Virginia Christine

Virginia Christine (born Virginia Christine Ricketts; March 5, 1920 – July 24, 1996) was an American stage, radio, film, television, and voice actress.

Career

Radio and films

Christine began working in radio during college. She appeared in 23 episodes of the radio version of Gunsmoke: "Cholera" (December 4, 1954), "Poor Pearl" (February 19, 1955), "Change of Heart" (September 3, 1955), "Good Girl, Bad Company" (October 8, 1955), "Sunny Afternoon" (December 4, 1955), "Cows and Cribs" (May 13, 1956), "Belle's Back" (September 9, 1956), "Dirty Bill's Girl" (October 28, 1956), "Fingered" (November 23, 1957), "Tag You're It" (October 5, 1958), "Matt's Decision" (September 6, 1959), "Big Chugg Wilson" (December 6, 1959), "Bless Me 'Till I Die" (January 24, 1960), "Delia's Father" (February 7, 1960), "Prescribed Killing" (February 28, 1960), "Solomon River" (April 17, 1960), "Busted Up Guns" (July 17, 1960), "Tumbleweed" (August 28, 1960), "Two Mothers" (September 18, 1960), "Jedro's Woman" (November 6, 1960), "Kitty's Good Neighboring" (December 4, 1960), "Love of Money" (February 5, 1961), and "Ma's Justice" (May 7, 1961).

She began training for a theatrical career with actor/director Fritz Feld, whom she married in 1940. In 1942, she made her stage debut in the Los Angeles production of Hedda Gabler. While performing in the play, she was spotted by an agent from Warner Bros., who signed her to a film contract with the studio. Her first film for Warner Bros. was Edge of Darkness (1943), in which she played a Norwegian peasant girl. She was dropped by Warner Bros. in 1943 and signed with Universal Pictures in 1944. That year, Christine had a supporting role in The Mummy's Curse and The Wife of Monte Cristo, with her husband Fritz Feld (the two went on to appear together in the Western 4 for Texas in 1963).

In 1946, she appeared in The Scarlet Horseman, a 13-chapter film serial playing Carla Marquette, or Matosca, followed by a supporting role in the mystery film The Inner Circle. Christine's next film for Universal was the film noir classic The Killers. She initially tested for the lead role of femme fatale Kitty Collins, but lost out to Ava Gardner. The film's producer, Mark Hellinger, was impressed with her test and cast her as Lilly Harmon Lubinsky, the wife of Lt. Sam Lubinsky (Sam Levene). Christine also portrayed Miss Watston in the 1964 remake of the film, starring Lee Marvin and Angie Dickinson.

Television In addition to her work in films, Christine appeared in numerous television series. In the 1950s, she appeared in multiple guest roles on The Abbott and Costello Show, Four Star Playhouse, Dragnet, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Ford Television Theatre, Gunsmoke, Science Fiction Theatre, Matinee Theatre, Father Knows Best, The Donna Reed Show, Trackdown, State Trooper, Wanted: Dead or Alive, The Rifleman, Letter to Loretta, Adventures of Superman, and General Electric Theater. In November 1959, Christine co-starred as the wife of a verbally abusive hypochondriac in the first-season episode of The Twilight Zone entitled "Escape Clause".

In 1960 and 1961, Christine guest-starred on episodes of Coronado 9, Rawhide, and The Untouchables. From 1961 to 1962, Christine had a recurring role as widow Ovie Swenson in the Western series Tales of Wells Fargo. She made four guest appearances on Perry Mason, including the role of defendant Beth Sandover in the season-six, 1962 episode, "The Case of the Double-Entry Mind", and murderer Edith Summers in the season-seven, 1963 episode, "The Case of the Devious Delinquent". For the remainder of the decade, she continued with guest-starring roles in such shows as 77 Sunset Strip, Ben Casey, Bonanza, The Fugitive, Hazel, Wagon Train playing the bereaved Mrs. Reed in S8E23 "The Katy Piper Story", The Virginian, ‘’The Big Valley’’, Going My Way, The F.B.I., and Daniel Boone. In 1969, Christine co-starred in the ABC television movie Daughter of the Mind.

Her greatest fame came in 1965 when she began her 21-year stint as the matronly Mrs. Olson, who had comforting words for young married couples while pouring Folgers coffee in television commercials. They became a popular staple on television, whereupon the character began to be parodied by comedians and entertainers, including Carol Burnett, Johnny Carson, Bob Hope, Ann-Margret, and Jackie Gleason.

During the 1970s, Christine continued to work primarily in television. Her last role was on the 1979 animated series Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo, in which she provided additional voices.

Later years

Christine retired from acting in 1979. After her retirement, she did volunteer work at Planned Parenthood, and served as a judge at the American College Theatre Festival. She was later appointed the honorary mayor of Brentwood, Los Angeles, where her husband and she resided for many years.

Personal life In November 1940, Christine married character actor Fritz Feld. The couple had two sons, Steven and Danny. Christine and Feld remained married until his death in 1993.

