Louise Lorimer (born Louise Knapp Pinkham, July 14, 1898 – August 12, 1995) was an American actress who played character roles on Broadway, in films, and on television in a career lasting over six decades.

Life and career

Born Louise Knapp Pinkham in

Newton, Massachusetts Newton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is approximately west of downtown Boston. Newton resembles a patchwork of thirteen villages, without a city center. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the population of Ne ...

, she attended Newton High School and studied drama at the

Leland Powers School The Leland Powers School, also known as the Leland Powers School of Communication, Leland Powers School of Radio, Theatre, and Television, Leland Powers Theatre School, the Leland Powers School of Expression, Leland Powers School of the Spoken Word ...

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

before taking the stage name Louise Lorimer. After launching her career in Broadway productions in the 1920s, she played a series of small cinematic roles, including in '' To Mary – with Love'' (1936), ''

Gangster's Boy ''Gangster's Boy'' is a 1938 American film directed by William Nigh. It stars Jackie Cooper in his second film for Monogram Pictures. The film was positively received, and has been released on DVD. Plot High school student Larry Kelly's father T ...

'' (1938), ''

Manhattan Heartbeat ''Manhattan Heartbeat'' is a 1940 American drama film directed by David Burton and written by Clark Andrews, Harold Buchman, Jack Jungmeyer and Edith Skouras. It is based on the 1928 novel ''Bad Girl'' by Viña Delmar. The film stars Robert Ster ...

'' (1940), and ''

Flying Cadets ''Flying Cadets'' is a 1941 American adventure film directed by Erle C. Kenton and written by George Waggner, Roy Chanslor and Stanley Rubin. The film stars William Gargan, Edmund Lowe, Peggy Moran, Frank Albertson, Frankie Thomas and Riley H ...

'' (1941). During World War II, she performed with the

USO The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) is an American nonprofit-charitable corporation that provides live entertainment, such as comedians, actors and musicians, social facilities, and other programs to members of the United States Armed F ...

in the Pacific. She returned to Broadway in the 1940s, including a role in '' I Remember Mama'' (1944), which featured

Marlon Brando Marlon Brando Jr. (April 3, 1924 – July 1, 2004) was an American actor. Considered one of the most influential actors of the 20th century, he received numerous accolades throughout his career, which spanned six decades, including two Academ ...

in his stage debut. Lorimer's film career continued with ''

Gentleman's Agreement A gentlemen's agreement, or gentleman's agreement, is an informal and legally non-binding agreement between two or more parties. It is typically oral, but it may be written or simply understood as part of an unspoken agreement by convention or th ...

'' (1947), ''

Once More, My Darling ''Once More, My Darling'' is a 1949 American comedy film directed by and starring Robert Montgomery and Ann Blyth. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Sound Recording ( Leslie I. Carey). Plot Collier "Collie" Laing, a confirm ...

'' (1949), ''

Father Was a Fullback ''Father Was a Fullback'' is a 1949 black-and-white film from 20th Century Fox based on a comedy by Clifford Goldsmith. The film is about a college American football star and his woes. The film stars Fred MacMurray, Maureen O'Hara, Natalie Wood, ...

'' (1949), ''

The Glass Menagerie ''The Glass Menagerie'' is a memory play by Tennessee Williams that premiered in 1944 and catapulted Williams from obscurity to fame. The play has strong autobiographical elements, featuring characters based on its author, his Histrionic persona ...

'' (1950), ''

The Sun Sets at Dawn ''The Sun Sets at Dawn'' is a 1950 American film noir crime film directed by Paul Sloane and starring Sally Parr and Patrick Waltz. Plot A young man sits in prison on the night before his execution, while his girlfriend waits for the inevitable i ...

'' (1950), '' The Prowler'' (1951), ''

The People Against O'Hara ''The People Against O'Hara'' is a 1951 American crime film noir directed by John Sturges and based on Eleazar Lipsky's novel. The film features Spencer Tracy, Pat O'Brien, John Hodiak, and James Arness. Plot James Curtayne ( Tracy) was once a ...

'' (1951), ''

Japanese War Bride ''Japanese War Bride'' (also known as ''East is East'') is a 1952 drama film directed by King Vidor. The film featured the American debut of Shirley Yamaguchi in the title role. In February 2020, the film was shown at the 70th Berlin Internation ...

'' (1952), ''

Young Man with Ideas ''Young Man with Ideas'' is a 1952 romantic comedy film directed by Mitchell Leisen and starring Ruth Roman and Glenn Ford. It was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The screenplay concern a young small-town lawyer, who moves his family from Monta ...

