Rosemary DeCamp was a versatile and prolific actress who appeared in many radio, film, and television productions from the 1930s to the 1980s. She was best known for her roles as the quintessential small-town American mother, a calming and steadying presence in scores of films in the 1940s and 1950s. She also played a variety of other characters, from nurses and secretaries to newspaper editors and Southern belles. She was nominated for an Emmy Award for her performance as Marlo Thomas’s mother on the sitcom That Girl. She died of pneumonia at the age of 90 in 2001, leaving behind a legacy of memorable performances and a devoted fan base.
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Early Life and Career
Rosemary Shirley DeCamp was born in Prescott, Arizona, on November 14, 1910, to William Valentine DeCamp and Margaret Elizabeth Hinman. She had three siblings: William Jr., Margaret, and Martha. She grew up in a musical family and learned to play the piano, violin, and cello. She also developed an interest in acting and participated in school plays.
She attended Mills College in San Francisco, where she majored in English and minored in drama. She graduated with a master’s degree in 1933 and taught speech and drama for a year at the Pasadena Playhouse. She then moved to New York City, where she worked as a theater critic and landed a small role in a Broadway play.
She soon found more success in radio, where she became famous for playing Judy Price, the secretary/nurse of Dr. Christian, in the long-running radio series of the same name. She also starred in The Career of Alice Blair, a syndicated soap opera that ran from 1939 to 1940.
Film and Television Stardom
DeCamp made her film debut in Cheers for Miss Bishop (1941), a drama based on a novel by Bess Streeter Aldrich. She then signed a contract with Warner Bros., where she appeared in many films, often playing the mother or sister of the main character. Some of her notable films include:
Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942), where she played Nellie Cohan, the mother of George M. Cohan (James Cagney), the legendary songwriter and entertainer.
This Is the Army (1943), where she played Ethel Jones, the wife of Jerry Jones (George Murphy) and the mother of Johnny Jones (Ronald Reagan), both soldiers who put on a musical show for the troops.
Rhapsody in Blue (1945), where she played Rose Gershwin, the mother of George Gershwin (Robert Alda), the famous composer.
Nora Prentiss (1947), where she played Lucy Talbot, the wife of Richard Talbot (Kent Smith), a doctor who has an affair with a nightclub singer (Ann Sheridan).
On Moonlight Bay (1951) and By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953), where she played Alice Winfield, the mother of Marjorie Winfield (Doris Day), a young woman who falls in love with a soldier (Gordon MacRae).
DeCamp also worked for other studios, such as MGM, RKO, Columbia, and Universal. She played diverse roles, such as:
A nurse who helps a blinded soldier (John Garfield) in Pride of the Marines (1945).
The mother of Mowgli (Sabu) in The Jungle Book (1942).
A newspaper editor who faces outlaws in Death Valley Days (1965).
A dishonest Southern belle in Ensign O’Toole (1962).
DeCamp was also very active on television, where she starred or guest-starred in many shows, such as:
The Life of Riley (1949-1950), where she played Peg Riley, the wife of Chester A. Riley (Jackie Gleason), an unlucky working man.
The Bob Cummings Show (1955-1959), where she played Margaret MacDonald, the sister of Bob Collins (Bob Cummings), a photographer and ladies’ man.
That Girl (1966-1970), where she played Helen Marie, the mother of Ann Marie (Marlo Thomas), an aspiring actress.
Petticoat Junction (1968), where she played Helen Bradley, the sister of Kate Bradley (Bea Benaderet), who runs a hotel near a train station.
The Partridge Family (1971-1974), where she played Amanda Renfrew, the mother of Shirley Partridge (Shirley Jones), who leads a musical family.
Personal Life and Death
DeCamp married John Ashton Shidler, a lawyer and judge, on June 28, 1941. They had four daughters: Margaret, Martha, Valerie, and Nita. They were married for 56 years until his death in 1998.
DeCamp was also a talented copper enamel artist and exhibited her works in several galleries. She was also involved in various charitable and civic causes, such as the American Cancer Society, the Girl Scouts, and the United Nations Association.
On July 7, 1946, DeCamp and her husband were in their house in Beverly Hills, California, when an experimental aircraft piloted by Howard Hughes crashed into the roof of the house next door, and its wing cut through the roof of their house and landed in the bedroom, where they were. They escaped with minor injuries, but Hughes was severely injured and barely survived. He paid for the damage to the houses out of his own pocket.
DeCamp died of pneumonia at her home in Newport Beach, California, on February 20, 2001. She was 90 years old. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered at sea.
Legacy and Awards
DeCamp was one of the most popular and respected actresses of her time. She was admired for her versatility, professionalism, and warmth. She played many memorable roles that touched the hearts of millions of viewers. She was also a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who balanced her career and family life.
She received many honors and awards for her work, such as:
The Institute of Family Relations’ Mother of Distinction Award for doing “more to glorify American motherhood through her film portrayals than any other woman”.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame’s Star for Television at 1620 Vine Street.
The Emmy Award’s Nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Comedy for That Girl (1968).
The Golden Boot Award’s Honoree for her contributions to western films and television (1994).
Rosemary DeCamp was a remarkable woman who left a lasting impression on the entertainment industry and the public. She will always be remembered as America’s favorite screen mother and a talented and gracious actress.
