Claire Carleton (September 28, 1913 – December 11, 1979) was an American actress whose career spanned four decades from the 1930s through the 1960s. She appeared in over 100 films, the majority of them features, and on numerous television shows, including several recurring roles. In addition to her screen acting, she had a successful stage career.

Early life

Carleton was born in New York City. She began acting on the stage, eventually making it to Broadway, where she made her debut as Lucy in the short-lived play, ''Blue Monday'' in June, 1932.

Career

Although she made her film debut in a small role in a 1933

film short A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

, ''Seasoned Greetings'', and continued to occasionally make shorts for the remainder of the decade, she concentrated on her stage career during the 1930s. She made her first appearance in a feature film in 1940's '' Millionaire Playboy'', starring Joe Penner, Linda Hayes, and Russ Brown. During her film career she was often cast as the "other woman", or in a sexually promiscuous role. Her career ran the gamut of roles, from small, uncredited, unnamed roles, such as a nightclub patron in the 1949 musical, '' On the Town'', to small supporting roles such as Vicki Vale in 1948's '' If You Knew Susie'', to small featured roles such as Miss Francis in the classic drama ''

Death of a Salesman ''Death of a Salesman'' is a 1949 stage play written by American playwright Arthur Miller. The play premiered on Broadway in February 1949, running for 742 performances. It is a two-act tragedy set in late 1940s Brooklyn told through a monta ...

'' (1951), and leading roles such as in '' Girl from Havana'' (1940), in which "Havana" was her character's name, and ''

Gildersleeve on Broadway ''Gildersleeve on Broadway'' is a 1943 American film starring Harold Peary as his radio character The Great Gildersleeve. It is the third of four Gildersleeve features, others were ''The Great Gildersleeve'' (1942), ''Gildersleeve's Bad Day'' (19 ...

'' (1943), where she played Francine Gray. She had featured supporting roles in numerous films, among the most notable being: the lead of Kay Stevens in the 1941 Western mystery ''The Great Train Robbery''; as Ruby LaRue in '' A Night of Adventure'' (1944), starring Tom Conway; as Belle Townley in the 1946 western, ''Gun Town'', starring Kirby Grant; in one of ''

The Shadow The Shadow is a fictional character created by magazine publishers Street & Smith and writer Walter B. Gibson. Originally created to be a mysterious radio show narrator, and developed into a distinct literary character in 1931 by writer Walter ...

'' films, '' The Missing Lady'' (1946), in the role of Rose Dawson; and Grace in 1949's '' It's a Great Feeling'', starring

Doris Day Doris Day (born Doris Mary Kappelhoff; April 3, 1922 – May 13, 2019) was an American actress, singer, and activist. She began her career as a big band singer in 1939, achieving commercial success in 1945 with two No. 1 recordings, " Sent ...

Jack Carson John Elmer Carson (October 27, 1910 – January 2, 1963) was a Canadian-born American film actor. Carson often played the role of comedic friend in films of the 1940s and 1950s, including ''The Strawberry Blonde'' (1941) with James Cagney and ...

, and Dennis Morgan. During the mid-1940s she also starred in a series of two-reelers with

Leon Errol Leon Errol (born Leonce Errol Sims, July 3, 1881 – October 12, 1951) was an Australian-American comedian and actor in the United States, popular in the first half of the 20th century for his appearances in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in film ...

, such as 1946's ''Poppa Knows Worst''. ClaireCarleton

Other notable films in which she appeared include: '' Rookies in Burma'' (1943), starring the comedy duo of

Wally Brown Wallace Edgar Brown (October 8, 1904 – November 13, 1961) was an American actor and comedian. In the 1940s, he performed as the comic partner of Alan Carney. Early years Wallace Edgar Brown was born in Malden, Massachusetts, the son of Her ...

and

Alan Carney Alan Carney (December 22, 1909 – May 2, 1973) was an American actor and comedian. Biography Alan Carney was born David Boughal in Brooklyn, New York, on December 22, 1909. His parents, Edward and Nellie (Kearney) Boughal, were Irish immigrant ...

, in which she had the featured role of Connie; the 1944 musical ''

Show Business Show business, sometimes shortened to show biz or showbiz (since 1945), is a vernacular term for all aspects of the entertainment industry.''Oxford English Dictionary'' 2nd Ed. (1989) From the business side (including managers, agents, produce ...

