American actress and theatre performer Mary Wickes appeared in more than 50 films and more than a dozen plays. Through the different roles she played throughout her acting career as a nurse, secretary, housekeeper, spinster, stepmother, etc., her versatility was evident. Mary, who had excelled academically throughout high school and college, made the decision to attempt theater when her favorite professor suggested it. She was a fantastic artist who gave everything she had to every part, yet despite this, she never truly broke into the public and remained a scene-stealer. She once quipped, “They may not ask for my autograph, as long as they sign my pay check.” In the Broadway production of “The Man Who Came to Dinner” in 1939, she had her first notable performance. She portrayed a nurse, and in 1942, she appeared in the same film in a different capacity. She also starred in the films “Now, Voyager,” “June Bride,” “Sister Act,” and “Little Women.” Additionally, she had roles in more than 60 television programs, including “Dennis the Menace,” “Temple Houston,” “Here’s Lucy,” “Highway to Heaven,” and others.
Early Childhood & Life
Frank Wickenhauser and Mary Isabella had Mary Isabella Wickenhauser on June 13, 1910, in St. Louis, Missouri, the United States. She attended “Beaumont High School,” where she excelled academically.
She studied at “Washington University” in St. Louis and earned a double major in political science and English in 1930.
One of her favorite teachers suggested she attempt theater as an alternative to the law while she was considering it for her future studies.
Mary’s parents frequently took her to see different plays because they loved watching movies. That may be the reason Mary decides to take her professor’s counsel and pursue an acting profession.
Earlier Years of Mary Wickes
In 1934, Mary made her Broadway debut in Marc Connelly’s “The Farmer Takes a Wife.” She kept honing her talent while appearing in plays such as “Spring Dance,” “Open Door,” and “Hitch Your Wagon,” among others.
Mary also participated in the 1938 production of “Danton’s Death,” a drama by Orson Welles’ Mercury Theatre group. Mary gained fresh employment prospects in 1939 when she portrayed Miss Preen, a hard-played nurse with a potty tongue, in George S. Kaufman’s “The Man Who Came to Dinner.”
Movie Career of Mary Wickes
Mary played “Mrs. Battison” in the 1938 short film “Too Much Johnson,” but it wasn’t until 2008 that the long-lost print was found. The film had its world premiere at the Pordenone Silent Film Festival in late 2013 and was afterward made available online.
In 1942, she made her next appearance in a short film titled “Keeping Fit.” She returned to her role as “Miss Preen” in the movie adaptation of “The Man Who Came to Dinner” that same year.
She appeared in several Hollywood productions in 1942, including “Blondie Blessed Event,” “Private Buckaroo,” “The Mayor of 44th Street,” and “Who Done It?” She gained notoriety for her role as a crazy nurse in the film “Now, Voyager,” which also determined the course of her comedic career.
She acted in several films in the 1940s, such as “Rhythm of the Islands” (1943), “Happy Land” (1943), “June Bride” (1948), and “Anna Lucasta” (1949).
In “On Moonlight Bay” (1951) and its sequel, “By the Light of Silvery Moon,” she portrayed a frustrated housekeeper (1953). She also played a nosy housekeeper in “White Christmas” (1954), a welfare worker in “Dance with Me, Henry” (1956), and other memorable parts in the 1950s.
She appeared in several films during the 1960s, including “101 Dalmatians” (1961), “How to Murder Your Wife” (1965), “The Trouble with Angels” (1966), and its sequel “Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows” (1968), as Cruella’s live-action model. She made appearances in the 1970s films “Snowball Express” (1972) and “Napoleon and Samantha” (1972).
She starred in the 1980s films “Touched by Love” and “The Christmas Gift” (1986). She portrayed a convent nun and choir director in “Sister Act” (1992) and “Sister Act II: Back in the Habit” (1993), as well as Meryl Streep’s grandmother in “Postcards from the Edge” (1990). (1993).
She starred as “Sister Mary Lazarus” in the comedy film “Sister Act,” which is one of Hollywood’s most commercially successful comedies. Her final film role was in 1993’s “Little Women.”
The Disney animated film “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” which was released in 1996 after her passing, was her final film. She provided a gargoyle’s voice for the film.
Career in Television
In “Studio One,” Mary made her acting debut as “Marry Poppins” in 1949. She rose to the position of the lead actress on “The Danny Thomas Show,” which ran from 1953 through 1964.
She continued to feature in series including “The Alcoa Hour” (1955), “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” (1956), “Annette” (1958), and “Zorro” (1958) up until she played “Esther Cathcart” in “Dennis the Menace” (1959–1962), which turned out to be her most recognizable TV role.
The Gertrude Berg Show (1961–1962), Temple Houston (1963–1964), Our Man Higgins (1963), and The Lucy Show (1965) are some of her most notable 1960s programs (1963). The few other programs she appeared in during the 1970s include “Hallmark Hall of Fame” (1972), “Sigmund and the Sea Monsters” (1973–75), “Doc” (1976), “Murder, She Wrote” (1985), “Father Dowling Mysteries” (1987–91), “Punky Brewster” (1987), etc.
Her final on-screen appearances took place in 1988’s “Highway to Heaven.” She portrayed the role of “Minnie” in the episode “Country Doctor.”
In the 1995 animated series “Life with Louie,” she also provided the voice of Grandma.
Recognition & Achievements
For her work in “The Gertrude Berg Show,” Mary was nominated for an “Emmy Award” in 1962 for “Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role by an Actress.”
She received an honorary “Doctor of Arts” degree from Washington University, her alma mater. In 2004, she was given a posthumous induction onto the St. Louis Walk of Fame.
Personal Legacy & Life
Wickes never wed and never gave birth to any kids. She donated her entire estate and all of her funds to Washington University in St. Louis in order to establish “The Isabella and Frank Wickenhauser Memorial Library Fund for Television, Film and Theatre Arts.”
In the final years of her life, Mary battled a number of illnesses and physical problems. She suffered from kidney failure, low blood pressure, anemia, respiratory issues, breast cancer that was not yet in remission, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and other conditions.
Mary also had a shattered hip from a mishap when she was in the hospital.
Wickens died on October 22, 1995, the date of her final breath. Age-wise, she was 85.
Mary Wickens is quietly interred in Shiloh, Illinois’ “Shiloh Valley Cemetery.” Her parents were buried next to her.
Mary Wickes Net Worth
Mary is one of the wealthiest and most well-known movie actresses. Our study of Mary Wickes’ net worth from sources including Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider indicates that it is roughly $1.5 million.
Trivia
Wickens graduated with a master’s from UCLA when she was 80 years old.