known as Feelin' Alright, The Kids Are Alright, Reeling in the Years, and Teenage Wasteland), Fox, 2006.

Norma, "Model Behavior," Out of Practice, CBS, 2006.

Herself, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (also known as The Late Late Show), CBS, 2006.

Appeared as herself in "Melissa Gilbert," Celebrity Profile (also known as E! Celebrity Profile), E! Entertainment Television; appeared as a street person in an episode of Glitter, ABC; and appeared in episodes of other series, including Storytime, PBS.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Marion Cunningham, Love and the Happy Days, broadcast on Love, American Style, ABC, 1972, pilot for the series Happy Days (also known as Happy Days Again), ABC.

Barbara Hallberg, "The Story of Barbara Hallberg," True Life Stories, ABC, 1981.

Sweet Justice, NBC, 1994.

Helen, Community Service, NBC, c. 2006.

Film Appearances:

Patty, Forever Female, Paramount, 1953.

(Uncredited) Miss Morris, Secret of the Incas, Paramount, 1954.

(Uncredited) Polly Haynes, The Glenn Miller Story, Universal, 1954.

(Uncredited) Spiller's girlfriend, Sabrina (also known as Sabrina Fair), Paramount, 1954.

(Uncredited) Young woman, Pushover, Columbia, 1954.

(Uncredited) Extra, Around the World in Eighty Days (also known as Around the World in 80 Days and Michael Todd's "Around the World in Eighty Days"), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1956.

Joan, The Proud and Profane, Paramount, 1956.

(Uncredited) Nita Naldi-type, The Best Things in Life Are Free, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1956.

(Uncredited) Sister Clothilde, Lust for Life, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1956.

Frances Denning, God Is My Partner, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1957.

Ruth Seaton, Lizzie, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1957.

Katy Fuller, Teacher's Pet, Paramount, 1958.

(Uncredited) Sister Mary Joseph (hospital nurse), Some Came Running, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1958.

Lieutenant Ruth Colfax, Operation Petticoat, Universal, 1959.

(Uncredited) It Started with a Kiss, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1959.

Young woman, Blueprint for Robbery, Paramount, 1961.

Angela Fields, Colossus: The Forbin Project (also known as Colossus 1980, The Day the World Changed Hands, and The Forbin Project), Universal, 1970.

(Uncredited) Passenger, Airport, Universal, 1970.

Mrs. Divine, Honky, 1971.

Vivian Hedgeworth, Grand Theft Auto, New World Pictures, 1977.

Rosie Dunlop, The Evening Star, Paramount, 1996.

Mrs. Larksmont, The Last Best Sunday, 1999.

Herself, Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (also known as Dickie Roberts: (Former) Child Star), Paramount, 2003.

Grandma, Music Within, Articulus Entertainment/Quorum Entertainment, 2007.

Shirley, Smiley Face (also known as Mary Warner), First Look Media, 2007.

Some sources cite an appearance in Our House.

Stage Appearances:

Isabella, The School for Husbands, Old Globe, San Diego, CA, 1951.

Asia Booth and understudy for Mary Devlin, Edwin Booth, 46th Street Theatre, New York City, 1958.

Paula, Catsplay, Old Globe, 1984.

Time of the Cuckoo, La Mirada Theatre, La Mirada, CA, 1986.

Martha Brewster, Arsenic and Old Lace, 46th Street Theatre, 1986–87, Shubert Theatre, Chicago, IL, 1987.

Appeared in other productions, including The Odd Couple.

Major Tours:

Edna St. Vincent Millay, A Lovely Light (solo show), 1988, 1997, 2005.

Amanda, The Glass Menagerie, U.S. cities, c. 1990.

Aida Gianelli, Over the River and through the Woods, U.S. cities, c. 2000, 2001, 2006.

Melissa Gardner, Love Letters, U.S. cities, 2003.

Ethel Banks, Barefoot in the Park, U.S. cities, 2004.

Performed in touring productions of Chapter Two, Forever Female, Long Day's Journey into Night, Never Too Late, Shelves, and Steel Magnolias.

Radio Appearances; Episodic:

Herself, The Paul Harris Show, KMOX, 2005.

RECORDINGS

Videos:

Herself, A Tough Nut (short), Echo Bridge Home Entertainment, 2006.

Video Games:

Herself, TV Land Presents Blast from the Past, Atari, 2001.

Voice of Grandma SquarePants, SpongeBob SquarePants: Employee of the Month, THQ, 2002.

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals:

Entertainment Weekly, January 17, 1997, p. 45.

Photoplay, September, 1979.