Hillary Brooke (born Beatrice Sofia Mathilda Peterson; September 8, 1914 – May 25, 1999) was an American film actress.

Career

A 5′6″ blonde from the Astoria neighborhood of New York City's borough of Queens, Brooke, who was of Swedish ancestry, started work as a model while attending

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

. She spent a year in the United Kingdom, mastering an RP accent that she used in several of her films. She frequently played English women in Hollywood films, and also had such a role in her only British-made film, '' The House Across the Lake''. Hillary Brooke-Paul Cavanagh in The Woman in Green

Hillary Brooke-Paul Cavanagh in The Woman in Green

Brooke began her acting career in movies, co-starring in two

Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes () is a fictional detective created by British author Arthur Conan Doyle. Referring to himself as a " consulting detective" in the stories, Holmes is known for his proficiency with observation, deduction, forensic science and ...

films with

Basil Rathbone Philip St. John Basil Rathbone MC (13 June 1892 – 21 July 1967) was a South African-born English actor. He rose to prominence in the United Kingdom as a Shakespearean stage actor and went on to appear in more than 70 films, primarily costume ...

and

Nigel Bruce William Nigel Ernle Bruce (4 February 1895 – 8 October 1953) was a British character actor on stage and screen. He was best known for his portrayal of Dr. Watson in a series of films and in the radio series ''The New Adventures of Sherlock H ...

, ''

Sherlock Holmes Faces Death ''Sherlock Holmes Faces Death'' is the sixth film in the Basil Rathbone/Nigel Bruce series of Sherlock Holmes films. Made in 1943, it is a loose adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Holmes 1893 story "The Adventure of the Musgrave Ritual." I ...

'' (1943) and ''

The Woman in Green ''The Woman in Green'' is a 1945 American film, the eleventh of the fourteen ''Sherlock Holmes'' films based on the characters created by Arthur Conan Doyle. Directed by Roy William Neill, it stars Basil Rathbone as Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Bru ...

'' (1945). She was a regular on several television series of the early 1950s, playing Roberta Townsend, the glamorous love interest of Margie's father Vern Albright on the 1952–1955 TV series ''

My Little Margie ''My Little Margie'' is an American television situation comedy starring Gale Storm and Charles Farrell that alternated between CBS and NBC from 1952 to 1955. The series was created by Frank Fox and produced in Los Angeles, California, at Hal Ro ...

''. On ''

The Abbott and Costello Show ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'', produced in the early 1950s and syndicated for many years afterward, Brooke played the role of a straitlaced, classy tenant of the rooming house where the two main characters lived. She was treated with reverence by the duo and was not a target of pranks and slapstick. The love interest of

Lou Costello Louis Francis Cristillo (March 6, 1906 – March 3, 1959), professionally known as Lou Costello, was an American comedian, actor and producer. He was best known for his double act with straight man Bud Abbott and their routine "Who's on First?" ...

, she always addressed him as "Louis". As with the other main characters, her character's name was her real name. She also appeared in ''

Africa Screams ''Africa Screams'' is a 1949 American Adventure film, adventure comedy film directed by Charles Barton (director), Charles Barton and starring Abbott and Costello that parodies the safari#Cinema genre, safari genre. The title is a play on the ti ...

'' (1949) and ''

Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd ''Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd'' is a 1952 comedy film directed by Charles Lamont and starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello, along with Charles Laughton, who reprised his role as the infamous pirate from the 1945 film ''Capta ...

'' (1952) with the comedy team. Brooke’s other movie credits include ''

Jane Eyre ''Jane Eyre'' ( ; originally published as ''Jane Eyre: An Autobiography'') is a novel by the English writer Charlotte Brontë. It was published under her pen name "Currer Bell" on 19 October 1847 by Smith, Elder & Co. of London. The first ...

'' (1943), '' The Enchanted Cottage'' (1945), ''

Lucky Losers ''Lucky Losers'' is a 1950 comedy film starring The Bowery Boys. The film was released on May 14, 1950 by Monogram Pictures and is the eighteenth film in the series. It had the working title of ''High Stakes''. Plot Slip and Sach's boss, David J ...

'' (1950) with

The Bowery Boys The Bowery Boys are fictional New York City characters, portrayed by a company of New York actors, who were the subject of 48 feature films released by Monogram Pictures and its successor Allied Artists Pictures Corporation from 1946 through 195 ...

, the

Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featur ...

thriller '' The Man Who Knew Too Much'' (1956), the

3-D film 3D films are motion pictures made to give an illusion of three-dimensional solidity, usually with the help of special glasses worn by viewers. They have existed in some form since 1915, but had been largely relegated to a niche in the motion pict ...

