Shirley Mitchell obit

She was not on the list

Shirley Mitchell, Last Surviving I Love Lucy Cast Member, Dead at 94

Shirley Mitchell, believed to be the last surviving cast member from I Love Lucy, has died at the age of 94

Her laugh will live on. Shirley Mitchell, best known as Lucy Ricardo's cackling friend on I Love Lucy, has died at the age of 94, her sister-in-law Nancy Olson told The Hollywood Reporter on Nov. 13.

Believed to be the last surviving cast member of the legendary sitcom, Mitchell passed away of heart failure at her condo in Westwood, Calif., Olson said. (Olson herself is an Oscar-nominated actress who starred in Sunset Blvd.)

Mitchell joined the cast of I Love Lucy during the third season, which ran from October 1953 to May 1954. According to THR, she appeared in three episodes as Marion Strong, the woman who set up Lucy (Lucille Ball) and Ricky (Desi Arnaz) on their first date. (Marion was originally played by Margie Liszt in one episode of season two.)

Following a move to Chicago, Mitchell appeared in the network broadcast of The First Nighter Program and played small parts in various soap operas, including The Story of Mary Marlin and The Road of Life. After she moved to Los Angeles, she played opposite Joan Davis and Jack Haley in The Sealtest Village Store. She also starred as Louella in The Life of Riley and joined the cast of Fibber McGee and Molly as Alice Darling in 1943. She also played in The Charlotte Greenwood Show.

Her most prominent radio role was that of the charismatic Southern belle Leila Ransom on The Great Gildersleeve beginning in September 1942. In the third season of I Love Lucy, from 1953 to 1954, she appeared in three episodes as Marion Strong, Lucy Ricardo's friend with the funny laugh. She was the last surviving recurring adult cast member following the death of Doris Singleton in 2012.

 


Other TV credits on Mitchell's resume included Opal Clampett on The Beverly Hillbillies, Marge Thornton on Please Don't Eat the Daisies, and Clara Appleby on The Red Skelton Show. On the big screen, she appeared in 1944's Jamboree and 1989's War of the Roses, among others.

She is survived by Olson, as well as children Scott and Brooke.

Partial filmography

    Jamboree (1944) as Alice Darling

    The Clown (1953) as Mrs. Blotto (uncredited)

    Spring Reunion (1957) as Jane the Receptionist (uncredited)

    Desk Set (1957) as Myra Smithers (uncredited)

    Too Much, Too Soon (1958) as Mrs. Magda Snow (uncredited)

    Because They're Young (1960) as Mrs. Summers (uncredited)

    My Blood Runs Cold (1965) as Mrs. Courtland

    Summer Camp Nightmare (1987) as Mrs. Knute

    Big Business (1988) as Stockholder

    The War of the Roses (1989) as Mrs. Dewitt

    MAD (2012) as Betty White (1 episode)