Alma Lawton

Alma Drucilla Fleetwood Lawton (April 1921 – 24 February 1982) was a Hollywood-based, Argentine-born actress who performed in films, on television, and on old-time radio.

Early life and career Born in Buenos Aires to English parents, She was the younger of two children born to Alfred Edward Fleetwood Lawton, general manager of Cable & Wireless plc, and Alma Drucilla Fleetwood Lawton Sr. (aka the former Alma Drucilla Harris ), herself a onetime music hall comedienne. Prior to beginning her radio career, Lawton reportedly performed in Great Britain, Australia and South America.

Evidently, the younger Lawton inherited her mother's diminutive stature, the latter having been described in 1912 as "the little British singing comedienne," On the other hand, Joe Hyams of the Citizen-News, while likewise documenting Lawton's modest dimensions, adds that "hat she lacks in size, Alma makes up for in talent, proving again that good things come in small packages."

On November 3, 1947, Lawton made her American radio debut on Lux Radio Theatre, in "Singapore," an original radio drama starring Fred MacMurray and Ava Gardner. Later that month, she costarred with Wally Maher in "Body Off Billingsgate" on The Whistler, and on December 8, she did another Lux episode, as part of a large ensemble supporting Robert Montgomery, Wanda Hendrix and Thomas Gomez, reprising their starring roles in Ride the Pink Horse.

The following spring, Lawton was tasked by Samuel Goldwyn with helping Teresa Wright achieve a reasonably authentic English accent.

Radio Date(s) Program Role Notes November 3, 1947 Lux Radio Theatre N/A Episode: "Singapore" October 31, 1948 NBC University Theatre Ruth Episode: "Justice" (With Nigel Bruce as Cokeson, and Ben Wright as Falder, in John Galsworthy's play, adapted by George Lefferts) November 28, 1948 NBC University Theatre N/A Episode: "A Passage to India" (E. M. Forster's novel, adapted by George Lefferts) January 23, 1949 NBC University Theatre N/A Episode: "The Ministry of Fear" (Graham Greene's novel, adapted by Ernest Kinoy) July 10, 1949 NBC University Theatre Katherine Episode: "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" (Co-starring with Herbert Marshall in Agnes Eckhardt's adaptation) January 15, 1950 Errand of Mercy N/A Episode: "Quotation" (Starring Olan Soule) January 29, 1950 NBC University Theatre Lupe (in "Flowering Judas") Episodes: "Flowering Judas" and "Pale Horse, Pale Rider" March 25, 1950 NBC University Theatre Margaret Episode: "Howards End" (With Queenie Leonard, Terry Kilburn and Ben Wright) May 21, 1950 NBC University Theatre Naomi Episode: "The House in Paris" (Adaptation of Elizabeth Bowen novel) June 4, 1950 NBC University Theatre N/A Episode: "Gallions Reach" January 11, 1951 Screen Guild Players Dolly Episode: "Brief Encounter" (Starring Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr) September 17, 1951 Suspense N/A Episode: "Neal Cream, Doctor of Poison" (Written by Antony Ellis, starring Charles Laughton) October 6, 1952 Suspense Ellen Episode: "The Diary of Dr. Pritchard" (Antony Ellis adapts William Roughead story, starring Sir Cedric Hardwicke) February 8, 1953 Errand of Mercy Janie Episode: "H with a Southern Accent" September 7, 1953 Lux Radio Theatre Louise Episode: "My Cousin Rachel" (With Olivia De Havilland, reprising her film role, while Lawton is promoted from "Mary Pascoe" to Rachel's romantic rival, Louise) November 25, 1953 Crime Classics N/A Episode: "Killing Story Of William Corder And The Farmer's Daughter" (Morton Fine-David Friedkin script)

Film and television Year Title Role Notes1951 Lights Out (TV) Dee Darrow Episode: "The Fonceville Curse" 1951 Thunder on the Hill Nurse Brent 1951 Lady Possessed Nurse 1952 Ma and Pa Kettle on Vacation N/A 1953 Hallmark Hall of Fame N/A Episode: "A Queen's Way" 1955 Lady Godiva of Coventry Lady Yolanda 1956 Gaby English Girl 1957 Telephone Time (TV) Teacher Episode: "Parents of a Stranger" (Seen working with child for about 15 seconds at the 20:20 mark) 1957 Until They Sail N/A 1958 Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV) Alma Season 4 Episode 9: "Murder Me Twice" 1959 The Jack Benny Program (TV) Maid Episode: "Autolight" (Gas Light parody, starring Benny and Barbara Stanwyck, featuring Lawton as one of the two maids; she is the first person seen as the curtain rises) 1959 One Step Beyond (TV) Liz Episode: "The Devil's Laughter" 1960 Peter Gunn (TV) Supervisor Episode: "See No Evil" 1960 Alcoa Theatre (TV) N/A Episode: "Chinese Finale" 1960 Midnight Lace N/A 1964 Mary Poppins Mrs. Corry 1973 Emergency! (TV) English Maid Episode: "The Professor"

Personal life As of no later than April 1950, Lawton was married to fellow actor Donald Morrison. In May 1951, the couple had their names legally changed; hers, from Morrison back to Lawton, and his from Ivan Donald Morrison—which was, in fact, the Americanized version of his birth name, Isaac Morduchovitch —to Donald Albert Fleetwood Lawton. Donald Lawton died on October 18, 1990.

For a period, Lawton supported her parents financially. In 1953, she appeared with her parents in court in Los Angeles, California, as they sued her estranged brother Fleetwood Lawton, a news commentator, for financial support.