'' The Maze'' (1953), and the sci-fi '' Invaders from Mars'' (1953). On September 28, 1957, she played Doris Cole in the second episode of ''

Perry Mason Perry Mason is a fictional character, an American criminal defense lawyer who is the main character in works of detective fiction written by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason features in 82 novels and 4 short stories, all of which involve a c ...

'', titled "The Case of the Sleepwalker's Niece". Brooke also played Angela Randall in ''

I Love Lucy ''I Love Lucy'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired on CBS from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes, spanning six seasons. The show starred Lucille Ball, her husband, Desi Arnaz, along with ...

''s "The Fox Hunt", which aired February 6, 1956. She retired from television in 1960 following guest appearances on ''

Richard Diamond, Private Detective ''Richard Diamond, Private Detective'' is an American detective drama, created by Blake Edwards, which aired on radio from 1949 to 1953, and on television from 1957 to 1960. Radio Dick Powell starred in the ''Richard Diamond, Private Detec ...

'' as Laura Renault and in ''

Michael Shayne Michael "Mike" Shayne is a fictional private detective character created during the late 1930s by writer Brett Halliday, a pseudonym of Davis Dresser. The character appeared in a series of seven films starring Lloyd Nolan for Twentieth Century Fo ...

'' as Greta Morgan.

Personal life

Brooke married Alan Shute in 1936, divorcing in 1940. Brooke then married assistant director Jack Voglin in 1941, and the couple had one child together, Donald, before divorcing in 1948. Brooke was married to Raymond A. Klune, an executive at

MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 a ...

, from 1960 until his death on September 24, 1988. Through Klune she had two stepchildren, Carol V. Klune and Donald C. Klune. Brooke was a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

who supported Adlai Stevenson's campaign in the 1952 presidential election. On May 25, 1999, Brooke died from a blood clot in the lung at a hospital in

Bonsall, California Bonsall is a census-designated place (CDP) in San Diego County, California. The population was 3,982 at the 2010 census, up from 3,401 at the 2000 census. The Bonsall area was heavily affected by the Lilac Fire in December 2017, which burned 4, ...

. She was cremated with her ashes scattered at sea. Her brother, actor Arthur Peterson Jr., died in 1996; For her contribution to the television industry, Hillary Brooke has a star on the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Californ ...

at 6307 Hollywood Boulevard.

Partial filmography

*''

New Faces of 1937 ''New Faces of 1937'' is a 1937 American musical film directed by Leigh Jason and starring Joe Penner, Milton Berle and Harriet Hilliard. Its plot is similar to '' The Producers'' (1968). Intended as the first film of an annual RKO Pictures r ...

'' (1937) – Showgirl *'' Eternally Yours'' (1939) – Blonde on Stage (uncredited) *''

Two Girls on Broadway ''Two Girls on Broadway'' is a 1940 musical film directed by S. Sylvan Simon and starring Lana Turner and Joan Blondell. The film is a remake of ''The Broadway Melody'' (1929). Plot Molly Mahoney (Joan Blondell) forms a vaudeville act with her fi ...

'' (1940) – Second Girl in Powder Room (uncredited) *'' Florian'' (1940) – Horsewoman (uncredited) *''

New Moon In astronomy, the new moon is the first lunar phase, when the Moon and Sun have the same ecliptic longitude. At this phase, the lunar disk is not visible to the naked eye, except when it is silhouetted against the Sun during a solar eclipse. ...

'' (1940) – Party Guest (uncredited) *'' The Philadelphia Story'' (1940) – Main Line Society Woman (uncredited) *''

The Lone Rider Rides On ''The Lone Rider Rides On'' is a 1941 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Joseph O'Donnell. The film stars George Houston as the Lone Rider and Al St. John as his sidekick "Fuzzy" Jones, with Hillary Brooke, Karl Hac ...

'' (1941) – Sue Brown *''

Maisie Was a Lady ''Maisie Was a Lady'' is a 1941 American comedy-drama film directed by Edwin L. Marin and is the fourth in a series of ten films starring Ann Sothern as good-hearted showgirl Maisie Ravier. Plot When wealthy drunkard Bob Rawlston causes Maisie ...

'' (1941) – House Guest (uncredited) *'' Country Fair'' (1941) – (uncredited) *''

The Lone Rider in Frontier Fury ''The Lone Rider in Frontier Fury'' is a 1941 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield. The film stars George Houston as the "Lone Rider" and Al St. John as his sidekick "Fuzzy" Jones, with Hillary Brooke, Karl Hackett, Ted Adams and Ar ...

