Mimi Gibson is an American real estate agent and a former child actress, from 1951 to 1968.

Early life

After the early death of her father, her mother, Agnes Gibson, took Mimi and her sister to

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world ...

. At only 18 months, she was a popular calendar model, posing with animals. By age two she was appearing in movies. She had an agent before she was 3 years old, and soon thereafter she began appearing in films. Her income supported the three of them. In 1951, Gibson was designated Miss Glamour in Miniature during ceremonies in Sun Valley.

Career

During the 1950s and early 1960s, Gibson appeared in 34 films and approximately 200 television episodes. Her film debut came in '' I'll See You in My Dreams'' (1951). Her last TV roles came as a teenage girlfriend in episodes of ''

My Three Sons ''My Three Sons'' is an American television sitcom that aired from September 29, 1960, to April 13, 1972. The series was broadcast on ABC during its first five seasons, before moving to CBS for the remaining seasons. ''My Three Sons'' chroni ...

'' in the late 1960s. In 1957, she and child actress Evelyn Rudie played the daughters of

John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed The Duke or Duke Wayne, was an American actor who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films made during Hollywood's Go ...

and

Maureen O'Hara Maureen O'Hara (; 17 August 1920 – 24 October 2015) was a native Irish and naturalized American actress and singer, who became successful in Hollywood from the 1940s through to the 1960s. She was a natural redhead who was known for pl ...

in ''

The Wings of Eagles ''The Wings of Eagles'' is a 1957 American Metrocolor film starring John Wayne, Dan Dailey and Maureen O'Hara, based on the life of Frank "Spig" Wead and the history of U.S. Naval aviation from its inception through World War II. The film is ...

''. Although they had some significant scenes, she and Rudie were not credited. The same year she was in the horror

B movie A B movie or B film is a low-budget commercial motion picture. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified films intended for distribution as the less-publicized bottom half of a double feature ...

'' The Monster That Challenged the World''. In 1958, Gibson portrayed

Cary Grant Cary Grant (born Archibald Alec Leach; January 18, 1904November 29, 1986) was an English-American actor. He was known for his Mid-Atlantic accent, debonair demeanor, light-hearted approach to acting, and sense of comic timing. He was one of ...

's daughter — with Paul Petersen and

Charles Herbert Charles Herbert Saperstein (December 23, 1948 – October 31, 2015), known as Charles Herbert, was an American child actor of the 1950s and 1960s. Before reaching his teens, Herbert was renowned by a generation of moviegoers for an on-screen ...

playing her brothers — in the romantic comedy ''

Houseboat A houseboat is a boat that has been designed or modified to be used primarily as a home. Most houseboats are not motorized as they are usually moored or kept stationary at a fixed point, and often tethered to land to provide utilities. Ho ...

'', which also starred

Sophia Loren Sofia Costanza Brigida Villani Scicolone (; born 20 September 1934), known professionally as Sophia Loren ( , ), is an Italian actress. She was named by the American Film Institute as one of the greatest female stars of Classical Hollywood ci ...

. Gibson said, "I'd like to be remembered for ''Houseboat''. ''Houseboat'' was fun, wonderful and I loved it". After the film was completed, Loren gave Gibson a pendant with a houseboat on one side and "To Mimi from Sophia" on the other. Grant gave each of the children a $50 savings bond. In 1961, Gibson appeared in '' The Children's Hour'', based on the play by

Lillian Hellman Lillian Florence Hellman (June 20, 1905 – June 30, 1984) was an American playwright, prose writer, memoirist and screenwriter known for her success on Broadway, as well as her communist sympathies and political activism. She was blacklisted aft ...

. Gibson played a schoolgirl at a small private school run by two friends portrayed by

Audrey Hepburn Audrey Hepburn (born Audrey Kathleen Ruston; 4 May 1929 – 20 January 1993) was a British actress and humanitarian. Recognised as both a film and fashion icon, she was ranked by the American Film Institute as the third-greatest female screen ...

and

Shirley MacLaine Shirley MacLaine (born Shirley MacLean Beaty, April 24, 1934) is an American actress, author, and former dancer. Known for her portrayals of quirky, strong-willed and eccentric women, MacLaine has received numerous accolades over her seven-dec ...

who were falsely accused of being in a lesbian relationship which was somewhat risque for its time. Gibson said Hepburn was very nice to the girls, but that "

despised kids" and would not speak to them. That same year, in '' One Hundred and One Dalmatians'', Gibson voiced the puppy named Lucky, alongside Mickey Maga, Barbara Baird, Sandra Abbot, and several other children. Gibson became known for this film for her line, "I'm tired and I'm hungry and my tail's froze...and my nose is froze and my ears are froze. And my toes are froze." On television, Gibson appeared in five ''

Playhouse 90 ''Playhouse 90'' was an American television anthology drama series that aired on CBS from 1956 to 1960 for a total of 133 episodes. The show was produced at CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California. Since live anthology drama series of th ...

'' dramas and many episodes of ''

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 ...

'', as well as some episodes of '' Whirlybirds'', and '' Leave it to Beaver''. By age 19, Gibson, along with other acting friends, found it difficult to get roles due to overexposure, and the casting directors were looking for "new faces".

Post-acting career

Gibson retired from acting, went into retail sales and later became a realtor in the Los Angeles area. Gibson's income as an actress was the sole support of her family and none of the money she earned had been set aside for her.

Marriages

Gibson has been married three times, the last marriage lasting nearly thirty years.

