Mary Elizabeth Hughes (November 13, 1919 Katz, Ephraim (1979). ''The Film Encyclopedia: The Most Comprehensive Encyclopedia of World Cinema in a Single Volume''. Perigee Books. . P. 586. – August 27, 1995) was an American film, television, and

stage Stage or stages may refer to: Acting * Stage (theatre), a space for the performance of theatrical productions * Theatre, a branch of the performing arts, often referred to as "the stage" * ''The Stage'', a weekly British theatre newspaper * Sta ...

actress best known for her roles in B movies.

Early life and career

Hughes was born in

Alton, Illinois Alton ( ) is a city on the Mississippi River in Madison County, Illinois, Madison County, Illinois, United States, about north of St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri. The population was 25,676 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. It is a p ...

. Her parents, George Joseph Hughes and Mary Frances Hughes, separated when she was an infant and divorced in 1923. After the divorce, Hughes's mother moved with her only child to

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

Hughes' grandmother, Flora Fosdick, was described as a "star of grand opera and drama hoplayed with Ethel Barrymore on the stage." As a child Hughes began acting in stage productions. While acting in a school play in the early 1930s, her performance caught the attention of Clifford Brown, a repertory theatre company owner, who offered her a part in a touring production of '' Alice in Wonderland''. While touring with another production in Brown's company, she was offered a contract from a talent scout with Gaumont-British Studios but declined the offer to finish high school. After graduating from high school in 1937 she returned to Brown's theatre company, where she continued to appear in various stage productions until the summer of 1938, when she relocated to

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

with her mother to pursue a film career. After six months of failing to land movie roles, Hughes and her mother made plans to return to Washington, D.C., until Hughes met an agent, Wally Ross. Ross introduced Hughes to powerful William Morris agent

Johnny Hyde Johnny Hyde (23 April 1895 – 18 December 1950) was an American talent agent who developed the career of Marilyn Monroe. Early life Hyde was born to a Jewish family as Iván Haidabura in Russia and moved to the United States in April 1898 ...

. Hyde landed Hughes a contract with

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 ...

, and she soon landed a small, uncredited role in the 1939 film ''

Broadway Serenade ''Broadway Serenade'' (also known as ''Serenade'') is a 1939 musical drama film distributed by MGM, produced and directed by Robert Z. Leonard. The screenplay was written by Charles Lederer, based on a story by Lew Lipton, John Taintor Foote an ...

''.

Film career

After ''Broadway Serenade'', Hughes appeared in other bit parts in films including '' The Women'' with

Norma Shearer Edith Norma Shearer (August 11, 1902June 12, 1983) was a Canadian-American actress who was active on film from 1919 through 1942. Shearer often played spunky, sexually liberated ingénues. She appeared in adaptations of Noël Coward, Eugene O'N ...

, ''

Dancing Co-Ed ''Dancing Co-Ed'' is a 1939 American romantic comedy film directed by S. Sylvan Simon and starring Lana Turner in the titular role, Richard Carlson as an inquisitive college reporter, and bandleader Artie Shaw as himself. Plot When a dancer's ...

'' with

Lana Turner Lana Turner ( ; born Julia Jean Turner; February 8, 1921June 29, 1995) was an American actress. Over the course of her nearly 50-year career, she achieved fame as both a pin-up model and a film actress, as well as for her highly publicized pe ...

, and the

Busby Berkeley Busby Berkeley (born Berkeley William Enos; November 29, 1895 – March 14, 1976) was an American film director and musical choreographer. Berkeley devised elaborate musical production numbers that often involved complex geometric patterns. Berke ...

film ''

Fast and Furious ''Fast & Furious'' (also known as ''The Fast and the Furious'') is a media franchise centered on a series of action films that are largely concerned with street racing, heists, spies, and family. The franchise also includes short films, a ...

