Marion Ross

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Marion Ross
Ross in 1961
Born
Marian Ellen Ross[1]

(1928-10-25) October 25, 1928 (age 95)
EducationPoint Loma High School
Alma materSan Diego State University
OccupationActress
Years active1953–2021, 2024
Known for
Spouses
  • Freeman Meskimen
    (m. 1951; div. 1969)
  • (m. 1988; died 2011)
Children2, including Jim Meskimen

Marion Ross (born Marian Ellen Ross; October 25, 1928) is a retired American actress. Her best-known role is that of Marion Cunningham on the ABC television sitcom Happy Days, on which she starred from 1974 to 1984 and for which she received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations. Before her success on Happy Days, Ross appeared in a variety of film roles, appearing in The Glenn Miller Story (1954), Sabrina (1954), Lust for Life (1956), Teacher's Pet (1958), Some Came Running (1958), Operation Petticoat (1959), and Honky (1971), as well as several minor television roles, one of which was on television's The Lone Ranger (1954). She was also twice nominated successively in 1992 and 1993 for the Primetime Emmy Award for her performance on the CBS television comedy-drama Brooklyn Bridge and later netted another Emmy nomination (her fifth and last) in 1999 for a two-episode appearance on the popular CBS drama Touched by an Angel. Ross also starred in the high-profile, long-anticipated sequel to Terms of Endearment (1983), The Evening Star (1996), in a turn for which she was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress, as well as both a nomination and win for a Lone Star Film and Television Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Since the 1990s, Ross has been known for voice-over work on animated television series, including King of the Hill and SpongeBob SquarePants, among others, and recurring roles on The Drew Carey Show, Gilmore Girls, and Brothers & Sisters and guest appearances.

Early life[edit]

Ross was born on October 25, 1928, in Watertown, Carver County, Minnesota, as the daughter of Gordon and Ellen (née Hamilton) Ross, natives of Saskatchewan, Canada.[2][3] She lived in Waconia, then moved to Willmar, and eventually to Albert Lea, Minnesota.[4]

At the age of 13, she changed the spelling of her name from "Marian" to "Marion" because she thought it would look better on a marquee. After completing her sophomore year in high school, she moved to Minneapolis, studying drama at the MacPhail Center for Music and attending Southwest High School. A year later, her family moved to San Diego, California.[5] She graduated from Point Loma High School in San Diego.[6]

Ross received her undergraduate degree from San Diego State University.[7]

Career[edit]

Early film and television roles: 1953–1973[edit]

Ross made her 1953 film debut in Forever Female, starring Ginger Rogers and William Holden. She found steady work in film, appearing in The Glenn Miller Story (1954), Sabrina (1954), Lust for Life (1956), Lizzie (1957), Teacher's Pet (1958), Some Came Running (1958), and Operation Petticoat (1959). She also appeared in Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970), Honky (1971), and Grand Theft Auto (1977).

Ross' career on television also began in 1953, when she played the Irish maid on the series Life with Father for two years. In 1954, she appeared as Ginny Thorpe on The Lone Ranger, and in 1958, she appeared on NBC's Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer as Mary Williams. In 1959, she appeared as a teacher Miss McGinnis on ABC's The Donna Reed Show.

Ross also appeared on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, The Millionaire (1956 episode), Steve Canyon, Perry Mason (The Case of the Romantic Rogue), Buckskin, The Barbara Stanwyck Show, Father Knows Best, The Outer Limits (The Special One), Thriller (U.S. TV series) (The Prisoner in the Mirror), The Brothers Brannagan (two episodes as Diane Warren), The Eleventh Hour, Mannix, Route 66, Mr. Novak, Death Valley Days, Hawaii Five-O, The Brady Bunch, The Fugitive, and Night Court.