'' (1941) – Georgia Deering *'' Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'' (1941) – Mrs. Arnold (uncredited) *'' Unfinished Business'' (1941) – Woman (uncredited) *''

Married Bachelor ''Married Bachelor'' is a 1941 American comedy film directed by Edward Buzzell. It stars actors Robert Young and Ruth Hussey. Plot summary Cast * Robert Young as Randolph 'Randy' Haven * Ruth Hussey as Norma Haven, aka Norma Winters * Felix ...

'' (1941) – Hillary Gordon (uncredited) *''

Two-Faced Woman ''Two-Faced Woman'' is a 1941 American romantic comedy film directed by George Cukor and starring Greta Garbo in her final film role, Melvyn Douglas, Constance Bennett, and Roland Young. The movie was distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Garbo pla ...

'' (1941) – Dress Shop Clerk Hotel-Caller (uncredited) *''

Mr. and Mrs. North ''Mr. and Mrs. North'' are fictional American amateur detectives. Created by Frances and Richard Lockridge, the couple was featured in a series of 26 Mr. and Mrs. North novels, a Broadway play, a motion picture and several radio and television ...

'' (1942) – Party Guest (uncredited) *''

Sleepytime Gal ''Sleepytime Gal'' is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Albert S. Rogell and written by Art Arthur, Albert Duffy and Max Lief. The film stars Judy Canova, Tom Brown (actor), Tom Brown, Billy Gilbert, Ruth Terry, Thurston Hall, Elisha Cook J ...

'' (1942) – Railroad Station Blonde (uncredited) *''

To the Shores of Tripoli ''To the Shores of Tripoli'' is a 1942 American Technicolor film directed by H. Bruce Humberstone and starring John Payne, Maureen O'Hara and Randolph Scott. The film was produced by Darryl F. Zanuck. Its cinematography was nominated for an Ac ...

'' (1942) – Parade Spectator (uncredited) * ''

Ship Ahoy ''Ship Ahoy'' is a 1942 American musical-comedy film directed by Edward Buzzell and starring Eleanor Powell and Red Skelton. It was produced by MGM. Background ''Ship Ahoy'' was the first of two films in which Powell and Skelton co-starred. It ...

'' (1942) – Hillary (uncredited) *''

Calling Dr. Gillespie ''Calling Dr. Gillespie'' is a 1942 drama film directed by Harold S. Bucquet, starring Lionel Barrymore, Donna Reed and Philip Dorn. This was a continuation of the series that had starred Lew Ayres as Dr. Kildare. Ayres, however, had declared c ...

'' (1942) – Mrs. Brown (uncredited) *''

Wake Island Wake Island ( mh, Ānen Kio, translation=island of the kio flower; also known as Wake Atoll) is a coral atoll in the western Pacific Ocean in the northeastern area of the Micronesia subregion, east of Guam, west of Honolulu, southeast of To ...

'' (1942) – Girl at the Inn (uncredited) *''

Counter-Espionage Counterintelligence is an activity aimed at protecting an agency's intelligence program from an opposition's intelligence service. It includes gathering information and conducting activities to prevent espionage, sabotage, assassinations or o ...

'' (1942) – Pamela Hart *''

Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror ''Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror'' is a 1942 American mystery thriller film based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes detective stories. The film combines elements of Doyle's short story " His Last Bow", to which it is credited ...

'' (1942) – Jill Grandis – Driver (uncredited) *'' Happy Go Lucky'' (1943) – Wife (uncredited) *'' The Crystal Ball'' (1943) – Friend of Jo Ainsley (uncredited) *''

'' (1943) – Sally Musgrave *''

'' (1943) – Blanche Ingram *''

Standing Room Only An event is described as standing-room only when it is so well-attended that all of the chairs in the venue are occupied, leaving only flat spaces of pavement or flooring for other attendees to stand, at least those spaces not restricted by occup ...

'' (1944) – Alice Todd *''

Lady in the Dark ''Lady in the Dark'' is a musical with music by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Ira Gershwin and book and direction by Moss Hart. It was produced by Sam Harris. The protagonist, Liza Elliott, is the unhappy female editor of a fictional fashion magazine ...

'' (1944) – Miss Bar (uncredited) *''

And the Angels Sing ''And the Angels Sing'' is a 1944 musical film directed by George Marshall and starring Dorothy Lamour, Fred MacMurray, and Betty Hutton. Released by Paramount Pictures, it is a classic example of a film written to capitalize on the title of a p ...