Filmography + Film Year Title Role Notes 1943 Truck Busters Eadie Watkins Edge of Darkness Hulda Uncredited Mission to Moscow Maria - Beautician Uncredited Action in the North Atlantic Pebbles Scenes deleted Women at War Mary Sawyer 1944 Raiders of Ghost City Countess Elsa von Merck, alias Trina Dressard Film serial The Old Texas Trail Queenie Leone The Mummy's Curse Princess Ananka 1945 Counter-Attack Tanya Uncredited Phantom of the Plains Celeste Girls of the Big House Bernice Meyers 1946 The Scarlet Horseman Carla Marquette aka Matosca Film serial Idea Girl Evelina Murder Is My Business Dora Darnell Alternative title: Occupation Murder House of Horrors Lady of the Streets The Wife of Monte Cristo Uncredited The Inner Circle Rhoda Roberts The Killers Lilly Harmon Lubinsky The Mysterious Mr. Valentine Lola Carson 1947 The Invisible Wall Mildred Elsworth The Gangster Mrs. Karty Alternative title: Low Company 1948 Women in the Night Claire Adams Alternative titles: Curse of a Teenage NaziWhen Men Are Beasts Night Wind Jean Benson Cover Up Margaret Baker Alternative title: The Intruder 1949 Special Agent Mabel Rumpler 1950 The Men Patient's Wife at Lecture UncreditedAlternative title: Battle Stripe Cyrano de Bergerac Sister Marthe 1952 The First Time Nurse Uncredited High Noon Mrs. Simpson Uncredited Women in the Night Claire Adams 1953 Never Wave at a WAC Lt. Myles, Recruiting Officer Uncredited Woman They Almost Lynched Jenny 1954 Dragnet Mrs. Caldwell Alternative title: The Original Dragnet 1955 The Cobweb Sally Not as a Stranger Bruni Good Morning, Miss Dove Mrs. Rigsbee Uncredited 1956 Invasion of the Body Snatchers Wilma Lentz The Killer Is Loose Mary Gillespie Nightmare Mrs. Sue Bressard Three Brave Men Helen Goldsmith 1957 The Spirit of St. Louis Secretary Uncredited Johnny Tremain Mrs. Lapham The Careless Years Mathilda Vernon 1960 Flaming Star Mrs. Phillips Uncredited 1961 Judgment at Nuremberg Mrs. Halbestadt 1962 Incident in an Alley Mrs. Connell 1963 Cattle King Ruth Winters Alternative title: Cattle King of Wyoming 4 for Texas Brunhilde - Elya Carlson's Maid The Prize Mrs. Bergh, Chaperon 1964 One Man's Way Anna Peale The Killers Miss Watson 1965 A Rage to Live Emma 1966 Billy the Kid Versus Dracula Eva Oster 1967 Guess Who's Coming to Dinner Hilary St. George 1968 In Enemy Country Frau Gulden 1969 Hail, Hero! Eleanor Murchiston

