M'el Dowd facts for kids

Mary Ellen Dowd (born February 2, 1933 – died September 26, 2012) was an American actress and singer. She performed on stage, in musicals, and in movies for over 50 years. She started acting in the 1950s, often playing roles in Shakespeare plays. Mary Ellen Dowd was well-known on Broadway in the 1960s. She was the first actress to play Morgan le Fay in the famous musical Camelot.

Early Life and Family

Mary Ellen Dowd was born in Chicago, Illinois. Her parents were John J. Dowd and Catherine Dowd. In 1945, her family moved to Boone, Iowa. She went to junior high and high school there. During this time, she got the nickname "Mel." Later, an agent changed it slightly to "M'el." After high school, she studied acting at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. Then, she moved to New York City to pursue her acting career.

In 1962, Mary Ellen married Henri G. Eudes. He was from France and worked as a restaurateur, meaning he owned or managed restaurants. They had one son together, named Richard.

Acting Career

Mary Ellen Dowd began her professional acting career Off-Broadway in the 1950s. Soon after, she started appearing on Broadway, which is the highest level of theater in the United States. One of her most famous roles was playing Morgan le Fay in the musical Camelot. This show ran for a very long time.

She also appeared in many other Broadway shows. These included Back to Methuselah in 1958 and Everything in the Garden from 1967 to 1968. She also performed in Dear World in 1969 and Ambassador in 1972. Besides Broadway, she acted in regional theaters and more Off-Broadway plays. She received praise for her role as Katherine of Aragon in a play called The Royal Gambit.

Mary Ellen Dowd also acted in movies and TV shows. Her first film was The Wrong Man in 1956, which starred Henry Fonda. In 1957, she appeared in Man on Fire with Bing Crosby. Later, she was in the 1986 film F/X. She also had guest roles on TV episodes. One of her last TV appearances was in 2005 on the show Law & Order.

Even while acting, Mary Ellen helped her husband with his restaurant business. Critics often praised her performances. For example, in 2001, the New York Daily News said she played Mme. Armfeldt in A Little Night Music "deliciously." In 2003, Variety magazine wrote that Dowd was "the cement that holds this production together" in the musical Me and My Girl.

Later Life and Death

Mary Ellen Dowd continued to act until at least 2005. She passed away on September 26, 2012. She was 79 years old. She died at her home in Tarrytown, New York.

Selected Performances

Mary Ellen Dowd had many roles throughout her long career. Here are some of her notable stage, film, and TV appearances:

Stage Roles

• Macbeth – Lady Macbeth (1955)
• A Midsummer Night's Dream – Titania (1956)
• Romeo and Juliet – Lady Capulet (1956)
• Julius Caesar – Portia (1957)
• Back to Methuselah – Lilith (1958)
• Camelot – Morgan Le Fey (1960–1963)
• The Right Honourable Gentleman – Mrs. Emilia Pattison (1965–1966)
• The Sound of Music – Elsa Schraeder (1967)
• Everything in the Garden – Louise (1967–1968)
• Dear World – Countess Aurelia (1969)
• Ambassador – Amelia Newsome (1972)
• A Little Night Music – Madame Armfeldt (2001)
• Me and My Girl - Maria, Duchess of Dene (2003)

Film and TV Roles

• The Wrong Man – Miss O'Connor (1956)
• Man on Fire – Rita (1957)
• Flipper – Amy Field in "City Boy" (1964)
• The Best of Everything – Kate Farrow (1970)
• F/X – Joyce Lehman (1986)
• Murder, She Wrote - Sister Margaret-Mary in "Old Habits Die Hard" (1987)
• Law & Order – Mrs. Haiduk in "License to Kill" (2005)