Meredith MacRae

Meredith Lynn MacRae (May 30, 1944 – July 14, 2000) was an American actress, singer and talk show host. She is known for her roles as Sally Morrison on My Three Sons (1963–1965) and as Billie Jo Bradley on Petticoat Junction (1966–1970).

Early life MacRae was born in Houston, Texas, to parents Gordon and Sheila MacRae. Her father was stationed with the Army Air Corps in Houston at the time of her birth. Both of her parents went on to be actors. Her other film appearances included Norwood (1970), My Friends Need Killing (1976), Grand Jury (1976), Sketches of a Strangler (1978), Earthbound (1981) and The Census Taker (1984). MacRae made guest appearances on such shows as The Donald O'Connor Show (1968 version); The Dean Martin Show (1971); The F.B.I.; The Mike Douglas Show; The Rockford Files; Fantasy Island; Webster; CHiPs; The Fall Guy; Love, American Style and Magnum, P.I..

MacRae was also a popular game show guest, appearing on Funny You Should Ask, Match Game ('60s, '70s, and '90s versions), What's My Line?, I've Got a Secret, Personality, Snap Judgment, He Said, She Said (with then-husband Greg Mullavey), Tattletales (also with Mullavey), Hollywood Squares, The Dating Game, To Tell the Truth, Password (ABC version), $10,000 Pyramid and $25,000 Pyramid, Break the Bank, Celebrity Whew!, Beat the Clock, Card Sharks, The Cross-Wits and Family Feud. She even hosted an unsold game show pilot called $50,000 a Minute alongside Geoff Edwards in 1985.

In the 1980s, MacRae hosted the talk show Mid-Morning Los Angeles, which ran for eight years. She received a local Emmy Award in 1986 for the show. Later, she created and hosted Born Famous, a PBS series on which she interviewed the offspring of celebrities.

In summer stock in her teens, MacRae appeared with Dan Dailey in Take Me Along, with Andy Williams in Bye Bye Birdie, and in Annie Get Your Gun.

MacRae also helped raise funds for the Children's Burn Foundation, the American Cancer Society, and United Cerebral Palsy. She also lectured nationally on alcoholism and produced a TV special on the subject.

Personal life MacRae married Richard Berger, former president of MGM, in 1964, but they divorced four years later. In 1969, she married fellow actor Greg Mullavey, famous for Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, and had one child with him before divorcing in 1987. Her final marriage was in 1995 to Phillip M. Neal, chairman and CEO of Avery-Dennison.

Death In January 1999, MacRae began to experience vertigo and short-term memory loss. She was evaluated and her symptoms were initially thought to be due to perimenopause. She returned to her doctor complaining of severe headaches. She was told the headaches were most likely due to muscle spasms and was encouraged to do cervical spine stretching. She obtained a second opinion and was diagnosed with brain cancer, which had already progressed to stage four. Emergency surgery was performed to remove the tumor and decrease the pressure in MacRae's head. During the operation, she suffered cardiac arrest but was resuscitated. Though her cancer was terminal, MacRae agreed to be part of an experimental cancer drug program. However, she experienced an allergic reaction to the medication that caused swelling in her brain that required two more surgeries to relieve the pressure. Her vertigo later resulted in a fall that fractured her hip.

MacRae died on July 14, 2000 at her Manhattan Beach home at age 56 from complications of brain cancer. Per her wishes, her body was cremated, and her ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California.

Filmography

Film

Television

Discography Solo "Image of a Boy"/"Time Stands Still" — Canjo 103 (1964) "Who Needs Memories of Him"/"Goodbye Love" — Capitol 2000 (1967)

The Girls from Petticoat Junction (Meredith MacRae, Linda Kaye Henning and Lori Saunders) "I'm So Glad That You Found Me"/"If You Could Only Be Me" — Imperial 66329 (1968) "Wheeling, West Virginia"/"Thirty Days Hath September" — Imperial 66346 (1968)