'' (1952), ''

Mister Cory ''Mister Cory'' is a 1957 American CinemaScope film noir directed by Blake Edwards and starring Tony Curtis, Martha Hyer, Charles Bickford and Kathryn Grant. Plot Cory, a poor Chicago kid with a penchant for gambling, gets a job at a posh Wisc ...

'' (1957), ''

Compulsion Compulsion may refer to: * Compulsive behavior, a psychological condition in which a person does a behavior compulsively, having an overwhelming feeling that they must do so. * Obsessive–compulsive disorder, a mental disorder characterized by i ...

'' (1959), and ''

-30- -30- has been traditionally used by journalists in North America to indicate the end of a story or article that is submitted for editing and typesetting. It is commonly employed when writing on deadline and sending bits of the story at a time, v ...

'' (1959). On television, she played Stagecoach Sal in the western ''

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 was ...

''. She appeared in '' The Lone Ranger (TV series) '' episode (1/16) "Cannonball McKay" as the named character (1949). She appeared in several other series, including '' Dragnet'' (1955–58), '' Dennis the Menace'' (1959–61), ''

Window on Main Street ''Window on Main Street'' is an American comedy-drama television series starring Robert Young about an author who returns to his home town after an absence of many years to write about the people and events there. Original episodes aired from Oct ...

'' (1961–62), and ''

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 cli ...

'' (1958-62). Lorimer was close friends with actress

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 Awa ...

and made multiple appearances on the tv series

Hazel The hazel (''Corylus'') is a genus of deciduous trees and large shrubs native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere. The genus is usually placed in the birch family Betulaceae,Germplasmgobills Information Network''Corylus''Rushforth, K. (1999). ...

as George Baxter’s mother. In addition to appearing in the TV series ''

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 ren ...

'', she had a small role in

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 ...

's 1964 film ''

Marnie ''Marnie'' is an English crime novel, written by Winston Graham and first published in 1961. It has been adapted as a film, a stage play and an opera. Plot ''Marnie'' is about a young woman who makes a living by embezzling her employers' funds, ...

''. She continued appearing on television into her 80s, including the pilot of the 1978 series ''

Battlestar Galactica ''Battlestar Galactica'' is an American science fiction media franchise created by Glen A. Larson. The franchise began with the Battlestar Galactica (1978 TV series), original television series in 1978, and was followed by a short-run sequel se ...

'' ("

Saga of a Star World "Saga of a Star World" (or "Battlestar Galactica") is the pilot for the American science fiction television series of '' Battlestar Galactica'' which was produced in 1978 by Glen A. Larson. A re-edit of the episode was released theatrically as '' ...

"). Lorimer died at the age of 97 at her home in Newton, Massachusetts.

Selected filmography

*'' I've Got Your Number'' (1934) - Young Telephone Operator (uncredited) *'' Nobody's Fool'' (1936) - Society Woman (uncredited) *'' To Mary – with Love'' (1936) - Nurse *''

A Doctor's Diary ''A Doctor's Diary'' is a 1937 American drama film directed by Charles Vidor and written by David Boehm and Samuel Ornitz. The film stars George Bancroft, Helen Burgess, John Trent, Ruth Coleman, Ronald Sinclair and Molly Lamont. The film was ...

'' (1937) - Ludlow's Secretary (uncredited) *''

'' (1938) - Mrs. Kelly *'' Ex-Champ'' (1939) - Secretary (uncredited) *''

The Forgotten Woman ''The Forgotten Woman'' is a 2008 Canadian documentary film directed by Dilip Mehta and written by Deepa Mehta. The film is about widows in India and was inspired by Deepa Mehta's 2005 Academy Award-nominated film on the same subject, ''Water''. ...

'' (1939) - Minor Role (uncredited) *''

Forgotten Girls ''Forgotten Girls'' is a 1940 American crime film directed by Phil Rosen and written by F. Hugh Herbert, Joseph Moncure March and George Beck. The film stars Louise Platt, Donald Woods, Wynne Gibson, Robert Armstrong, Eduardo Ciannelli and Jac ...

'' (1940) - Inmate (uncredited) *'' Star Dust'' (1940) - Miss Collins (uncredited) *''

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 divis ...

'' (1940) - Governor's Secretary (uncredited) *''

'' (1940) - Nurse *''

Public Deb No. 1 ''Public Deb No. 1'' (or ''Elsa Maxwell's Public Deb No. 1'') is a 1940 American comedy film directed by Gregory Ratoff and starring George Murphy, Brenda Joyce and Ralph Bellamy. Plot A socialite is introduced to communism by her butler. Partia ...