'' (1944) – Polish Bride (uncredited) *''

Practically Yours ''Practically Yours'' is a 1944 comedic film made by Paramount Pictures, directed by Mitchell Leisen, written by Norman Krasna and starring Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray. Plot When a young pilot, Daniel Bellamy, is presumed dead after cra ...

'' (1944) – (uncredited) *''

Ministry of Fear ''Ministry of Fear'' is a 1944 American film noir directed by Fritz Lang, and starring Ray Milland and Marjorie Reynolds. Based on the 1943 novel by Graham Greene, the film tells the story of a man just released from a mental asylum who finds ...

'' (1944) – Mrs. Bellane #2 *'' The Enchanted Cottage'' (1945) – Beatrice Alexander *''

The Crime Doctor's Courage ''The Crime Doctor's Courage'' is a 1945 American mystery film directed by George Sherman and starring Warner Baxter, Hillary Brooke and Jerome Cowan.Erickson p.203 It is part of the Crime Doctor series of films made by Columbia Pictures. Plot ...

'' (1945) – Kathleen Carson *''

'' (1945) – Lydia Marlowe *''

Road to Utopia ''Road to Utopia'' is a 1946 American semi-musical comedy film directed by Hal Walker and starring Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and Dorothy Lamour. Filmed in 1943 but not released until 1946, ''Road to Utopia'' is the fourth film of the "'' Road to � ...

'' (1945) – Kate *'' The Strange Woman'' (1946) – Meg Saladine *''

The Gentleman Misbehaves ''The Gentleman Misbehaves'' is a 1946 American musical comedy film directed by George Sherman and starring Bob Haymes and Hillary Brooke. It was produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures. Plot Cast * Bob Haymes as Edgar Raleigh * Osa Ma ...

'' (1946) – Nina Mallory *''

Strange Impersonation ''Strange Impersonation'' is a 1946 American film noir drama film directed by Anthony Mann and starring Brenda Marshall, William Gargan and Hillary Brooke. Plot The distinguished chemical research scientist Nora Goodrich is postponing her marria ...

'' (1946) – Arline Cole *''

Earl Carroll Sketchbook ''Earl Carroll Sketchbook'' is a 1946 American musical film directed by Albert S. Rogell and written by Frank Gill Jr. and Parke Levy. The film stars Constance Moore, William Marshall, Bill Goodwin, Johnny Coy, Barbara Jo Allen and Edward Everett ...

'' (1946) – Lynn Stafford *''

Big Town ''Big Town'' is a popular long-running radio drama featuring a corruption-fighting newspaper editor initially played from 1937 to 1942 by Edward G. Robinson in his first radio role, with echoes of the conscience-stricken tabloid editor he had ...

'' (1946) – Lorelei Kilbourne *'' Monsieur Beaucaire'' (1946) – Mme. Pompadour * '' Strange Journey'' (1946) – Patti Leeds *''

I Cover Big Town ''I Cover Big Town'' is a 1947 American drama film directed by William C. Thomas and written by Maxwell Shane. The film stars Phillip Reed, Hillary Brooke, Robert Lowery, Robert Shayne, Mona Barrie and Vince Barnett. It was released on Februa ...

'' (1947) – Lorelei Kilbourne *''

Big Town After Dark ''Big Town After Dark'' is a 1947 American film noir drama film directed by William C. Thomas and written by Whitman Chambers. The film stars Phillip Reed, Hillary Brooke, Richard Travis, Ann Gillis, Vince Barnett, Joe Sawyer and Robert Kent. ...

'' (1947) – Lorelei Kilbourn *'' Let's Live Again'' (1948) – Sandra Marlowe *''

The Fuller Brush Man ''The Fuller Brush Man'' is a 1948 American comedy film starring Red Skelton as a door-to-door salesman for the Fuller Brush Company who becomes a murder suspect. Plot Success doesn't exactly stare the unfortunate street cleaner Red Jones (Red Sk ...

'' (1948) – Mildred Trist *''

Big Town Scandal ''Big Town Scandal'' is a 1948 American crime film directed by William C. Thomas and written by Milton Raison. The film stars Phillip Reed, Hillary Brooke, Stanley Clements, Darryl Hickman, Carl Switzer and Roland Dupree. It was released on May ...

'' (1948) – Lorelei Kilbourne *''

'' (1949) – Diana Emerson *''

Alimony Alimony, also called aliment (Scotland), maintenance (England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, Canada, New Zealand), spousal support (U.S., Canada) and spouse maintenance (Australia), is a legal obligation on a person to provide financial suppo ...