In the 1961–62 television season, she played Gertrude Berg's daughter on the CBS sitcom Mrs. G. Goes to College as well as starred as a mail order bride on Rawhide. Ross had an uncredited and non-speaking role as one of the hapless passengers on board Trans Global Flight #2 in Airport (1970). That year, Ross played a computer scientist opposite Eric Braeden in the sci-fi thriller Colossus: The Forbin Project.

Happy Days success and roles thereafter: 1974–1995[edit]

Happy Days press photo, 1974

Ross' best known role is on the sitcom Happy Days, which aired for 11 seasons on ABC, from 1974 to 1984. She portrayed matriarch Marion Cunningham, mother of Richie, Joanie, and (briefly) Chuck. She received Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her work on the show in 1979 and 1984. Ross later reprised Marion Cunningham on the spin-off series Joanie Loves Chachi and on Family Guy.

Between 1978 and 1986, she appeared as different characters on The Love Boat. In the final (#9) 1986–87 television season, Ross became a series regular, playing Emily Haywood, who was the love interest of Captain Stubing, played by Gavin MacLeod. She later starred in the short-lived, critically acclaimed comedy-drama Brooklyn Bridge, which ran on CBS from 1991 to 1993. The series won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award following its first season. Ross also appeared on the game show Password Plus in 1979.

Recent roles: 1996–2021[edit]

Ross at the 1992 Emmy Awards

In 1996, Ross starred as housekeeper Rosie Dunlop (played originally by Betty R. King in the preceding 1983 film), opposite Shirley MacLaine in The Evening Star, a sequel to Terms of Endearment. Despite panning the film, New York Times critic Janet Maslin enthused that, "Marion Ross does a warm, sturdy job as the devoted housekeeper who has been kept too long under Aurora's wing."[8] She went on to be nominated for a 1997 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance, as well as going on to win the 1997 Lone Star Film and Television Award for Best Supporting Actress for that very same turn.

Ross had a recurring role on Touched by an Angel as a homeless woman and was in the final two episodes of the series. Additionally, she played a secretly ill mother in "The Cat", an episode of Early Edition that first aired in April 1997. She had recurring roles as Drew Carey's mother on The Drew Carey Show (during one episode of which she was referred to as her Happy Days character Mrs. Cunningham, a deliberate error for a contest the show was running); as mean grandmother Bernice Forman on That '70s Show; and as Lorelai "Trix" Gilmore and Marilyn Gilmore on Gilmore Girls. She also frequently appeared on Hollywood Squares.

During the 1990s, Ross became active in voice-over work. She voiced Grandma SquarePants on Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants, and Mrs. Lopart on Handy Manny. She also guest-starred on The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries, The Wild Thornberrys, Generator Rex, and King of the Hill.

In 2007, Ross appeared in Music Within. In 2007 and 2010, she played Ida Holden on ABC's Brothers & Sisters. In June 2008, the Albert Lea Civic Theater in Albert Lea, Minnesota, changed its name to the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center.[9] That year, Ross played Aunt Lucille in the film Superhero Movie,[10] and in 2009 she appeared in a guest spot on The New Adventures of Old Christine.

In 2010, Ross guest-starred on Nurse Jackie and Grey's Anatomy,[11] and appeared in the Cartoon Network television film Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster as Mrs. Trowburg. In 2013, she guest-starred on both Major Crimes and The Middle, and in 2014 on Two and a Half Men. In September 2015, she began making brief appearances on MeTV to share her memories of her Happy Days co-stars. In 2020, Ross played Mrs. Genzinger in the Hallmark Christmas movie Signed Sealed Delivered For Christmas.

In 2021, Ross announced that she had officially retired from acting. She has, however, continued to make several small appearances in various online projects. In 2024, Marion Ross return to SpongeBob SquarePants to reprise her role as Grandma SquarePants in the season 13 episode, Don’t Make Me Laugh.

Personal life[edit]

The Marion Ross Performing Arts Center in Albert Lea, Minnesota

Ross lives in Cardiff by the Sea, a neighborhood of the city of Encinitas, California, in northern San Diego County. In July 2011, she served as grand marshal of the Cardiff Centennial Celebrations. Ross lived in Los Angeles, with her husband, actor Paul Michael, before his death.