'' (1940) - Secretary (uncredited) *''

'' (1941) - Mary Adams / Ames *''

'' (1947) - Miss Miller (uncredited) *''

Sorry, Wrong Number ''Sorry, Wrong Number'' is a 1948 American thriller film noir directed by Anatole Litvak, from a screenplay by Lucille Fletcher, based on her 1943 radio play of the same name. The film stars Barbara Stanwyck and Burt Lancaster. It follows a ...

'' (1948) - Nurse (uncredited) *'' The Luck of the Irish'' (1948) - Augur's Secretary (uncredited) *''

The Snake Pit ''The Snake Pit'' is a 1948 American psychological drama film directed by Anatole Litvak and starring Olivia de Havilland, Mark Stevens, Leo Genn, Celeste Holm, Beulah Bondi, and Lee Patrick. Based on Mary Jane Ward's 1946 semi-autobiographi ...

'' (1948) - Nurse (uncredited) *''

Sorrowful Jones ''Sorrowful Jones'', also known as ''Damon Runyon's Sorrowful Jones'', is a 1949 American comedy-drama film directed by Sidney Lanfield. The film stars Lucille Ball and Bob Hope. ''Sorrowful Jones'' was a remake of a 1934 Shirley Temple film, '' ...

'' (1949) - Nurse-Receptionist (uncredited) *'' Any Number Can Play'' (1949) - Parent (uncredited) *''

'' (1949) - Mrs. Fraser *''

The Gal Who Took the West ''The Gal Who Took the West'' is a 1949 American Western film directed by Frederick de Cordova starring Yvonne De Carlo, Charles Coburn, Scott Brady and John Russell. It was nominated for an award by the Writers Guild of America 1950. Plot ...

'' (1949) - Mrs. Livia Logan (uncredited) *''

'' (1949) - Mrs. Jones *''

The Heiress ''The Heiress'' is a 1949 American romantic drama film directed and produced by William Wyler, from a screenplay written by Ruth and Augustus Goetz, adapted from their 1947 stage play of the same title, which was itself adapted from Henry James ...

'' (1949) - Dr. Sloper's Secretary (uncredited) *''

Mother Didn't Tell Me ''Mother Didn't Tell Me'' is a 1950 American comedy film written and directed by Claude Binyon. It is based on the 1949 book ''The Doctor Wears Three Faces'' by Mary Bard. The film stars Dorothy McGuire, William Lundigan, June Havoc, Gary Merri ...

'' (1950) - Nurse (uncredited) *''

The Big Hangover ''The Big Hangover'' is a 1950 American comedy film released by MGM. The film starred Van Johnson and Elizabeth Taylor and was written and directed by Norman Krasna. Supporting players include Percy Waram, Fay Holden, Leon Ames, Edgar Buchanan, S ...

'' (1950) - Mrs. Johnson (uncredited) *''

Mystery Street ''Mystery Street'' is a 1950 black-and-white film noir featuring Ricardo Montalbán, Sally Forrest, Bruce Bennett, Elsa Lanchester, and Marshall Thompson. Produced by MGM, it was directed by John Sturges with cinematography by John Alton. The f ...

'' (1950) - Mrs. Shanway (uncredited) *''

Where the Sidewalk Ends ''Where the Sidewalk Ends'' is a 1974 children's poetry collection written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein. It was published by Harper and Row Publishers. The book's poems address many common childhood concerns and also present purely fancif ...

'' (1950) - Mrs. Jackson (uncredited) *''

'' (1950) - Miss Porter (uncredited) *''

Mister 880 ''Mister 880'' is a 1950 American light-hearted romantic drama film directed by Edmund Goulding and starring Burt Lancaster, Dorothy McGuire and Edmund Gwenn, about an amateurish counterfeiter who counterfeits only one dollar bills, and manages ...

'' (1950) - Art Store Proprietress (uncredited) *''

'' (1950) - The Warden's Wife *'' Follow the Sun'' (1951) - Mrs. Willie Clinton (uncredited) *'' The Prowler'' (1951) - Motel Manager *''

'' (1951) - Mrs. Peg O'Hara *'' Reunion in Reno'' (1951) - Mrs. Hunt (uncredited) *''

Callaway Went Thataway ''Callaway Went Thataway'' is a 1951 American comedy western film starring Fred MacMurray, Dorothy McGuire, and Howard Keel. It was written, directed, and produced by Melvin Frank and Norman Panama. Also known as ''The Star Said No'', it is a s ...

'' (1951) - Irate Woman in New York (uncredited) *''

'' (1952) - Harriet Sterling *''

'' (1952) - Martha Rickson (uncredited) *''

Night Without Sleep ''Night Without Sleep'' is a 1952 American film noir mystery film directed by Roy Ward Baker and starring Gary Merrill, Linda Darnell and Hildegarde Neff. It was produced and distributed by 20th Century Fox. Plot A composer, Richard Morton ex ...