Personal life

In 1999, she testified before a

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

legislative panel on the need for statutory protection for child actors' earnings. Actor Paul Petersen, who played her older brother in ''Houseboat'', also testified. Petersen remained a lifelong friend and in 1990 founded A Minor Consideration, a nonprofit group devoted to protecting and advancing the interests of child actors. Gibson has also been active in this group. Her autobiography ''Working Kid'' was released on June 20, 2021. When she was 20 years old, Gibson got married "to get away from my mom", but they reconciled later. Gibson went on to make a career in real estate.

Filmography

* ''Corky of Gasoline Alley'' (1951) - Clovia (uncredited) * ''I'll See You in My Dreams'' (1951) - Irene (age 3) * '' Everything I Have Is Yours'' (1952) - Pamela (age 3) * ''My Pal Gus'' (1952) - Judy (uncredited) * ''

A Slight Case of Larceny ''A Slight Case of Larceny'' is a 1953 comedy film directed by Don Weis, written by Jerry Davis, and starring Mickey Rooney, Eddie Bracken, Elaine Stewart, Marilyn Erskine, Douglas Fowley and Robert Burton. It was released on June 5, 1953, by Met ...

'' (1953) - Mary Ellen Clopp * ''Sweethearts on Parade'' (1953) - Lou (uncredited) * ''Torch Song'' (1953) - Susie (scenes deleted) * ''

The Egyptian ''The Egyptian'' (''Sinuhe egyptiläinen'', Sinuhe the Egyptian) is a historical novel by Mika Waltari. It was first published in Finnish in 1945, and in an abridged English translation by Naomi Walford in 1949, from Swedish rather than Finni ...

'' (1954) - Princess (uncredited) * '' There's No Business Like Show Business'' (1954) - Katy Donahue (age 4) (uncredited) * '' Prince of Players'' (1955) - Little Girl (uncredited) * ''The Eternal Sea'' (1955) - Mary Sue Hoskins (uncredited) * ''Lay That Rifle Down'' (1955) - Terry Fetcher (uncredited) * ''

At Gunpoint ''At Gunpoint'' is a 1955 American CinemaScope Western film directed by Alfred L. Werker and starring Fred MacMurray, Dorothy Malone and Walter Brennan. Plot Plainview is a peaceful town, all the better for bad men Alvin Dennis, his brother Bo ...

'' (1955) - Cynthia Clark (uncredited) * ''The Bottom of the Bottle'' (1956) - Jeanie Martin - Donald's Daughter * '' World Without End'' (1956) - Ginny Jaffe (uncredited) * ''Three for Jamie Dawn'' (1956) - Cindy Lorenz (uncredited) * '' Rebel in Town'' (1956) - Lisbeth Anstadt * '' Strange Intruder'' (1956) - Libby Carmichael * ''

The Ten Commandments The Ten Commandments (Biblical Hebrew עשרת הדברים \ עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדְּבָרִים, ''aséret ha-dvarím'', lit. The Decalogue, The Ten Words, cf. Mishnaic Hebrew עשרת הדיברות \ עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְ� ...

'' (1956) - Egyptian Girl - The Blind One's Granddaughter * ''

Drango ''Drango'' is a 1957 American Western film produced by Jeff Chandler's production company Earlmar Productions, written and directed by Hall Bartlett, and released by United Artists. Starring Chandler in the title role, the film also features ...

'' (1957) - Ellen Bryant * ''

'' (1957) - Lila Wead (uncredited) * ''

Official Detective ''Official Detective'' is an American anthology television series which aired in syndication from 1957 to March 19, 1958. The series was hosted by veteran film actor Everett Sloane.McNeil, Alex (1996). ''Total Television'' (4th ed.). New York: P ...

'' (1957) TV series episode 'The Creeper'- Barbara * ''

The Oklahoman ''The Oklahoman'' is the largest daily newspaper in Oklahoma, United States, and is the only regional daily that covers the Greater Oklahoma City area. The Alliance for Audited Media (formerly Audit Bureau Circulation) lists it as the 59th large ...

'' (1957) - Louise Brighton * '' The Monster That Challenged the World'' (1957) - Sandy MacKenzie * ''Courage of Black Beauty'' (1957) - Lily Rowden * '' The Brothers Rico'' (1957) - Mary Felici, Little Girl (uncredited) * '' The Three Faces of Eve'' (1957) - Eve (younger) * '' No Down Payment'' (1957) - Sandra Kreitzer (uncredited) * ''

'' (1958) - Elizabeth Winters * '' The Buccaneer'' (1958) - Marjorie * ''

The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker ''The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker'' is a 1959 DeLuxe Color film starring Clifton Webb and Dorothy McGuire directed by Henry Levin in CinemaScope. The film is based on the 1953 Broadway play of the same, which ran for 221 performances: Burgess Mer ...

'' (1959) - Elizabeth Pennypacker (uncredited) * '' Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond'' (1959) - TV series episode The Dead Part of the House * '' I'll Give My Life'' (1960) - Jodie Bradford * '' One Hundred and One Dalmatians'' (1961) - Lucky (voice) (age 11) * '' The Children's Hour'' (1961) - Evelyn * ''If He Hollers Let Him Go'' (1968) - Marion

Bibliography

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gibson, Mimi Living people 20th-century American actresses Actresses from Washington (state) American child actresses American film actresses American voice actresses Year of birth missing (living people)