Mary Healy (entertainer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mary Healy
Healy in the Orson Welles–Cole Porter extravanganza Around the World (1946)
Born	(1918-04-14)April 14, 1918 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	February 3, 2015(2015-02-03) (aged 96) Calabasas, California, U.S.
Occupation	Stage, film, television actress
Years active	1937–1982
Spouse(s)	Peter Lind Hayes ​ ​ (m. 1940; d. 1998)​
Children	2

Mary Sarah Healy (born April 14, 1918 – died February 3, 2015) was a talented American actress, singer, and entertainer. She was known for her many performances in movies, TV shows, radio, and on stage.

Mary Healy often worked with her husband, Peter Lind Hayes, for more than 50 years. She appeared in several Broadway shows and movies like Second Fiddle and The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T.. In 2006, she was honored in the Nevada Entertainment/Artist Hall of Fame.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Mary Healy in a 1939 photo

Mary Healy and Rudy Vallee in Second Fiddle (1939)

Mary Healy and her husband Peter Lind Hayes hosting The Tonight Show in 1962

Hayes and Healy with nightclub owner Sherman Billingsley, promoting their 1950 TV show, The Stork Club

Mary Healy was born in New Orleans on April 14, 1918. When she was 17, she was crowned Miss New Orleans in 1935. She started her career as a singer in her hometown.

Her first movie role was in the musical comedy Josette in 1938. The next year, she had big roles in Second Fiddle and Star Dust. She even sang the main song in Star Dust.

Meeting Peter Lind Hayes

In 1939, Mary met Peter Lind Hayes, who was also an entertainer. Peter was performing with his mother, Grace Hayes, in North Hollywood. Mary and Peter fell in love and got married in 1940. They stayed married until Peter's death in 1998.

For most of their careers, Mary and Peter worked together. They became a famous entertainment duo.

Stage and Screen Performances

Mary Healy made her first appearance on stage in 1942 in a show called Count Me In. She also starred in Orson Welles's musical Around the World in 80 Days in 1946. She even played the same role in a radio version of the show.

Television Appearances

Mary and Peter were often seen on television. They were part of the regular cast of Peter's CBS-TV show, Inside U.S.A. with Chevrolet (1949–50). They were the first to sing the famous jingle, "See the USA in Your Chevrolet". This song later became very popular, especially with singer Dinah Shore.

The couple also hosted other TV shows together, including The Stork Club (1950) and The Peter Lind Hayes Show (1950–51). They even played themselves in a sitcom called Peter Loves Mary (1960–61). In this show, they played a show business couple with two children who were getting used to living in the suburbs.

Mary and Peter were also guest hosts for The Tonight Show in 1962. They often appeared on Arthur Godfrey's TV programs and were guests on popular quiz shows like What's My Line? and Password.

Film and Broadway Highlights

Mary and Peter starred together in the fantasy movie The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. (1953). This movie was co-written by the famous author Theodore Geisel. They also appeared in the Broadway comedy Who Was That Lady I Saw You With? in 1958.

Radio and Las Vegas Shows

In the 1960s, Mary and Peter had a morning talk show on a New York radio station, 710 WOR. They even broadcasted the show from their home in New Rochelle, New York.

Over the years, Mary and Peter performed many times at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas. They headlined there 14 different times!

Books and Recognition

Mary and Peter wrote a book together called Twenty-Five Minutes from Broadway in 1961. Later, in 2004, Mary wrote another book by herself called Moments to Remember with Peter and Mary — Our Life in Show Business from Vaudeville to Video.

In 2006, Mary Healy was honored for her contributions to entertainment. She was inducted into the Nevada Entertainment/Artist Hall of Fame at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Family Life and Legacy

Mary Healy and Peter Lind Hayes adopted two children: a son named Peter Michael Hayes and a daughter named Cathy Lind Hayes, who also became an actress.

Mary Healy passed away peacefully on February 3, 2015, in Calabasas, California. She was 96 years old. She is remembered for her long and successful career and her wonderful partnership with her husband.

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