'' (1952) - Mrs. Carter (uncredited) *''

Something for the Birds ''Something for the Birds'' is a 1952 film directed by Robert Wise and starring Victor Mature and Patricia Neal. Plot Johnnie Adams, an engraver in Washington, uses some of the invitations his firm makes to crash Washington parties. He gets to ...

'' (1952) - Mrs. Winthrop (uncredited) *''

Million Dollar Mermaid ''Million Dollar Mermaid'' (also known as ''The One Piece Bathing Suit'' in the UK) is a 1952 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer biographical film of the life of Australian swimming star Annette Kellerman. It was directed by Mervyn LeRoy and produced by Arthur ...

'' (1952) - Nurse (uncredited) *'' Never Wave at a WAC'' (1953) - Col. Fullbright (uncredited) *''

Pack Train A packhorse, pack horse, or sumpter refers to a horse, mule, donkey, or pony used to carry goods on its back, usually in sidebags or panniers. Typically packhorses are used to cross difficult terrain, where the absence of roads prevents the use of ...

'' (1953) - Martha Coleman (uncredited) *'' Crazylegs'' (1953) - Mrs. Hirsch *'' Wonder Valley'' (1953) - Sweetheart's Mother *''

Strange Lady in Town ''Strange Lady in Town'' is a 1955 American Western film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Greer Garson. She plays a doctor who plans to introduce modern techniques of medicine to old Santa Fe in 1880, but is opposed by an established docto ...

'' (1955) - Mrs. Wallace (uncredited) *'' There's Always Tomorrow'' (1955) - Chic Lady with Dog (uncredited) *''

You're Never Too Young ''You’re Never Too Young'' is a 1955 American semi- musical comedy film directed by Norman Taurog and starring the team of Martin and Lewis and co-starring Diana Lynn, Nina Foch, and Raymond Burr. It was released on August 25, 1955 by Paramoun ...

'' (1955) - Teacher (uncredited) *''

The Benny Goodman Story Dick Winslow ''The Benny Goodman Story'' is a biographical film starring Steve Allen and Donna Reed, directed by Valentine Davies, and released by Universal-International in 1956. The film was intended as a follow-up to Universal's 1954 hit ''The G ...

'' (1956) - Mrs. Vanderbilt (uncredited) *''

'' (1957) - Mrs. Vollard *''

'' (1959) - Mrs. Straus aka 'Mumsy' *''

The Young Philadelphians ''The Young Philadelphians'' is a 1959 American legal drama film directed by Vincent Sherman and starring Paul Newman, Barbara Rush, Robert Vaughn and Alexis Smith. The film is based on the 1956 novel ''The Philadelphian'', by Richard P. Powell. ...

'' (1959) - Mary Judson (uncredited) *''

'' (1959) - Lady Wilson *''

A Fever in the Blood ''A Fever in the Blood'' is a 1961 American courtroom drama, produced and distributed by Warner Brothers. The film features a roster of the studio's television contract players, often miscast according to the film's producer and screenwriter Roy ...

'' (1961) - Mrs. Emma Jenson, Witness in Car (uncredited) *''

Ada Ada may refer to: Places Africa * Ada Foah, a town in Ghana * Ada (Ghana parliament constituency) * Ada, Osun, a town in Nigeria Asia * Ada, Urmia, a village in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran * Ada, Karaman, a village in Karaman Province, Tur ...

'' (1961) - Mrs. Danford (uncredited) *''

'' (1964) - Mrs. Strutt (uncredited) *''

A Fine Madness ''A Fine Madness'' is a 1966 American Technicolor comedy film based on the 1964 novel by Elliott Baker that tells the story of Samson Shillitoe, a frustrated poet unable to finish a grand tome. It stars Sean Connery (in the midst of his James Bond ...

'' (1966) - Clubwoman at Luncheon (uncredited) *'' 5 Card Stud'' (1968) - Mrs. Frank Wells (uncredited) *''

The Impossible Years ''The Impossible Years'' is a 1965 comedy play written by Robert Fisher and Arthur Marx, son of comedian Groucho Marx. After two previews, the Broadway production, directed by Arthur Storch, opened on October 13, 1965, at the Playhouse Theatre, ...

'' (1968) - Mrs. Celia Fish *''

Family Plot ''Family Plot'' is a 1976 American black comedy thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock in his final directing role. It was based on Victor Canning's 1972 novel ''The Rainbird Pattern'', which Ernest Lehman adapted for the screen. The film ...

'' (1976) - Ida Cookson (uncredited) *'' The Choirboys'' (1977) - Fox

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lorimer, Louise 1898 births 1995 deaths People from Newton, Massachusetts American stage actresses American film actresses American television actresses 20th-century American actresses