''.Allmovieguide.com: Filmography of Mary Beth Hughes
/ref> In 1940 Hughes was offered a contract with 20th Century-Fox. Later that year she landed a role opposite

John Barrymore John Barrymore (born John Sidney Blyth; February 14 or 15, 1882 – May 29, 1942) was an American actor on stage, screen and radio. A member of the Drew and Barrymore theatrical families, he initially tried to avoid the stage, and briefly att ...

in '' The Great Profile'', a part she later noted as one of her favorites. Fox did not renew her contract when it expired in 1943, and the following year she began appearing in a nightclub act and soon signed a three-picture deal with

Universal Pictures Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...

. Her most famous role was as

Henry Fonda Henry Jaynes Fonda (May 16, 1905 – August 12, 1982) was an American actor. He had a career that spanned five decades on Broadway and in Hollywood. He cultivated an everyman screen image in several films considered to be classics. Born and ra ...

's former girlfriend in the Best Picture Academy Award nominee, ''

The Ox-Bow Incident ''The Ox-Bow Incident'' is a 1943 American Western film directed by William A. Wellman, starring Henry Fonda, Dana Andrews and Mary Beth Hughes, with Anthony Quinn, William Eythe, Harry Morgan and Jane Darwell. Two cowboys arrive in a ...

'' (1943). Throughout the mid-1940s and early 1950s, Hughes appeared in film and television roles, including the

cult classic A cult following refers to a group of fans who are highly dedicated to some person, idea, object, movement, or work, often an artist, in particular a performing artist, or an artwork in some medium. The lattermost is often called a cult classic. ...

I Accuse My Parents ''I Accuse My Parents'' is a 1944 American exploitation film dealing with juvenile delinquency. Produced by PRC, the film was used to teach morals, specifically that parents should take an interest in their children's lives, as well as the conse ...

'' (which was later parodied on '' Mystery Science Theater 3000''), Anthony Mann's early noir masterpiece '' The Great Flamarion'' where she co-starred with Erich von Stroheim and

Dan Duryea Dan Duryea ( , January 23, 1907 – June 7, 1968) was an American actor in film, stage, and television. Known for portraying a vast range of character roles as a villain, he nonetheless had a long career in a wide variety of leading and second ...

, '' Wanted: Dead or Alive'' (episode "Secret Ballot"), '' The Devil's Henchman'', ''

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 ...

'', '' Dragnet'' and '' Studio One''.

Later years

In 1961, Hughes decided to retire from acting and began working as a receptionist in a plastic surgeon's office, although she continued her appearances in nightclubs. The following year she directed and starred in a Los Angeles production of ''Pajama Top''. For the rest of the 1960s she would go on to appear in television shows like '' Rawhide'' and '' Dennis the Menace''. In 1970 she landed a regular role on ''

The Red Skelton Show ''The Red Skelton Show'' is an American television comedy/variety show that aired from 1951 to 1971. In the decade prior to hosting the show, Richard "Red" Skelton had a successful career as a radio and motion pictures star. Although his televi ...

'', appearing in 11 episodes before the show ended later that year. In 1976 she again retired from show business, explaining that she was "tired of auditioning for sexy grandma roles." Hughes' last onscreen appearance was in the

1976 Events January * January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 11 – The 1976 ...

film ''Tanya''. In the late 1970s Hughes opened a beauty parlor in

Canoga Park, California Canoga Park is a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of the City of Los Angeles, California. Before the Mexican–American War, the district was part of a rancho, and after the American victory it was converted into wheat farms and the ...

. She closed the shop in the late 1980s and began working as a

telemarketer Telemarketing (sometimes known as inside sales, or telesales in the UK and Ireland) is a method of direct marketing in which a salesperson solicits prospective customers to buy products or services, either over the phone or through a subsequen ...

until 1991, when she was laid off.

Personal life

As a starlet under contract with MGM, Hughes went on studio-appointed dates with several actors, including

Lew Ayres Lewis Frederick Ayres III (December 28, 1908 – December 30, 1996) was an American actor whose film and television career spanned 65 years. He is best known for starring as German soldier Paul Bäumer in the film '' All Quiet on the Western Fr ...

