Olive Carey

Summary

Olive Carey (born Olive Fuller Golden; January 31, 1896 – March 13, 1988) was an American film and television actress, and the mother of actor Harry Carey Jr.

Olive Carey
Olive Carey in The Searchers 1956
Born
Olive Fuller Golden

(1896-01-31)January 31, 1896
New York City, U.S.
DiedMarch 13, 1988(1988-03-13) (aged 92)
OccupationActress
Years active1912–1966
Spouse
(m. 1920; died 1947)
Children2, including Harry Carey Jr.
Parent

Early life edit

Carey was born Olive Fuller Golden in New York City,[1] the daughter of Ada (Maxwell), who was from Surrey, and George Fuller Golden (originally George Michael Fuller), a vaudeville entertainer.[2] In 1912, her father died, "leaving a wife and four children destitute."[3] She had a sister, Ruth Fuller Golden, who also acted in films.[1]

Film edit

Carey's screen debut was in Sorrowful Jones (1913). She next acted in Tess of the Storm Country (1914).[1] (An obituary indicates that the name of her initial film was The Sorrowful Shore.)[4] She appeared in more than 50 films, mostly westerns, including Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, often playing tough tomboy parts.

Television edit

In 1956, Carey guest starred in the episode "Death in the Snow" of NBC's anthology series, The Joseph Cotten Show. In 1957 and 1958, Carey played Elsie, the live-in housekeeper, on the CBS sitcom Mr. Adams and Eve, which starred the then real-life married acting couple, Howard Duff and Ida Lupino. She subsequently appeared on the CBS sitcom Dennis the Menace, starring Jay North.

About this time, Carey was cast on two NBC westerns Cimarron City, with George Montgomery and John Smith, and The Restless Gun, starring John Payne. In 1960 and 1961, Carey performed the role of Casey, Macdonald Carey's (no relation) secretary, in several episodes of the television series Lock-Up.

On November 7, 1961, Carey played Ma Tolliver, the owner of a former stagecoach stop, in the episode "Deadly Is the Night" of NBC's Laramie western series. On April 22, 1962, she delivered a noteworthy performance as a bullying mother, "Ma" Martin, of three grown sons in the episode "The Youngest" of the ABC-Warner Brothers western series, Lawman.[citation needed]

Personal life edit

In 1920, she wed actor Harry Carey, with whom she remained until his death in 1947. They had two children, a daughter Ellen and a son, actor Harry Carey, Jr.[1] In 1928, the failure of the St. Francis Dam northwest of Los Angeles caused a flood, the damages of which included seven deaths on the Careys' ranch and a loss estimated at $750,000 ($12.8 million today). As a result, when Harry Carey died in 1947, his estate was worth only about $15,000 ($225,000 today).[3]

Death edit

Carey died of natural causes at the age of 92 at her home in Carpinteria, California.[4]

Filmography edit

Television edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Katchmer, George A. (2002). A Biographical Dictionary of Silent Film Western Actors and Actresses. McFarland. p. 135. ISBN 9781476609058. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  2. ^ "1". Archived from the original on 2011-08-10. Retrieved 2012-12-28.
  3. ^ a b Thomas, Bob (May 7, 1956). "Olive Carey's Acting Career Is On Upgrade Again After 30-Year Absence". Lubbock Evening Journal. Texas, Lubbock. Associated Press. p. 23. Retrieved November 5, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ a b "Golden Age star OIive Carey dies at 92". Ukiah Daily Journal. California, Ukiah. Associated Press. March 16, 1988. p. 8.

External links edit