Katherine MacGregor facts for kids

Katherine MacGregor (born Dorlee Deane McGregor; January 12, 1925 – November 13, 2018) was an American actress. She is best known for playing Harriet Oleson in the popular TV show Little House on the Prairie. She started her acting career on stage in New York City, using the name Scottie MacGregor.

Katherine MacGregor's Life and Career

Katherine MacGregor was born Dorlee Deane McGregor on January 12, 1925, in Glendale, California. Her mother, Beatrice E. Willard, moved the family to Fort Collins, Colorado, where Katherine spent most of her early life.

She studied drama at Northwestern University. After graduating, she moved to New York City in 1949. There, she worked as a dance instructor at the Arthur Murray Dance Studios. She also studied acting with famous teachers like Sanford Meisner and Stella Adler.

Early Acting Roles

In the 1950s, using the name Scottie MacGregor, she performed in many plays in New York City. She appeared in shows like The Seven Year Itch.

She also had small roles in movies such as On the Waterfront and The Traveling Executioner. Katherine appeared in several TV series, including Love of Life (1956), Mannix (1970–71), and All in the Family (1973).

Becoming Katherine MacGregor

It's not clear exactly when she started using Katherine as her first name. Her manager suggested she change from 'Scottie' as she got older. She was still credited as Scottie MacGregor until early 1974.

Her first role credited as Katherine MacGregor was her most famous one. From 1974 to 1983, she played Harriet Oleson in NBC's Little House on the Prairie. Mrs. Oleson was the wife of the general store owner and a funny character. Katherine MacGregor once said a fan described her character as "the touch of pepper in the sweetness of the show."

In 1979, because Little House on the Prairie was so popular in Spain, Katherine was invited to Madrid, Spain. She appeared on Spanish TV shows there.

Life After Little House

After Little House on the Prairie ended, Katherine MacGregor stopped acting in TV and movies. She focused on local theater instead. She also dedicated herself to the Hindu religion. She taught acting to children at the Wee Hollywood Vedanta Players. She retired from acting in the early 2000s. In 2014, she shared details about her life and career for a book called Prairie Memories.

Personal Life and Passing

Katherine MacGregor was married twice. She was married to actor Bert Remsen from 1949 to 1950. Later, she married actor and director Edward G. Kaye-Martin from August 1969 to October 1970. She did not have any children.

She was not able to appear in the final episode of Little House on the Prairie. This was because she was on a religious trip, a pilgrimage to India, when the episode was being filmed.

Katherine MacGregor passed away on November 13, 2018. She was 93 years old. She died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Katherine MacGregor para niños