Ross's two children also work in entertainment. Son Jim Meskimen's credits include How the Grinch Stole Christmas and appearances on Whose Line Is It Anyway? Marion and Jim have both acted in The Boondocks (although not always in the same episodes). Daughter Ellen Plummer was a writer/producer on Friends.

Happy Days lawsuit[edit]

On April 19, 2011, Ross and four of her Happy Days co-stars, Erin Moran, Don Most, Anson Williams, and the estate of Tom Bosley filed a $10 million breach-of-contract lawsuit against CBS, which owns the show, claiming they had not been paid for merchandising revenue owed under their contracts. The cast members claimed they had not received revenue from show-related items, including comic books, T-shirts, scrapbooks, trading cards, games, lunch boxes, dolls, toy cars, magnets, greeting cards, and DVDs where their images appear on the box covers. Under their contracts, they were supposed to be paid five percent from the net proceeds of merchandising if their sole images were used, and half that amount if they were in a group. CBS said it owed the actors $8,500 and $9,000 each, most of it from slot machine revenue, but the group said they were owed millions. The lawsuit was initiated after Ross was informed, by a friend playing slots at a casino, of a Happy Days-themed machine on which players win the jackpot when five Marion Rosses are rolled.[12]

In October 2011, a judge rejected the group's fraud claim, which rejects their claim to millions of dollars in potential damages.[13] On June 5, 2012, a judge denied a motion filed by CBS to have the case thrown out, which meant it would go to trial on July 17 if the matter was not settled by then.[14] In July 2012, the actors settled their lawsuit with CBS. Each received a payment of $65,000 and a promise by CBS to continue honoring the terms of their contracts.[15][16]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1953 Forever Female Patty
1954 The Glenn Miller Story Polly Haynes Uncredited
1954 Secret of the Incas Miss Morris Uncredited
1954 Pushover Mrs. Crockett Uncredited
1954 Sabrina Spiller's Girlfriend Uncredited
1956 The Proud and Profane Joan
1956 Lust for Life Sister Clothilde Uncredited
1956 The Best Things in Life Are Free Nita Naldi-type Uncredited
1956 Around the World in 80 Days Uncredited
1957 Lizzie Ruth Seaton
1957 God Is My Partner Frances Denning
1958 Teacher's Pet Katy Fuller
1958 Operation Zero Launch Rita Bradshaw
1958 Some Came Running Sister Mary Joseph Uncredited
1959 The Big Circus Uncredited
1959 It Started with a Kiss Diane Uncredited
1959 Operation Petticoat Lt. Colfax RN
1961 Blueprint for Robbery Young Woman
1970 Airport Joan Myers - Passenger Uncredited
1970 Colossus: The Forbin Project Angela Fields
1971 Honky Mrs. Divine
1977 Grand Theft Auto Vivian Hedgeworth
1981 Midnight Offerings Emily Moore Television film
1996 The Evening Star Rosie Dunlop
1998 The Lake Maggie
1999 The Last Best Sunday Mrs. Larksmont
2003 Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star Marion Ross
2006 Where There's a Will Leslie Clyde Onstott
2007 Music Within Grandma
2007 Smiley Face Shirley
2008 Superhero Movie Aunt Lucille
2010 Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster Hilda Trowburg
2012 Dear Dracula Grandma Voice[17]
2014 A Reason Aunt Irene Hilgrim
2014 A Perfect Christmas List Evie
2018 Angels on Tap Waitress
2021 Senior Entourage Marion Final film before retirement

