Actress. She is best remembered for her portrayal of the lovable Mama Caruso in "The Great Caruso" (1951). After two decades of working in local theatre in her native New York, she relocated to Los Angeles, California, in the mid-1940s to begin a career in motion pictures beginning with a small role in "Her Sister's Secret" (1946). From there, she would go on to enjoy a successful career as a character actress for over 40 years, often playing old maids, nurses, secretaries, and matriarchal motherly types. She appeared in such motion pictures as "Backlash" (1947), "Night Song" (1947), "The Snake Pit" (1948), "House of Settlement" (1949), "Woman in Hiding" (1950), "Outrage" (1950), "The Harlem Globetrotters" (1951), "My Favorite Spy" (1951), "The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima" (1952), "Houdini" (1953), "House of Wax" (1953), "The Egyptian" (1954), "The Seven Little Foys" (1955), "The Interns" (1962), "Blindfold" (1966), "Nightmare Honeymoon" (1974), and "Harrad Summer" (1974). With the advent of television, she became a familiar face appearing in various guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "Going My Way," "Ben Casey," Alcoa Premier," "Combat!," "The Untouchables," "Gunsmoke," "The Outer Limits," "Mr. Novak," "Dr. Kildare," "Daniel Boone," The High Chaparral," "Bonanza," "Death Valley Days," "Arnie," "Bracken's World," "The Young Lawyers," "Kojak," "The Partridge Family," "Alias Smith and Jones," "Petrocelli," "Baretta," "Insight," "Voyagers!," "Brookside," "All in the Family," "Fantasy Island," "St. Elsewhere," "Cagney & Lacey," and "MacGyver." During her career, she was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of The Motion Picture and Television Fund, was active with the California State Democratic Committee, was a regular parishioner within the Catholic church, and was supportive of her local charter of The American Red Cross, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, and The Boys and Girl Scouts of America. After her retirement in 1986, Clarke, who neither married nor had any children, spent the remainder of her life in Southern California devoted to religious and charitable causes.
Actress. She is best remembered for her portrayal of the lovable Mama Caruso in "The Great Caruso" (1951). After two decades of working in local theatre in her native New York, she relocated to Los Angeles, California, in the mid-1940s to begin a career in motion pictures beginning with a small role in "Her Sister's Secret" (1946). From there, she would go on to enjoy a successful career as a character actress for over 40 years, often playing old maids, nurses, secretaries, and matriarchal motherly types. She appeared in such motion pictures as "Backlash" (1947), "Night Song" (1947), "The Snake Pit" (1948), "House of Settlement" (1949), "Woman in Hiding" (1950), "Outrage" (1950), "The Harlem Globetrotters" (1951), "My Favorite Spy" (1951), "The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima" (1952), "Houdini" (1953), "House of Wax" (1953), "The Egyptian" (1954), "The Seven Little Foys" (1955), "The Interns" (1962), "Blindfold" (1966), "Nightmare Honeymoon" (1974), and "Harrad Summer" (1974). With the advent of television, she became a familiar face appearing in various guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "Going My Way," "Ben Casey," Alcoa Premier," "Combat!," "The Untouchables," "Gunsmoke," "The Outer Limits," "Mr. Novak," "Dr. Kildare," "Daniel Boone," The High Chaparral," "Bonanza," "Death Valley Days," "Arnie," "Bracken's World," "The Young Lawyers," "Kojak," "The Partridge Family," "Alias Smith and Jones," "Petrocelli," "Baretta," "Insight," "Voyagers!," "Brookside," "All in the Family," "Fantasy Island," "St. Elsewhere," "Cagney & Lacey," and "MacGyver." During her career, she was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of The Motion Picture and Television Fund, was active with the California State Democratic Committee, was a regular parishioner within the Catholic church, and was supportive of her local charter of The American Red Cross, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, and The Boys and Girl Scouts of America. After her retirement in 1986, Clarke, who neither married nor had any children, spent the remainder of her life in Southern California devoted to religious and charitable causes.
Bio by: Lowell Thurgood
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