Gloria Henry facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gloria Henry
Henry c. 1947
Born	Gloria Eileen McEniry (1923-04-02)April 2, 1923 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	April 3, 2021(2021-04-03) (aged 98) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1947–2005, 2012
Spouse(s)	Robert D. Lamb ​ ​ (m. 1943; div. 1948)​ Craig Ellwood ​ ​ (m. 1949; div. 1977)​
Children	3

Gloria Henry was an American actress. She was born Gloria Eileen McEniry on April 2, 1923. She is best known for playing Alice Mitchell, Dennis's mom, on the TV show Dennis the Menace. This popular show was on CBS from 1959 to 1963. Gloria Henry passed away on April 3, 2021, one day after her 98th birthday.

Early Life and Beginnings

Gloria Eileen McEniry was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. She grew up near the city's beautiful Garden District. She studied art at the Worcester Art Museum School in Massachusetts. Later, as a teenager, Gloria moved to Los Angeles. There, she started working on radio shows and commercials. She used the stage name Gloria Henry. She talked about gossip, fashion, and sports. She also acted in small theater groups.

Her Acting Career

Starting in Movies

In 1946, Gloria Henry signed with an agent. She then began acting in movies for Columbia Pictures. Her first main role was in the horse racing film Sport of Kings (1947). She also had important roles in other movies. These included the comedy Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949) with Lucille Ball. She also appeared in the western Rancho Notorious (1952) with Marlene Dietrich. Gloria Henry also acted in sports movies. These were Triple Threat (1948) about football, and Racing Luck (1948) about horse racing. She was also in the baseball comedy Kill the Umpire (1950).

During the 1950s, Gloria acted in many "B films." These were often lower-budget movies. She also made guest appearances on TV shows. Some of these included My Little Margie (1952). She was also in the first episode of Perry Mason (1957). She was a regular on the detective show The Files of Jeffrey Jones (1954). However, she left the show when she became pregnant. She also appeared on The Abbott and Costello Show.

Becoming Alice Mitchell in Dennis the Menace

Gloria Henry with her Dennis the Menace co-stars, Herbert Anderson and Jay North, in 1959.

In 1959, Gloria Henry got the role she is most famous for. She played Alice Mitchell, Dennis's mother, on the CBS comedy TV show Dennis the Menace. Her co-stars were Herbert Anderson as her husband and young Jay North as Dennis. Gloria Henry played a warm and cheerful mom. She was on the show for four seasons until it ended in 1963.

After Dennis the Menace

After Dennis the Menace, Gloria Henry's acting career slowed down. She said that people saw her so much as Alice Mitchell that she often only got mother roles. This is called typecasting. She appeared in TV movies sometimes. She played small roles as older women. In 1989, she had a small part in the TV show Dallas.

Gloria Henry returned to movies in 2005. She had a brief role in Her Minor Thing. This was a romantic comedy directed by Charles Matthau. She also attended film festivals and events where fans met actors. In 2012, she was a guest star on the TV show Parks and Recreation. She played Mary-Elizabeth Clinch in one episode.

Personal Life

Gloria Henry had Scottish and Irish family roots. She was married to Robert D. Lamb from 1943 to 1948. She then married architect Craig Ellwood in 1949. They divorced in 1977. Gloria and Craig had three children: Jeffrey, Adam, and Erin. Gloria Henry passed away at her home in Los Angeles on April 3, 2021.

Movies She Was In

TV Shows She Appeared In

See also

In Spanish: Gloria Henry para niños