'', starring

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and

George Murphy George Lloyd Murphy (July 4, 1902 – May 3, 1992) was an American dancer, actor, and politician. Murphy was a song-and-dance leading man in many big-budget Hollywood musicals from 1930 to 1952. He was the president of the Screen Actors Guild fr ...

; the 1947 comedy '' The Senator Was Indiscreet'', starring

William Powell William Horatio Powell (July 29, 1892 – March 5, 1984) was an American actor. A major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, he was paired with Myrna Loy in 14 films, including the '' Thin Man'' series based on the Nick and Nora Charles characters crea ...

; in

George Cukor George Dewey Cukor (; July 7, 1899 – January 24, 1983) was an American film director and film producer. He mainly concentrated on comedies and literary adaptations. His career flourished at RKO when David O. Selznick, the studio's Head of ...

's '' A Double Life'' (1947), starring

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; the

Fred Astaire Fred Astaire (born Frederick Austerlitz; May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987) was an American dancer, choreographer, actor, and singer. He is often called the greatest dancer in Hollywood film history. Astaire's career in stage, film, and tele ...

and

Ginger Rogers Ginger Rogers (born Virginia Katherine McMath; July 16, 1911 – April 25, 1995) was an American actress, dancer and singer during the Golden Age of Hollywood. She won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her starring role in ''Kitty Foyle'' ...

musical, '' The Barkleys of Broadway'' (1949); in another Cukor film, '' Born Yesterday'', starring Judy Holliday (in an Oscar-winning performance),

William Holden William Holden (born William Franklin Beedle Jr.; April 17, 1918 – November 12, 1981) was an American actor, and one of the biggest box-office draws of the 1950s. Holden won the Academy Award for Best Actor for the film ''Stalag 17'' (1953) ...

, and

Broderick Crawford William Broderick Crawford (December 9, 1911 – April 26, 1986) was an American stage, film, radio, and television actor, often cast in tough-guy roles and best known for his Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning portrayal of Willie Stark in '' All ...

; the 1954 suspense drama, ''

Witness to Murder ''Witness to Murder'' is a 1954 American film noir crime drama directed by Roy Rowland and starring Barbara Stanwyck, George Sanders, and Gary Merrill. While the film received moderately positive reviews, it ended up as an also-ran to Alfre ...

'', starring

Barbara Stanwyck Barbara Stanwyck (; born Ruby Catherine Stevens; July 16, 1907 – January 20, 1990) was an American actress, model and dancer. A stage, film, and television star, during her 60-year professional career she was known for her strong, realistic sc ...

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, and

Gary Merrill Gary Fred Merrill (August 2, 1915 – March 5, 1990) was an American film and television actor whose credits included more than 50 feature films, a half-dozen mostly short-lived TV series, and dozens of television guest appearances. He starr ...

; and the biopic, '' The Buster Keaton Story'' (1957), starring

Donald O'Connor Donald David Dixon Ronald O'Connor (August 28, 1925 – September 27, 2003) was an American dancer, singer and actor. He came to fame in a series of films in which he co-starred with Gloria Jean, Peggy Ryan, and Francis the Talking Mule. His best ...

, Ann Blyth, and

Rhonda Fleming Rhonda Fleming (born Marilyn Louis; August 10, 1923 – October 14, 2020) was an American film and television actress and singer. She acted in more than 40 films, mostly in the 1940s and 1950s, and became renowned as one of the most glamoro ...

. With the advent of television, Carleton transitioned to the small screen in the 1950s, and by the 1960s, she worked almost solely in that medium. Her final big-screen appearance was in 1961's ''The Devil's Partner'', in the featured role of Ida. Carleton's television debut was on the

DuMont Television Network The DuMont Television Network (also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont Television, simply DuMont/Du Mont, or (incorrectly) Dumont ) was one of America's pioneer commercial television networks, rivaling NBC and CBS for the distinction of bein ...

's crime drama series '' Front Page Detective'' in 1951, in which she had a starring guest appearance in the episode titled, "Frame for Murder". In 1954–5, she co-starred as Nell Mulligan,

Mickey Rooney Mickey Rooney (born Joseph Yule Jr.; other pseudonym Mickey Maguire; September 23, 1920 – April 6, 2014) was an American actor. In a career spanning nine decades, he appeared in more than 300 films and was among the last surviving stars of the ...

