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Doris Packer

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American actress (1904–1979)

Doris Packer
Packer in the TV series The Beverly Hillbillies, episode The Clampett Look, 1963
Born(1904-05-30)May 30, 1904
Menominee, Michigan, U.S.
DiedMarch 31, 1979(1979-03-31) (aged 74)
Glendale, California, U.S.
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale
Alma materUniversity of California, Los Angeles
OccupationActress
Years active1953–1975
Spouse Rowland G. Edwards ​ ​(m. 1928; died 1953)​

Doris Packer (May 30, 1904 – March 31, 1979) was an American actress, possibly best known for her recurring role as Mrs. Cornelia Rayburn, Theodore Cleaver's elementary school principal in the television series, Leave It to Beaver.

Packer portrayed the mother of millionaire playboy Chatsworth Osborne, Jr. on CBS's The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. Earlier, she played Clarice Armitage, mother of Milton Armitage, whose character on the series Osborne replaced. In most of her screen roles, she was known for her aristocratic and intellectual bearing and precise use of the English language.

Background

Doris Packer and Irene Ryan in the TV series The Beverly Hillbillies, episode The Clampett Look, 1963

Packer was born in Menominee, Michigan. Her family moved to southern California when she was quite young. She became interested in acting while in high school. After attending the University of California at Los Angeles, she moved to New York City to study under noted drama and dance teacher Evelyn Thomas. Packer also appeared in Broadway shows.

During World War II, Packer enlisted in the U.S. Army Women's Army Corps (WACs), joining in 1943 as a Private and eventually reaching the rank of Technical Sergeant. Her discharge records were likely lost in the 1973 fire at the Military Personnel Records Center.

Packer appared in an episode of Colgate Theatre in 1958 and played wealthy society matrons on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show and I Love Lucy and Mrs. Wiley on The Andy Griffith Show. She had a recurring role as Clara Mason in the 1960-61 sitcom Happy. Packer played Mrs. McGillicuddy in the 1961 episode "Gladys' Political Campaign" on the CBS sitcom Pete and Gladys.

She played Grandmother Nedra in S3 E35 (1962) of The Twilight Zone entitled "I Sing the Body Electric". She played the wealthy Mrs Huntingdon in a 1963 episode "I'm No Henry Walden!" on CBS's The Dick Van Dyke Show. She appeared on three episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies as wealthy matron Mrs. Fenwick. She made a guest appearance on Perry Mason in 1962 as Mrs. Campion in "The Case of the Polka Dot Pony".

During the first season of Petticoat Junction in 1964, Packer appeared in the thirtieth episode, titled "Kate and the Dowager". She portrayed a hotel guest whom Kate Bradley was trying to impress. She played retiring high school teacher Miss Hortense Pringle in a season two episode of My Favorite Martian entitled "We Love You, Miss Pringle" in 1965.

Family

Packer was married to stage director Rowland G. Edwards for 25 years — from September 29, 1928 until his death on August 10, 1953. The couple had no children.

Death

Packer died, aged 74, in 1979 in Glendale, California, of natural causes. Her body was interred in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California, with her grave marker noting her military service.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1953 Meet Me at the Fair Mrs. Swaile
1954 About Mrs. Leslie Boutique customer Uncredited
1955 Teen-Age Crime Wave Juvenile Court Judge Uncredited
1956 Anything Goes English Woman in Audience Uncredited
1962 Bon Voyage! Mrs. Henderson Uncredited
1962 Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation Hostess Uncredited
1966 Paradise, Hawaiian Style Mrs. Barrington
1967 The Perils of Pauline Mrs. Carruthers
1975 Shampoo Rozalind (final film role)

References

  1. "LYTELL TO STAR IN PLAY: "Reunion In Vienna" Starts Stock Season at Newark Monday". The New York Times. April 15, 1933. p. 16 Amusements. The Broad Street Theatre will open a stock season on Monday night...Doris Packer will have the Lynn Fontaine role
  2. "NEW STOCK COMPANY.: The Broome Stagers to Open With "Back Fire" June 13". The New York Times. June 6, 1932. p. 18 Amusements. The Broome Stagers announce the opening of their first offering "Back on Fire" at the Vanderbilt Theatre...and will have in its cast...Doris Packer
  3. "Doris Packer: World War II U.S. Army Enlistments U.S. Army Enlistment Record". Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  4. "The 1973 Fire, National Personnel Records Center". Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  5. Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 25047-25048). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.

External links

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