Carmelita Pope facts for kids
Carmelita Pope (April 15, 1924 – April 3, 2019) was an American actress who performed in plays, movies, and on TV. She had a long career and was known for her roles on Broadway and in early television shows.
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Early Life and Friendships
Carmelita Pope was born in Chicago, Illinois. When she was young, she became good friends with another person who wanted to be an actor, Jocelyn Brando. She also became friends with Jocelyn's brother, Marlon Brando, who later became a very famous actor. Carmelita and Marlon became very close. Marlon often stayed at Carmelita's house, and they enjoyed playing bocce ball together.
Starting Her Acting Career
Carmelita Pope got her first big acting chance when she was chosen by director George Abbott. She played the main character, Corliss Archer, in his play Kiss and Tell. First, she joined the cast in Chicago. Then, she traveled with the show as part of a U.S.O. tour in 1945. The U.S.O. helps entertain American soldiers. This tour took her to Italy and Northern Africa.
When she came back to the United States, Carmelita took over a role on Broadway. She played Daisy Belle in the comedy Maid in the Ozarks at the Belasco Theatre.
Working with Famous Directors and Actors
In 1947, Carmelita Pope acted in the movie Citizen Saint. She used the stage name Carla Dare for this film. Her performance in the movie caught the eye of a famous director named Elia Kazan. He then chose her to be the understudy for Kim Hunter in the Broadway play A Streetcar Named Desire. An understudy learns a role and is ready to perform if the main actor cannot.
This play brought Carmelita back together with her childhood friend, Marlon Brando. He was playing the character Stanley in the show.
Becoming a Star in A Streetcar Named Desire
In 1949, many of the original actors in A Streetcar Named Desire were leaving the show. The producers started looking for new actors. Kim Hunter, who played Stella and had never missed a performance, told Carmelita she would pretend to be sick. This would give Carmelita a chance to perform for the producers.
To Carmelita's surprise, Kim Hunter did call in sick one day. Carmelita got to perform as Stella. The very next day, she signed her contract to officially play the role of Stella. Carmelita stayed with the play until it finished its run.
Life After Broadway
In April 1949, Carmelita Pope married Howard Charles Ballenger II, who worked in advertising in Chicago. They moved to Chicago and raised two sons there.
Carmelita continued her acting career in different ways. In the 1950s, she was a panelist on the TV show Down You Go. She also did many radio commercials and was the spokesperson for Pam Cooking Spray. Later, she appeared in popular TV soap operas like General Hospital and Days of Our Lives.
Later Life and Retirement
After her husband passed away in 1975, Carmelita Pope moved to Los Angeles. There, she worked as the director of the Hollywood office for the American Humane Association. This organization helps protect animals.
In 1988, she married again and then retired to Stuart, Florida. Later in her life, Carmelita lived in Boise, Idaho. She spent her time volunteering at the Warhawk Air Museum. Carmelita Pope passed away on April 3, 2019, at the age of 94.
Images for kids
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Carmelita Pope and Marlon Brando outside her home in Chicago
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A press release from the New York World about the play