's mother, on '' The Mickey Rooney Show'', though she was only seven years older than Rooney. She had other recurring roles on television, including that of Alice Purdy on '' Cimarron City'', which starred

George Montgomery George Montgomery may refer to: * George Montgomery (actor) (1916–2000), American actor *George Leslie Montgomery (c. 1727–1787), Irish Member of Parliament *George Montgomery (set decorator) (1899–1951), American set decorator * George Thoma ...

. She appeared as a guest on dozens of other television shows, including ''

Hopalong Cassidy Hopalong Cassidy is a fictional cowboy hero created in 1904 by the author Clarence E. Mulford, who wrote a series of short stories and novels based on the character. Mulford portrayed the character as rude, dangerous, and rough-talking. He w ...

'' (1952), ''

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'' (1953), '' Mr. & Mrs. North'' (1953), '' The Gene Autry Show'' (1954), '' Treasury Men in Action'' (1954-5), ''

Studio 57 ''Studio 57'' (also known as ''Heinz Studio 57'') is an American anthology series that was broadcast on the now-defunct DuMont Television Network from September 1954 to July 1955, and in syndication from 1955 to 1958. " It's a Small World", the ...

'', '' The Millionaire'' (1955-6), '' The Lone Ranger'', several appearances on '' Schlitz Playhouse'', '' Maverick'' (1958) with

James Garner James Garner (born James Scott Bumgarner; April 7, 1928 – July 19, 2014) was an American actor. He played leading roles in more than 50 theatrical films, including '' The Great Escape'' (1963) with Steve McQueen; Paddy Chayefsky's ''The Ameri ...

in the episode " The Lonesome Reunion", '' Perry Mason'' (1959) with

Raymond Burr Raymond William Stacy Burr (May 21, 1917September 12, 1993) was a Canadian actor known for his lengthy Hollywood film career and his title roles in television dramas '' Perry Mason'' and '' Ironside''. Burr's early acting career included roles ...

, several appearances on '' M Squad'' (1959) with

Lee Marvin Lee Marvin (born Lamont Waltman Marvin Jr.; February 19, 1924August 29, 1987) was an American film and television actor. Known for his bass voice and premature white hair, he is best remembered for playing hardboiled "tough guy" characters. Alth ...

, '' Leave It to Beaver'' (1959), '' Make Room for Daddy'' (later known as ''The Danny Thomas Show'' - 1958 & 1960), several appearances on ''

Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, aired on CBS and NBC between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers and mysteries. Between 1962 and 1965 it was r ...

'' from 1956 to 1961, ''

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'' (1962) with Efrem Zimbalist Jr., ''

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'' (1962-63) with

Shirley Booth Shirley Booth (born Marjory Ford; August 30, 1898October 16, 1992) was an American actress. One of only 24 performers to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting, Booth was the recipient of an Academy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards and three Tony ...

, several performances from 1960 to 1965 on ''

Wagon Train ''Wagon Train'' is an American Western series that aired 8 seasons: first on the NBC television network (1957–1962), and then on ABC (1962–1965). ''Wagon Train'' debuted on September 18, 1957, and became number one in the Nielsen ratings ...

'', and '' The Munsters'' (1964). Her final acting performance was in a small role as a store clerk during the eighth season of the television series '' The Virginian'' in 1969.

Personal life

Carleton married Fred E. Sherman, to whom she remained married until his death in 1969. She died from cancer on December 11, 1979, in Northridge, California, and was interred next to her husband at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, California. Carleton was a Democrat who supported

Adlai Stevenson Adlai Stevenson may refer to: * Adlai Stevenson I (1835–1914), U.S. Vice President (1893–1897) and Congressman (1879–1881) * Adlai Stevenson II (1900–1965), Governor of Illinois (1949–1953), U.S. presidential candida ...

's campaign during the 1952 presidential election.''Motion Picture and Television Magazine'', November 1952, page 33, Ideal Publishers

Filmography

(Per AFI database) * '' Melody and Moonlight'' (1940) as Gloria * '' The Crooked Road'' (1940) as Virgie Gobel * '' Girl from Havana'' (1940) as Havana * ''

Grand Ole Opry The ''Grand Ole Opry'' is a weekly American country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, founded on November 28, 1925, by George D. Hay as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM. Currently owned and operated by Opry Entertainment (a divi ...