'' (1949) – Linda Waring *''

Bodyhold ''Bodyhold'' is a 1949 American crime film noir sport film directed by Seymour Friedman and starring Willard Parker, Lola Albright, and Hillary Brooke. Premise Tommy Jones, a well-built plumber, is invited to join a troupe of wrestlers, but is su ...

'' (1949) – Flo Woodbury *'' Unmasked'' (1950) – Doris King Jackson *'' Beauty on Parade'' (1950) – Gloria Barton *''

'' (1950) – 'Countess' Margo *''

The Admiral Was a Lady ''The Admiral Was a Lady'' is a 1950 American comedy film directed by Albert S. Rogell and starring Edmond O'Brien and Wanda Hendrix. The working title of the film was ''Once Over Lightly'', taken from one of the film's songs. Plot After the e ...

'' (1950) – Shirley Pedigrew *''

Vendetta Vendetta may refer to: * Feud or vendetta, a long-running argument or fight Film * ''Vendetta'' (1919 film), a film featuring Harry Liedtke * ''Vendetta'' (1950 film), an American drama produced by Howard Hughes * ''Vendetta'' (1986 film), a ...

'' (1950) – Lydia Nevil *''

Insurance Investigator An insurance investigator examines insurance claims that are suspicious or otherwise in doubt. Investigators in this field have differing specialties and backgrounds. Some insurance companies have their own in-house investigation teams while other ...

'' (1951) – Addie Wilson *''

Skipalong Rosenbloom ''Skipalong Rosenbloom'' is a 1951 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Eddie Forman and Dean Riesner. Starring Max Rosenbloom, Max Baer, Jackie Coogan, Fuzzy Knight, Hillary Brooke and Jacqueline Fontaine, it was relea ...

'' (1951) – Square Deal Sal *''

Lost Continent Lost lands are islands or continents believed by some to have existed during pre-history, but to have since disappeared as a result of catastrophic geological phenomena. Legends of lost lands often originated as scholarly or scientific theor ...

'' (1951) – Marla Stevens *''

Confidence Girl ''Confidence Girl'' is a 1952 American crime film written and directed by Andrew L. Stone. The film stars Tom Conway, Hillary Brooke, Eddie Marr, John Gallaudet, Jack Kruschen, Dan Riss and Walter Kingsford. It was released on June 20, 1952 by U ...

'' (1952) – Mary Webb *''

'' (1952) – Capt. Bonney *'' Never Wave at a WAC'' (1953) – First Lt. Phyllis Turnbull *''

The Lady Wants Mink ''The Lady Wants Mink'' is a 1953 American comedy film directed by William A. Seiter and written by Dane Lussier and Richard Alan Simmons. The film stars Dennis O'Keefe, Ruth Hussey, Eve Arden, William Demarest, Gene Lockhart and Hope Emerson. ...

'' (1953) – Evelyn Cantrell *'' Invaders From Mars'' (1953) – Mrs. Mary MacLean *'' The Maze'' (1953) – Peggy Lord *''

Mexican Manhunt ''Mexican Manhunt'' is a 1953 American crime film directed by Rex Bailey and starring George Brent, Hillary Brooke and Morris Ankrum.Fetrow p.273 The screenplay concerns a Los Angeles-based author who travels to Mexico to search for a celebrated j ...

'' (1953) – Eve Carter *'' The House Across the Lake'' (1954, aka Heat Wave) – Carol Forrest *''

Bengazi Benghazi () , ; it, Bengasi; tr, Bingazi; ber, Bernîk, script=Latn; also: ''Bengasi'', ''Benghasi'', ''Banghāzī'', ''Binghāzī'', ''Bengazi''; grc, Βερενίκη ('' Berenice'') and ''Hesperides''., group=note (''lit. Son of he Ghaz ...

'' (1955) – Nora Nielson *'' The Man Who Knew Too Much'' (1956) – Jan Peterson *''

Spoilers of the Forest ''Spoilers of the Forest'' is a 1957 American drama film directed by Joseph Kane, written by Bruce Manning, and starring Rod Cameron, Vera Ralston, Ray Collins, Hillary Brooke, Edgar Buchanan and Carl Benton Reid. It was released on April 5, ...

'' (1957) – Phyllis Warren

References

External links

* *
WOmWAm Actress Page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brooke, Hillary 1914 births 1999 deaths American film actresses American television actresses Female models from New York (state) People from Astoria, Queens Actresses from New York City 20th-century American actresses California Democrats New York (state) Democrats Deaths from blood clot