Franchot Tone Stanislaus Pascal Franchot Tone (February 27, 1905 – September 18, 1968) was an American actor, producer, and director of stage, film and television. He was a leading man in the 1930s and early 1940s, and at the height of his career was known ...

, Mickey Rooney, and James Stewart. While under contract to Fox, she also went on arranged dates with Milton Berle and George Montgomery. In 1940, against Fox's wishes, Hughes began a relationship with actor

Robert Stack Robert Stack (born Charles Langford Modini Stack; January 13, 1919 – May 14, 2003) was an American actor. Known for his deep voice and commanding presence, he appeared in over forty feature films. He starred in the highly successful ABC tele ...

. The romance lasted a year. After her romance with Stack ended, Hughes married actor Ted North in 1943. The couple had one son, Donald, before divorcing in 1947. On April 28, 1948, she married singer/actor David Street. The marriage ended in divorce on January 23, 1956. In 1973 Hughes married her manager, Nicky Stewart, but that marriage also ended in divorce four years later.

Death

Hughes died, aged 75, on August 27, 1995 from natural causes in Los Angeles. Upon her death, she was

cremated Cremation is a method of final disposition of a dead body through burning. Cremation may serve as a funeral or post-funeral rite and as an alternative to burial. In some countries, including India and Nepal, cremation on an open-air pyre i ...

and her ashes returned to her surviving son.

Filmography

* '' Within the Law'' (1939) as Mamie (voice, uncredited) * ''

'' (1939) as Girl at Party (uncredited) * '' The Kid from Texas'' (1939) as Polo Match Spectator (uncredited) * ''

Bridal Suite ''Bridal Suite'' is a 1939 American comedy film directed by Wilhelm Thiele and written by Samuel Hoffenstein. The film stars Annabella, Robert Young, Walter Connolly, Reginald Owen, Gene Lockhart, and Arthur Treacher. The film was released o ...

'' (1939) as Bride (uncredited) * ''

These Glamour Girls ''These Glamour Girls'' is a 1939 comedy-drama film directed by S. Sylvan Simon and starring Lew Ayres and Lana Turner, with Tom Brown, Jane Bryan, Richard Carlson, Anita Louise and Ann Rutherford in featured roles. Plot summary A drunken co ...

'' (1939) as Ann * '' The Women'' (1939) as Miss Trimmerback * ''

'' (1939) as 'Toddy' * ''

'' (1939) as Jerry Lawrence * '' The Covered Trailer'' (1939) as Betty Higgins * '' Free, Blonde and 21'' (1940) as Jerry Daily * '' Star Dust'' (1940) as June Lawrence * ''

Four Sons ''Four Sons'' is a 1928 American silent drama film directed and produced by John Ford and written for the screen by Philip Klein from a story by I. A. R. Wylie first published in the '' Saturday Evening Post'' as "Grandmother Bernle Learns Her ...

'' (1940) as Anna * ''

Lucky Cisco Kid ''Lucky Cisco Kid'' is a 1940 Western film directed by H. Bruce Humberstone and starring Cesar Romero, Mary Beth Hughes, and Dana Andrews, the latter in his film debut. Plot summary A gang of outlaws, led by Judge McQuade ( William Robertson ...

'' (1940) as Lola * '' The Great Profile'' (1940) as Sylvia * ''

Sleepers West ''Sleepers West'' is a 1941 American mystery drama film directed by Eugene Forde and starring Lloyd Nolan, Lynn Bari and Mary Beth Hughes. This second entry in 20th Century-Fox's ''Michael Shayne'' series was a remake of the 1934 Fox romanti ...