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1958 Perry Mason Helen Harvey Episode: "The Case of the Romantic Rogue"
1959 The Untouchables Vera Schultz Episode: "The Dutch Schultz Story"
1962 Rawhide Priscilla Brewer
1963 Route 66 Nora Belden Episode: "The Stone Guest"
1964 The Outer Limits Agnes Benjamin Episode: "The Special One"
1969 The Brady Bunch Dr. Porter Episode: "Is There A Doctor In The House"
1971 Mission: Impossible Mrs. Foster Episode: "A Ghost Story"
1974–1984 Happy Days Marion Cunningham ("Mrs. C")
1989 Night Court Mrs. Daley Episode: "The Trouble Is Not in Your Set"
1990 MacGyver Sister Robin Episode: "Harry's Will"
1991–1993 Brooklyn Bridge Sophie Berger
1995–2004 The Drew Carey Show Beulah Carey
1997 The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries Flavia Voice, episode: "Yelp/Jeepers Creepers"[17]
1997 Superman: The Animated Series General Richter Voice, episode: "Speed Demons"[17]
1998–1999 That '70s Show Bernice Forman
2001–2005 Gilmore Girls Lorelai "Trix" Gilmore, Marilyn Gilmore
2001–2024 SpongeBob SquarePants Grandma SquarePants Voice, 5 episodes[17]
2004 King of the Hill Ms. Wakefield Voice, episode: "Ms. Wakefield"
2005 Family Guy Marion Cunningham Voice, episode: "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Fonz"
2006–2011 Handy Manny Mrs. Lopart Voice, 10 episodes[17]
2010 Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated Grandma Moonbeam Voice, episode: "When the Cicada Calls"
2011 Generator Rex Determined Grandmother, Carmen, Grandma Voice, 2 episodes[17]
2017–2020 Please Tell Me I'm Adopted Mrs. Grant 3 episodes
2018 Guardians of the Galaxy Doctor Minerva Voice, episode: "Gotta Get Outta This Place"[17]

Video games[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2002 SpongeBob SquarePants: Employee of the Month Grandma SquarePants [17]
2008 Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Nana [17]

Book[edit]

  • Ross, Marion (with David Laurell) (March 27, 2018). My Days: Happy and Otherwise. Kensington Books. ISBN 978-1-496-71515-9.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Ross, Marion (2018). My Days Happy and Otherwise. Kensington Books. p. 18. ISBN 9781496715173.
  2. ^ Smith, Torchy (2018). Shooting the Breeze with Baby Boomer Stars! Surprising Celebrity Conversations for the Retro Generation. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9781480867864.
  3. ^ Francisco, Mollee (January 5, 2012). "'Happy Days' in Carver County". Chanhassen Villager. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  4. ^ King, Susan (October 7, 2009). "Marion Ross on 'Happy Days' and today". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 19, 2010.
  5. ^ "Marion Ross - Wilbert Brummett - Cast". Archived from the original on February 11, 2007.
  6. ^ "About Our School". Point Loma High School.
  7. ^ "History of SDSU". San Diego State University. Archived from the original on May 4, 2012.
  8. ^ The Evening Star (1996). She's Back, Still Coping, Still Crying
  9. ^ "The name change is official". Albert Lea Tribune. June 9, 2008.
  10. ^ Marion Ross at Future Movies
  11. ^ Betty Donahue at the Internet Movie Database
  12. ^ Zamost, Scott (April 20, 2011). "'Happy Days' actors claim fraud, money owed for merchandising". CNNMoney.
  13. ^ Gardner, Eriq (June 5, 2012). "'Happy Days' Actors Win Key Ruling in CBS Lawsuit". The Hollywood Reporter.
  14. ^ Scott, Zamost (June 5, 2012). "'Happy Days' cast members' lawsuit heading for trial". CNN.
  15. ^ Daley, Sean (August 6, 2012). "Chachi done with broke Joanie". New York Post.
  16. ^ Zamost, Scott (July 7, 2012). "'Happy Days' actors settle lawsuit with CBS". CNN.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Marion Ross (visual voices guide) - Behind The Voice Actors". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved December 4, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.

External links[edit]