Actress. She is best remembered for her portrayal of the eccentric Claire Winter in the cult classic "Voodoo Island" (1957). After beginning her career in local theatre, she studied with Francis Lederer's Improvisational Group and was later discovered by film director Richard Quine who arranged for her to begin a career in the film industry starting with a small role in his film "Drive a Crooked Road" (1954). For the next 10 years, she would go on to flourish as a character actress, often typecast as either a dowdy matron, villainous, maid, secretary, best friend, educator, nurse, old maid, wife, mother, retail clerk, snob, or doctor. She appeared in such films as "A Star is Born" (1954), "Human Desire" (1954), "The Space Children" (1958), "The Party Crashers" (1958), and "The Restless Ones" (1965). On television, she flourished as a household name, appearing in numerous guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "Big Town," "Medic," "State Trooper," "West Point," "Telephone Time," "Family Theatre," "Highway Patrol," "General Electric Theatre," "Shirley Temple's Storybook," "One Step Beyond," "Peter Gunn," "Rawhide," "Gunslinger," "The Investigators," "87th Precinct," "The New Breed," "Thriller," "Route 66," "Hazel," "This Is the Life," "Have Gun - Will Travel," "The Farmer's Daughter," "Empire," "The Donna Reed Show," "Mr. Novak," "The Great Adventure," "Bonanza," "Dr. Kildare," "My Three Sons," "Perry Mason," "Family Affair," and "Death Valley Days." During her career, she was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, was a regular parishioner of the Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church, was active within the California State Democratic Committee, was a chairwoman for her local charter of The March of Dimes, and she was the mother of actress Jena Engstrom. After withdrawing from acting in 1966, she spent the next 20 years working as a theatrical instructor for the UCLA until her retirement.
Actress. She is best remembered for her portrayal of the eccentric Claire Winter in the cult classic "Voodoo Island" (1957). After beginning her career in local theatre, she studied with Francis Lederer's Improvisational Group and was later discovered by film director Richard Quine who arranged for her to begin a career in the film industry starting with a small role in his film "Drive a Crooked Road" (1954). For the next 10 years, she would go on to flourish as a character actress, often typecast as either a dowdy matron, villainous, maid, secretary, best friend, educator, nurse, old maid, wife, mother, retail clerk, snob, or doctor. She appeared in such films as "A Star is Born" (1954), "Human Desire" (1954), "The Space Children" (1958), "The Party Crashers" (1958), and "The Restless Ones" (1965). On television, she flourished as a household name, appearing in numerous guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "Big Town," "Medic," "State Trooper," "West Point," "Telephone Time," "Family Theatre," "Highway Patrol," "General Electric Theatre," "Shirley Temple's Storybook," "One Step Beyond," "Peter Gunn," "Rawhide," "Gunslinger," "The Investigators," "87th Precinct," "The New Breed," "Thriller," "Route 66," "Hazel," "This Is the Life," "Have Gun - Will Travel," "The Farmer's Daughter," "Empire," "The Donna Reed Show," "Mr. Novak," "The Great Adventure," "Bonanza," "Dr. Kildare," "My Three Sons," "Perry Mason," "Family Affair," and "Death Valley Days." During her career, she was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, was a regular parishioner of the Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church, was active within the California State Democratic Committee, was a chairwoman for her local charter of The March of Dimes, and she was the mother of actress Jena Engstrom. After withdrawing from acting in 1966, she spent the next 20 years working as a theatrical instructor for the UCLA until her retirement.
Bio by: Lowell Thurgood
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