'' (1941) as Helen Carlson * '' Ride on Vaquero'' (1941) as Sally Slocum * '' The Great American Broadcast'' (1941) as Secretary * '' The Cowboy and the Blonde'' (1941) as Crystal Wayne * '' Dressed to Kill'' (1941) as Joanne La Marr * ''

Charlie Chan in Rio ''Charlie Chan in Rio'' is a 1941 film featuring the Asian detective Charlie Chan. It was the tenth film to feature Sidney Toler as the title character, who is called upon to investigate the death of a suspected murderer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ...

'' (1941) as Joan Reynolds * '' Design for Scandal'' (1941) as Adele Blair * ''

Blue, White and Perfect ''Blue, White and Perfect'' is a 1942 American mystery film directed by Herbert I. Leeds and starring Lloyd Nolan, Mary Beth Hughes, and Helene Reynolds. It is part of Twentieth Century Fox's Michael Shayne film series. The basis of the plot cam ...

'' (1942) as Merle Garland * ''

The Night Before the Divorce ''The Night Before the Divorce'' is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Robert Siodmak and starring Lynn Bari, Mary Beth Hughes and Joseph Allen, adapted from the 1937 play of the same name by Gina Kaus and Ladislas Fodor.Alpi p.110 Main c ...

'' (1942) as Lola May * ''

Orchestra Wives ''Orchestra Wives'' is a 1942 American musical film by 20th Century Fox starring Ann Rutherford, George Montgomery, and Glenn Miller. The film was the second (and last) film to feature The Glenn Miller Orchestra, and is notable among the many sw ...

'' (1942) as Caroline Steele * ''

'' (1942) as Rose Mapen * '' Over My Dead Body'' (1942) as Patricia Cordry aka Pat Preston * '' Good Morning, Judge'' (1943) as Mira Bryon * ''

Follow the Band ''Follow the Band'' is a 1943 black-and-white musical film directed by Jean Yarbrough, one of many Universal churned out during World War II. It stars Eddie Quillan, Mary Beth Hughes, and Leon Errol, and is noteworthy as an early credit for Ro ...

'' (1943) as Dolly O'Brien * ''

Melody Parade ''Melody Parade'' is a 1943 American musical film directed by Arthur Dreifuss and written by Tim Ryan and Charles R. Marion. The film stars Mary Beth Hughes, Eddie Quillan, Tim Ryan, Irene Ryan, Mantan Moreland, Jerry Cooper and Armida. The f ...

'' (1943) as Anne O'Rourke * '' Never a Dull Moment'' (1943) as Flo Parker * '' Timber Queen'' (1944) as Elaine Graham * '' Men on Her Mind'' (1944) as Lily Durrell * '' Take It Big'' (1944) as Gaye Livingston * ''

'' (1944) as Kitty Reed * '' The Great Flamarion'' (1945) as Connie Wallace * ''

Rockin' in the Rockies ''Rockin' in the Rockies'' is a 1945 American musical western feature film starring the Three Stooges (not to be confused with their 1940 short subject '' Rockin' thru the Rockies''). The picture was one of the Stooges' few feature-length film ...

'' (1945) as June McGuire * '' The Lady Confesses'' (1945) as Vicki McGuire * '' Caged Fury'' (1948) as Lola Tremaine * '' Waterfront at Midnight'' (1948) as Ethel Novack * '' The Return of Wildfire'' (1948) as Judy Marlowe * '' Joe Palooka in Winner Take All'' (1948) as Millie * '' Inner Sanctum'' (1948) as Jean Maxwell * ''

Last of the Wild Horses ''Last of the Wild Horses'' is a 1948 American Western film directed by Robert L. Lippert and starring James Ellison, Mary Beth Hughes and Jane Frazee. It was featured in episode 611 of '' Mystery Science Theater 3000''. Plot Duke Barnum, a ...

'' (1948) as Terry Williams * ''

El Paso El Paso (; "the pass") is a city in and the seat of El Paso County in the western corner of the U.S. state of Texas. The 2020 population of the city from the U.S. Census Bureau was 678,815, making it the 23rd-largest city in the U.S., the s ...