'' (1940) as Ginger Gordon * '' Sing, Dance, Plenty Hot'' (1940) as Evelyn * '' The Great Train Robbery'' (1941) as Kay Stevens * '' Petticoat Politics'' (1941) as Tilly * ''

'' (1943) as Francine Gray * '' Lady of Burlesque'' (1943) as Sandra * '' Rookies in Burma'' (1943) as Connie - the Blonde * '' The Adventures of a Rookie'' (1943) as First Nurse (uncredited) * '' Around the World'' (1943) as WAAC Lt. Spencer (uncredited) * ''

My Pal Wolf ''My Pal Wolf'' is a 1944 American drama film directed by Alfred L. Werker from a screenplay by Lillie Hayward, Leonard Praskins and John Paxton based on a story by Frederick Hazlitt Brennan. Produced and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures, the fi ...

'' (1944) as Ruby, the Cook * '' A Night of Adventure'' (1944) as Ruby LaRue * ''

'' (1944) as Nurse (uncredited) * '' Youth Runs Wild'' (1944) as Taxi Driver (uncredited) * '' Bride by Mistake'' (1944) as Nurse Harrison (uncredited) * '' Frontier Gal'' (1945) as Gracie (uncredited) * ''

A Close Call for Boston Blackie A, or a, is the first letter and the first vowel of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''a'' (pronounced ), plural ''aes'' ...

'' (1946) as Mamie Kirwin (uncredited) * ''

Crime Doctor's Man Hunt ''Crime Doctor's Man Hunt'' is a 1946 American mystery film directed by William Castle and starring Warner Baxter, Ellen Drew and William Frawley.Erickson p.203 It is part of the Crime Doctor series of films made by Columbia Pictures. The ...

'' (1946) as Ruby Farrell * ''

Gun Town ''Gun Town'' is a 1946 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Wallace Fox and starring Kirby Grant, Claire Carleton and Lyle Talbot.Blottner p.130 Plot Cast * Kirby Grant as Kip Lewis * Fuzzy Knight as Ivory * Lyle Talbot as Luc ...

'' (1946) as Belle Townley * '' The Missing Lady'' (1946) as Rose Dawson * '' That Texas Jamboree'' (1946) as Lulubelle (uncredited) * '' Vacation in Reno'' (1946) as Sally Beaver * '' Key Witness'' (1947) as Receptionist (uncredited) * '' Linda, Be Good'' (1947) as Myrtle * '' Too Many Winners'' (1947) as Mayme Martin * '' The Senator Was Indiscreet'' (1947) as Ingred * ''

Bodyguard A bodyguard (or close protection officer/operative) is a type of security guard, government law enforcement officer, or servicemember who protects a person or a group of people — usually witnesses, high-ranking public officials or officers ...

'' (1948) * '' A Double Life'' (1948) * '' I Love Trouble'' (1948) as Irene Feston - Tired Blonde (uncredited) * '' If You Knew Susie'' (1948) as Steve's Lady Friend (uncredited) * ''

Ruthless Ruthless refers to a lack of conscience or empathy. Ruthless may also refer to: Music * ''Ruthless!'', a 1992 musical * Ruthless (Ace Hood album), ''Ruthless'' (Ace Hood album), 2009 * Ruthless (Bizzy Bone album), ''Ruthless'' (Bizzy Bone album) ...

'' (1948) as Bella * '' The Time of Your Life'' (1948) as 'Killer' * ''

Bad Men of Tombstone ''Bad Men of Tombstone'' is a 1949 American Western film from King Brothers Productions. It was co-written by Philip Yordan and stars Barry Sullivan and Broderick Crawford. King Brothers announced plans for a sequel, ''The Marshall of Tombstone' ...

'' (1949) as Nellie * '' The Barkleys of Broadway'' (1949) as Marie (uncredited) * '' The Crime Doctor's Diary'' (1949) as Louise (uncredited) * '' It's a Great Feeling'' (1949) as Grace * '' On the Town'' (1949) as Nightclub Patron (uncredited) * '' The Reckless Moment'' (1949) as Blond (uncredited) * '' Red Light'' (1949) as Waitress (uncredited) * ''

Satan's Cradle ''Satan's Cradle'' is a 1949 American Western film directed by Ford Beebe and written by J. Benton Cheney, and starring Duncan Renaldo, Leo Carrillo, Ann Savage, Douglas Fowley and Byron Foulger. It was released on October 7, 1949, by United Ar ...

