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Who was Mary Livingstone?
Mary Livingstone (born Sadya Marcowitz, later known as Sadie Marks) was an American radio comedienne and actress. She was the wife and radio partner of comedian Jack Benny. She played the role of the long-suffering housewife who is given no money to run the household
She first met Jack Benny in 1922, when he was a guest at her family’s Passover seder in Vancouver, Canada. She was impressed by his violin-playing comedy act and decided to marry him someday. They met again in 1926, when she was working as a lingerie salesgirl at a department store in Los Angeles. They started dating and got married in 1927
How did Mary Livingstone become a star?
Mary Livingstone had no intention of becoming a performer, but fate had other plans. In 1932, Jack Benny was hosting a radio show called The Canada Dry Program. He needed a female voice to play a telephone operator in a sketch. He asked his wife to fill in, thinking she would only do it once. But she did such a good job that the sponsor asked her to come back. She soon became a regular on the show, using the stage name Mary Livingstone
She developed a witty and sarcastic persona that contrasted with Benny’s stingy and vain character. She also became part of a comedy team with Phil Harris, the bandleader, who often teased her about her age and appearance. She was loved by the listeners for her sharp tongue and her loyalty to Benny
She also appeared on Benny’s television show, The Jack Benny Program, which ran from 1950 to 1965. She played herself, as well as various characters, such as a saleswoman, a secretary, and a nurse. She also participated in Benny’s live shows and tours, as well as his films, such as Buck Benny Rides Again (1940) and George Washington Slept Here (1942)
What was Mary Livingstone’s cause of death?
Mary Livingstone suffered from severe stage fright throughout her career. She often had panic attacks before going on the air or on stage. She also had health problems, such as high blood pressure, ulcers, and arthritis. She retired from show business in 1958, after a nervous breakdown. She made occasional appearances on Benny’s TV show until 1964, but then withdrew from the public eye completely
She died of a heart attack on June 30, 1983, at her home in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles. She was 78 years old. She was buried next to her husband, who had died nine years earlier, at Hillside Memorial Park in Culver City, California
How is Mary Livingstone remembered today?
Mary Livingstone is remembered as one of the pioneers of radio comedy and one of the first women to succeed in a male-dominated field. She was a talented and versatile performer who could make people laugh with her voice, her expressions, and her timing. She was also a devoted wife and mother who supported her husband’s career and adopted a daughter, Joan, in 1934
She left behind a legacy of laughter and love that is still enjoyed by millions of fans around the world. She was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 1995, along with Jack Benny. She was also honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2008
Mary Livingstone cause of death was a sad event, but her life was a happy one. She once said, “I never wanted to be in show business. I just wanted to be Mrs. Jack Benny. And I was. And what a thrill that was.”