+ Television Year Title Role Notes 1951 Front Page Detective Beatrice Hillmane Episode: "The Devil's Bible" 1952 Racket Squad Episode: "The Phantom Bible" Personal Appearance Theater Episode: "The Chair" Dangerous Assignment Carla Episode: "The Perfect Alibi" 1952–1953 The Abbott and Costello Show Various roles 2 episodes 1952–1954 Dragnet Various roles 4 episodes 1953 I'm the Law Elliot Episode: "The Model Agency Story" 1953–1954 Four Star Playhouse Various roles 2 episodes 1954 Adventures of Superman Mrs. Frank Episode: "Lady in Black" The Whistler Helen Episode: "The Return" 1954–1956 The Ford Television Theatre Various roles 2 episodes 1955 Studio 57 Jenny Pickett Episode: "The Ballad of Jubal Pickett" Stage 7 Secretary Episode: "The Press Conference" Soldiers of Fortune Bonnie Episode: "Run 'Till You Die" Alfred Hitchcock Presents Model/Secretary 2 episodes 1956 Crusader Episode: "Fear" The Star and the Story Alice Episode: "Arab Duel" Front Row Center Various roles 2 episodes Private Secretary Maud Episode: "Elusive" Big Town Episode: "Blackmail" Sneak Preview Episode: "The Merry-Go-Round" Passport to Danger Episode: "London" Science Fiction Theatre Various roles Episode: "The Human Experiment", "The Throwback" The Adventures of Jim Bowie Katrina Gotshawk Episode: "The Squatter" Cavalcade of America Mrs. Sargent Episode: "Innocent Bystander" 1956–1957 Matinee Theater Various roles 2 episodes 1956–1958 Father Knows Best Grace 2 episodes 1956–1959 General Electric Theater Various roles 2 episodes 1957 Wire Service Sigrid Jensen Episode: "Profile of Ellen Gale" Hey, Jeannie! Mrs. Warren Episode: "Jeannie Plays Cupid" The Lone Ranger Cecile Charron Episode: "Canuck" Casey Jones Doris Jones Episode: "Storm Warning" 1957–1958 Trackdown Various roles 2 episodes 1957–1959 State Trooper Various roles 3 episodes 1957–1965 Gunsmoke Various roles 2 episodes 1958 The Restless Gun Amy Durant Episode: "Strange Family in Town" Whirlybirds Mrs. Thompson Episode: "The Brothers" Mike Hammer June Earl Episode: "For Sale, Deathbed, Used" The Millionaire Mrs. Barnett Episode: "The Russ White Story" The Thin Man Mildred Episode: "The Valley Forger" Behind Closed Doors Julie Episode: "The Cape Canaveral Story" Peter Gunn Nancy Davis Episode: "The Vicious Dog" Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre Mrs. Julie Hart Episode: "The Scaffold" Buckskin Miss Emily Pringle Episode: "Miss Pringle" The Donna Reed Show Margaret Lang Episode: "The Baby Contest" The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp Martha Evans Episode: "Plague Carrier" 1958–1960 Letter to Loretta Various roles 3 episodes 1958–1963 Perry Mason Various roles 4 episodes 1959 Rescue 8 Millie Wilde Episode: "Flash Flood" Steve Canyon Mary Moore Episode: "The Bomb" The Lawless Years Mrs. Pavlock Episode: "The Immigrant" Frontier Doctor Hester Gray, Stan's Sister Episode: "The Twisted Road" Man Without a Gun Episode: "Eye Witness" How to Marry a Millionaire Alma Fergeson Episode: "Love On Approval" Wanted: Dead or Alive Various roles Harriet Meecham 2 episodes "The Matchmaker" The DuPont Show with June Allyson Mother Episode: "The Opening Door" The Twilight Zone Ethel Bedeker Episode: "Escape Clause" The Man from Blackhawk Mary Schuler Episode: "Death Is the Best Policy" The Rifleman Woman on stagecoach Episode: "The Spiked Rifle" 1960 M Squad Mrs. Fassard Episode: "The Twisted Way" Riverboat Aunt Samantha Dexter Episode: "The Treasure of Hawk Hill" Happy Janice Episode: "Charlie's First Love" Thriller Marge Episode: "The Twisted Image" 1960–1961 Coronado 9 Various roles 2 episodes Rawhide Sarah Tenney/Ada Covey 2 episodes The Untouchables Various roles 2 episodes 1960–1963 77 Sunset Strip Various roles 2 episodes 1961 Maverick Verna Lyme Episode: "Last Stop: Oblivion" The Rifleman 1 episode Shirley Temple Theatre Rebecca Baines Episode: "Onawandah" The Deputy Molly Baker Episode: "Tension Point" This Is the Life Sophia Szabo Episode: "Song in the Night" The Asphalt Jungle Miss Brandt Episode: "The Sniper" 1961 Mister Ed Margaret Episode: "Little Boy" 1961–1962 Tales of Wells Fargo Ovie Swenson 14 episodes 1961–1965 Wagon Train Various roles 5 episodes 1962 The New Breed Episode: "Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here" Target: The Corruptors! Lorraine Episode: "A Book of Faces" Going My Way Mrs. Randall Episode: "The Parish Car" Stoney Burke Flora Hill Episode: "A Matter of Pride" The Eleventh Hour Mrs. Drury Episode: "My Name Is Judith, I'm Lost, You See" 1963–1964 Ben Casey Various roles 2 episodes Bonanza Various roles 2 episodes 1963–1967 The Virginian Various roles 4 episodes 1964 Mr. Novak Mrs. Payne Episode: "The Exile" Hazel Mrs. McGuire Episode: "Luncheon with the Governor" 1964–1965 The Fugitive Various roles 2 episodes 1965 The Big Valley Margaret Coleman Episode: "The Young Marauders" 1966 Laredo Agnes Halsey Episode: "Sound of Terror" A Man Called Shenandoah Fran Macauley Episode: "Macauley's Cure" Jericho Episode: "Long Journey Across a Short Street" 1966–1968 The F.B.I. Various roles 3 episodes 1967 Felony Squad Cleaning Woman Episode: "The Deadly Partner" The Invaders Mrs. Thorne Episode: "Labyrinth" 1968–1970 Daniel Boone Various roles 2 episodes 1969 Lancer Hannah Sickles Episode: "Child of Rock and Sunlight" Daughter of the Mind Helga Television movie 1970 Nanny and the Professor Mrs. Wilson Episode: "Nanny and the Smoke-Filled Room" The Old Man Who Cried Wolf Miss Cummings Television movie 1974 Ironside Mrs. Hawkins Episode: "Raise the Devil: Part 1" 1976 Woman of the Year Alma Television movie Kojak Mrs. Yankowski Episode: "By Silence Betrayed" 1979 Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo Additional voices Unknown episodes