Marion Ross facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Marion Ross
Ross in 1961
Born	Marian Ellen Ross (1928-10-25) October 25, 1928 (age 96) Watertown, Minnesota, U.S.
Education	Point Loma High School
Alma mater	San Diego State University
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1953–2021 2024
Known for	Happy Days The Evening Star The Glenn Miller Story
Spouse(s)	Freeman Meskimen ​ ​ (m. 1951; div. 1969)​ Paul Michael ​ ​ (m. 1988; died 2011)​
Children	2, including Jim Meskimen

Marion Ross (born Marian Ellen Ross on October 25, 1928) is a famous American actress. She is best known for playing Marion Cunningham on the popular TV show Happy Days. This show aired on ABC from 1974 to 1984. For her role, she was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards.

Before Happy Days, Marion Ross appeared in many movies. These included The Glenn Miller Story (1954) and Sabrina (1954). She also had small roles in TV shows like The Lone Ranger (1954). Later, she received more Emmy nominations for her work on Brooklyn Bridge and Touched by an Angel. She was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her role in the movie The Evening Star (1996).

Since the 1990s, Ross has also been known for her voice acting in cartoons. She has lent her voice to characters in shows like King of the Hill and SpongeBob SquarePants. She also had recurring roles on other TV series such as The Drew Carey Show and Gilmore Girls.

Marion Ross's Early Life

Marian Ellen Ross was born on October 25, 1928, in Watertown, Minnesota. She was the middle child of Gordon and Ellen Alicia Ross. Her parents were from Saskatchewan, Canada. She had an older sister named Alicia and a younger brother named Gordon. Her family lived in different towns in Minnesota before moving to Albert Lea.

When she was 13, she changed the spelling of her first name from "Marian" to "Marion." She thought "Marion" looked nicer and would be better for theater programs. After her second year of high school, she moved to Minneapolis. There, she studied drama and attended Southwest High School. A year later, when she was 16, her family moved to San Diego, California. She finished high school at Point Loma High School in San Diego. She then earned her college degree from San Diego State University.

Her Acting Career

Starting Out in Acting (1953-1973)

Marion Ross began her film career in 1953 in the movie Forever Female. She found steady work in films, appearing in many movies during the 1950s. Some of these included Lust for Life (1956) and Operation Petticoat (1959). She also acted in Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970) and Honky (1971).

Her television career also started in 1953. She played an Irish maid on the show Life with Father for two years. Over the years, she appeared in many popular TV shows. These included The Donna Reed Show, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, Perry Mason, and The Brady Bunch. In 1961, she played Gertrude Berg's daughter on the CBS sitcom Mrs. G. Goes to College. She also had a small, uncredited role in the movie Airport (1970).

Becoming a Star on 'Happy Days' (1974-1995)

Happy Days press photo, 1974

Marion Ross's most famous role was as Marion Cunningham on the sitcom Happy Days. The show ran for 11 seasons on ABC, from 1974 to 1984. She played the loving mother of Richie, Joanie, and Chuck. She was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards for her performance in 1979 and 1984. She later played Marion Cunningham again in the spin-off show Joanie Loves Chachi and in an episode of Family Guy.

After Happy Days, she appeared as different characters on The Love Boat between 1978 and 1986. In the final season, she became a regular cast member, playing Emily Haywood. She also starred in the show Brooklyn Bridge from 1991 to 1993. This show won a Golden Globe Award.

Later Roles and Voice Acting (1996-2021)

Ross at the 1992 Emmy Awards

In 1996, Marion Ross played Rosie Dunlop in The Evening Star. This movie was a sequel to Terms of Endearment. Critics praised her performance, and she was nominated for a 1997 Golden Globe Award. She also won a Lone Star Film and Television Award for Best Supporting Actress for this role.

Ross had a recurring role on Touched by an Angel as a homeless woman. She also played Drew Carey's mother on The Drew Carey Show. She appeared as Lorelai "Trix" Gilmore and Marilyn Gilmore on Gilmore Girls. During the 1990s, she started doing a lot of voice-over work. She voiced Grandma SquarePants on SpongeBob SquarePants and Mrs. Lopart on Handy Manny. She also guest-starred on shows like King of the Hill.

In 2008, the Albert Lea Civic Theater in her home state of Minnesota was renamed the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center. She continued acting in films like Superhero Movie (2008) and guest-starred on TV shows like Grey's Anatomy (2010) and The Middle (2013). In 2021, Marion Ross officially retired from acting. However, in 2024, she returned to voice Grandma SquarePants in an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants.

The 'Happy Days' Lawsuit

In April 2011, Marion Ross and some of her Happy Days co-stars found out about a casino game that used their images. They felt they had not been paid fairly for this. So, Marion Ross, Erin Moran, Don Most, Anson Williams, and the family of Tom Bosley filed a lawsuit against Paramount. They asked for $10 million in unpaid money from merchandise. In July 2012, they settled the lawsuit. Each actor received $65,000, and CBS promised to follow their contracts.

Film Roles

Marion Ross has appeared in many films throughout her career. Here are some of them:

Television Roles

Marion Ross has had many roles in television shows. Here are some of her appearances:

Video Games

Marion Ross has also lent her voice to characters in video games:

See Also

In Spanish: Marion Ross para niños