'' (1949) as Stagecoach Nellie * '' Rimfire'' (1949) as Polly * '' Grand Canyon'' (1949) as Terry Lee * '' The Devil's Henchman'' (1949) as Silky * '' Square Dance Jubilee'' (1949) as Barbara Clayton * '' Riders in the Sky'' (1949) as Julie Stewart * '' Young Man with a Horn'' (1950) as Marge Martin * '' Holiday Rhythm'' (1950) as Alice * ''

Passage West Passage West (locally known as "Passage"; ) is a port town in County Cork, Ireland, situated on the west bank of Cork Harbour, some 10 km south-east of Cork city. The town has many services, amenities and social outlets. Passage West wa ...

'' (1951) as Nellie McBride * ''

Close to My Heart ''Close to My Heart'' is a 1951 American drama (film and television), drama film directed by William Keighley, written by James R. Webb (based on his novel ''A Baby for Midge''), and starring Ray Milland and Gene Tierney. Plot Brad Sheridan (Mill ...

'' (1951) as Arlene * ''

Highway Dragnet ''Highway Dragnet'' is a 1954 American film noir B film crime film directed by Nathan Juran from a story by U.S. Andersen and Roger Corman. The film stars Richard Conte, Joan Bennett and Wanda Hendrix. It was the first feature film on which Rog ...

'' (1954) as Terry Smith * ''

Loophole A loophole is an ambiguity or inadequacy in a system, such as a law or security, which can be used to circumvent or otherwise avoid the purpose, implied or explicitly stated, of the system. Originally, the word meant an arrowslit, a narrow ver ...

'' (1954) as Vera * '' Las Vegas Shakedown'' (1955) as Mabel Dooley * ''

Dig That Uranium ''Dig That Uranium'' is a 1956 film starring the comedy team of The Bowery Boys. The film was released on January 8, 1956, by Allied Artists and is the fortieth film in the series. Plot An old friend of the boys returns to town and tells them st ...

'' (1955) as Jeanette * '' Gun Battle at Monterey'' (1957) as Cleo * ''The Blue Hour'' (1971) * ''How's Your Love Life?'' (1971) as Linda Roberts * '' The Working Girls'' (1974) as Mrs. Borden * '' Tanya'' (1976) (final film role)

Television credits

* ''Nash Airflyte Theatre'' (1 episode, 1950) as Lydia * ''

The Adventures of Ellery Queen ''The Adventures of Ellery Queen'' is the title of a radio series and four separate television series made from the 1950s through the 1970s. They were based on the fictional detective and pseudonymous writer Ellery Queen and the cases he solved wi ...

'' (1 episode, 1951) * '' Not for Publication'' (1 episode, 1952) * ''

The Philco Television Playhouse ''The Philco Television Playhouse'' is an American television anthology series that was broadcast live on NBC from 1948 to 1955. Produced by Fred Coe, the series was sponsored by Philco. It was one of the most respected dramatic shows of the Golde ...

'' (1 episode, 1953) * '' Racket Squad'' (1 episode, 1953) as Kendall Hastings * ''

'' (1 episode, 1953) as Dixie King * ''My Hero'' (2 episodes, 1952-1953) as Lilli Martin AKA the Atomic Blonde / Myrna * ''

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 ...

'' (2 episodes, 1953–1954) as Charlotte Casterline * ''

The Ford Television Theatre ''Ford Theatre'', spelled ''Ford Theater'' for the original radio version and known, in full, as ''The Ford Television Theatre'' for the TV version, is a radio and television anthology series broadcast in the United States in the 1940s and 1950 ...

'' (1 episode, 1954) as Dolores Martin * ''

The Public Defender ''The Public Defender'' is a 1931 American pre-Code crime film directed by J. Walter Ruben, starring Richard Dix and featuring Boris Karloff. Rich playboy Pike Winslow dons the mantle of 'The Reckoner', a mysterious avenger, when he learns that ...

