Mitzi Hoag facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mitzi Hoag
Mitzi Hoag and We'll Get By co-star Paul Sorvino
Born	Margaret Myrtle Hoag (1932-09-25)September 25, 1932 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Died	February 26, 2019(2019-02-26) (aged 86) Sherman Oaks, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1955–1993
Spouse(s)	Jonathan David Beggs (1976-2019; her death) Stephen Abel Wolfson (1959-67; divorced; 1 child)

Margaret Myrtle "Mitzi" Hoag (born September 25, 1932 – died February 26, 2019) was a talented American actress. She appeared in more than 73 different TV shows and movies during her career. You might remember her from popular shows like Bonanza, Here Come the Brides, and The Partridge Family. She also had a main role in the TV show We'll Get By.

Early Life and Education

Mitzi Hoag grew up in North Olmsted, Ohio, which is close to Cleveland. Her father, John C. Hoag, worked as a supervisor for a grocery store chain. Mitzi was a very good student at John Marshall High School, graduating in 1949. She earned straight A's and was the head majorette in the marching band. Even in high school, she was called "Mitzi" and loved acting in school plays.

After high school, Mitzi went to Shimer College in Illinois. She finished her degree in just two years! She chose Shimer because it had small classes and she could go horseback riding. Shimer College was connected to the University of Chicago at the time.

When Mitzi graduated from Shimer in 1952, she was 19 years old. She was one of the first five students to get a bachelor's degree from the college. She was also the only woman in her graduating class. Mitzi earned a degree in general education and became a certified teacher. However, her love for drama at Shimer made her want to become an actress instead. She then studied drama for two more years at Case Western Reserve University.

Acting Career Highlights

Mitzi Hoag (center) in a Shimer College play in 1952.

In the mid-1950s, Mitzi Hoag moved to New York City to continue studying acting. She performed in several off-Broadway plays, which are plays shown in smaller theaters, not the main Broadway ones. Her big break came in 1958 when she starred in an off-Broadway play called Heloise. This play was very popular and received great reviews.

Later, Mitzi moved to Hollywood, California, to pursue acting in movies and TV. She started by acting on stage there. Her strong performance as Annie Sullivan in the play The Miracle Worker helped her get roles on screen. She first appeared in the movie Tammy and the Doctor. After that, she was in many TV shows.

In the late 1960s, Mitzi had a regular role in the TV show Here Come the Brides. She also appeared twice in the famous Western TV show Bonanza. In 1976, she was in the drama Family. During this time, she also acted in movies like Play It as Lays and Pieces of Dreams. She also played Natalie Green's adoptive mother on The Facts of Life for all nine seasons.

Mitzi Hoag's only main starring role in a TV series was in 1975. She played the mother, Liz Platt, in the CBS sitcom We'll Get By. She starred alongside Paul Sorvino. The show was created by famous actor Alan Alda and was based on his own family life. They filmed twelve episodes, but the show was not renewed for another season.

Filmography