Madge Blake facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Madge Blake
Blake in Batman, 1966
Born	Madge Cummings (1899-05-31)May 31, 1899 Kinsley, Kansas, U.S.
Died	February 19, 1969(1969-02-19) (aged 69) Pasadena, California, U.S.
Occupation	Film, television actress
Years active	1946–1969; her death
Spouse(s)	James Lincoln Blake
Children	2 (sons)
Relatives	Milburn Stone (1st cousin), Fred Stone (uncle)

Madge Blake (born Madge Cummings; May 31, 1899 – February 19, 1969) was an American actress. She was known for playing interesting characters in movies and TV shows. Many people remember her as Margaret Mondello, Larry Mondello's mom, on the TV show Leave It to Beaver. She also played Flora MacMichael on The Real McCoys and Aunt Harriet Cooper on Batman. The famous dancer and actor Gene Kelly liked her acting so much that he included her in all his movies after she appeared in An American in Paris.

Early Life and Beginnings

Madge Blake was born in Kinsley, Kansas. Her father, Albert Cummings, was a Methodist preacher who traveled around. He didn't want her to become an actress. Because of this, Madge didn't start acting until she was older, even after her family moved to Southern California.

During World War II, Madge and her husband, James Lincoln Blake, worked on a secret project in Utah. They helped build parts for a very powerful new weapon called the atomic bomb. They even tested equipment for the Manhattan Project, which was the name for this secret project. The U.S. government gave them an award for their important work.

Madge Blake was also a first cousin to actor Milburn Stone. He played Doc Adams on the famous TV Western series Gunsmoke. Madge didn't begin to study acting until she was 50 years old. She went to the Pasadena Playhouse to learn. She also used her cousin Milburn Stone's connections to help her get acting jobs. In the mid-1950s, Madge appeared on TV shows like City Detective and The Ray Milland Show. She also appeared in four episodes of It's a Great Life and twice on December Bride.

Acting Career Highlights

Madge Blake played Dora Bailey, a talkative gossip columnist, in the classic movie Singin' in the Rain (1952). She was also a model for one of the fairies, Fauna, in Walt Disney's animated movie Sleeping Beauty (1959). In 1959, she played Mrs. Porter, a babysitter, in the first episode of Dennis the Menace. Around this time, she also had guest roles on sitcoms like Guestward, Ho! and Angel. In 1960, she was a guest star in the first episode of The Tom Ewell Show. In 1961, she appeared in an episode of the crime drama The Brothers Brannagan.

One of Madge Blake's well-known roles was Flora MacMichael on The Real McCoys. Her character was a love interest for Grandpa Amos McCoy, played by Walter Brennan. This show was about a mountain family who moved to Southern California.

Before she became famous as Aunt Harriet on Batman, Madge had a regular role on The Jack Benny Program. She played the president of the Jack Benny Fan Club in Pasadena. She also played Millie Brinkerhoff in an episode of the military drama The Lieutenant in 1963. Of course, she was also Larry Mondello's mother on Leave It to Beaver. In 1964, Madge appeared in the first episode of The Addams Family as Miss Comstock, a school official. She also appeared in two memorable episodes of I Love Lucy. In one, she was a store clerk, and in another, she was with George Reeves, who played Superman. From 1961 to 1964, she played Joey Barnes' mother on The Joey Bishop Show. At one point, the producers of Batman wanted to let Madge go, but Adam West, who played Batman and had become her friend, spoke up for her. Because of him, she kept her job. The next day, Adam West found a freshly baked cake in his dressing room!

Later Years and Passing

Madge Blake's health started to decline, so her role as Aunt Harriet on Batman became smaller. When Batgirl was introduced in the third and final season of Batman, Madge only appeared in two episodes as a guest star. Shortly before she passed away, she played Mrs. Hardy in an episode of The Doris Day Show.

Madge Blake passed away at age 69 from a heart attack. She was buried next to her mother in the family plot at Grand View Memorial Park Cemetery.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Madge Blake para niños