'' (1949) as Belle * ''

Shockproof ''Shockproof'' is a 1949 American crime film noir directed by Douglas Sirk and starring Patricia Knight and Cornel Wilde. Wilde and Knight were husband and wife during filming. They divorced in 1951. Plot Griff Marat (Cornel Wilde), is a parole ...

'' (1949) as Florrie Kobiski (uncredited) * '' Born Yesterday'' (1951) as Helen * '' Honeychile'' (1951) as Betty Loring * '' The Son of Dr. Jekyll'' (1951) as Hazel Sorelle (uncredited) * '' Two of a Kind'' (1951) as Minnie Mitt (uncredited) * '' Westward the Women'' (1951) as Flashy Woman (uncredited) * ''

'' (1952) as Miss Francis * '' Bal Tabarin'' (1952) as Stella Simmons * ''

The Fighter ''The Fighter'' is a 2010 American Biographical film, biographical sports drama film directed by David O. Russell, and stars Mark Wahlberg (who also produced), Christian Bale, Amy Adams, and Melissa Leo. The film centers on the lives of profes ...

'' (1952) as Stella * '' Ride the Man Down'' (1952) as Amelia * '' Jubilee Trail'' (1954) as Estelle the Madam (uncredited) * ''

'' (1954) as May - Mental Patient * '' Love Me or Leave Me'' (1955) as Claire (uncredited) * ''

Accused of Murder ''Accused of Murder'' is a 1956 American Trucolor film noir crime film directed by Joseph Kane and starring David Brian, Vera Ralston and Sidney Blackmer. Plot Nightclub singer Ilona Vance is accused of murder because she was the last person ...

'' (1956) as Marge Harris * '' The Black Sleep'' (1956) as Carmona Daly * ''

Slander Defamation is the act of communicating to a third party false statements about a person, place or thing that results in damage to its reputation. It can be spoken (slander) or written (libel). It constitutes a tort or a crime. The legal defini ...

'' (1957) as Elsie (uncredited) * '' The Buster Keaton Story'' (1957) as Myra Keaton * ''

The Careless Years ''The Careless Years'' is a 1957 film from United Artists directed by Arthur Hiller and produced by Edward Lewis. The film was the directorial debut for Hiller. The film stars Dean Stockwell and Natalie Trundy in an early film appearance. Plot ...

'' (1957) as Aunt Martha (uncredited) * '' Death in Small Doses'' (1957) as Mabel (uncredited) * ''

My Gun Is Quick ''My Gun Is Quick'' (1950) is Mickey Spillane's second novel featuring private investigator Mike Hammer Michael Hammer or Mike Hammer may refer to: *Michael Armand Hammer (1955–2022), American philanthropist and businessman *Michael Martin ...

'' (1957) as Proprietess * ''

Reform School Girl ''Reform School Girl'' is a 1957 film starring Gloria Castillo as a teenage girl who is sent to a reformatory. The film was directed by Edward Bernds and was produced by Samuel Z. Arkoff. ''Reform School Girl'' was one of many sexploitation fil ...

'' (1957) as Mrs. Rita Horvath * '' Unwed Mother'' (1958) as Mrs. Miller * '' Fort Massacre'' (1958) as Adele * ''

A Lust to Kill ''A Lust to Kill'' is a 1958 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Walter Grauman and starring Jim Davis (actor), Jim Davis, Don Megowan, and Allison Hayes. The film is also known as ''Lust to Kill'', ''A Time to Kill'', and ''Borde ...

'' (1958) as Minny * ''

The Miracle of the Hills ''The Miracle of the Hills'' is a 1959 American Western film directed by Paul Landres and written by Charles Hoffman. The film stars Rex Reason, Nan Leslie, Betty Lou Gerson, Charles Arnt, Jay North and June Vincent. The film was released on Ju ...

'' (1959) as Sally * '' Devil's Partner'' (shot in 1958, released in 1961) as Ida

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Carleton, Claire 1913 births 1979 deaths 20th-century American actresses American stage actresses Actresses from New York City American television actresses Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) New York (state) Democrats California Democrats