'' (1 episode, 1954) as Eve Manchester * ''The Lone Wolf'' (1 episode, 1954) as Barbara Kincaid * ''

Fireside Theater ''Fireside Theatre'' (also known as ''Jane Wyman Presents'') is an American anthology drama series that ran on NBC from 1949 to 1958, and was the first successful filmed series on American television. Productions were low-budget and often based ...

'' (1 episode, 1954) as Waitress * ''The Man Behind the Badge'' (1 episode, 1955) as Rose Gilbert * ''The Eddie Cantor Comedy Theater'' (1 episode, 1955) * '' Front Row Center'' (2 episodes, 1955) as Miriam Blake / Kitty Packard * '' Dragnet'' (1 episode, 1956) * ''

The Eve Arden Show ''The Eve Arden Show'' is a 26-episode American sitcom which aired during the 1957–1958 season on CBS, alternately sponsored by Lever Brothers and Shulton, Inc. (Old Spice). Overview The show, starring Eve Arden, centers on Liza Hammond, a wi ...

'' (1 episode, 1957) as Burlesque Queen * '' Colt .45'' (1 episode, 1957) as Clover Haig * '' Playhouse 90'' (1 episode, 1958) as Mrs. Leeds * ''

December Bride ''December Bride'' is an American sitcom that aired on the CBS television network from 1954 to 1959. It was adapted from the original CBS radio network series of the same name that aired from June 1952 through September 1953. Overview ''De ...

'' (1 episode, 1958) * '' Studio One'' (1 episode, 1958) as Ginger Ferris * '' Buckskin'' (1 episode, 1958) as Diana Marlowe * ''Pursuit'' (1 episode, 1958) as Evelyn * ''

Frontier Doctor ''Frontier Doctor'' is an American Western television series starring Rex Allen that aired in syndication from September 26, 1958, until June 20, 1959. The series was also known as ''Unarmed'' and ''Man of the West''.TV Guide Guide to TV. Barnes ...

'' (1 episode, 1958) as Lillian Lloyd * ''

The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin ''The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin'' is an American children's television series in the Western genre that aired from October 1954 to May 1959 on the ABC television network. In all, 164 episodes aired. The show starred Lee Aaker as Rusty, a boy o ...

'' (1 episode, 1959) as Lil Morris * '' Wanted: Dead or Alive'' (1 episode, 1959) as Dolly King * ''

The Thin Man ''The Thin Man'' (1934) is a detective novel by Dashiell Hammett, originally published in a condensed version in the December 1933 issue of ''Redbook''. It appeared in book form the following month. A film series followed, featuring the main cha ...

'' (2 episodes, 1958–1959) as Eve Marloff / Pat Renard * ''

The Deputy ''The Deputy, a Christian tragedy'' (German: ''Der Stellvertreter. Ein christliches Trauerspiel''), also published in English as ''The Representative '', is a controversial 1963 play by Rolf Hochhuth which portrayed Pope Pius XII as having failed ...

'' (1 episode, 1961) as Madge Belden * '' Dennis the Menace'' (1 episode, 1961) as Charles' Mother * ''Holiday Lodge'' (1 episode, 1961) as Mona * '' Rawhide'' (2 episodes, 1959–1963) as Lola / Sarah * ''

'' (11 episodes, 1955–1970) as Sally Albright / Ruthie / Ruby - San Fernando Red's Accomplice / Clara Appleby / McCluskey's Moll / Velma - Philip's Accomplice

References

External links

The Official Mary Beth Hughes site
* *
Husband Nicky Stewart on You Bet your Life with Groucho Marx
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hughes, Mary Beth American film actresses American television actresses American stage actresses People from Alton, Illinois Actresses from Illinois 1919 births 1995 deaths 20th Century Studios contract players 20th-century American actresses Actresses from Washington, D.C.