Mary Treen


Mary Treen was an American film and television actress. A minor actress for much of her career, she managed to secure a plain, unassuming niche for herself in dozens of movies and television shows in a Hollywood career spanning five decades, from 1930 to 1981.

Early life

Treen was the daughter of attorney Don C. Summers and actress Helene Sullivan Summers. In 1908, when she was 11 months old, her mother sued her father for divorce on the grounds that he failed to provide for her. Her father died while she was an infant. She was reared in California by her mother and stepfather, a physician. She attended Westlake School for Girls and, later, a convent school where she tried out successfully in school plays. She was a Roman Catholic.

Career

During her career, Treen was seen in over 40 films. Among her film roles were Tilly, the secretary of the Building and Loan, in Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life starring James Stewart, and the role of Pat in the drama Kitty Foyle starring Ginger Rogers.
In the 1954–1955 season, Treen appeared in 38 episodes as Emily Dodger on the CBS situation comedy Willy.
Her longest-running role was as Hilda, the maid and baby nurse in 64 episodes of the NBC and CBS sitcom The Joey Bishop Show from 1962 to 1965.

Death

Treen died of cancer at her home in Newport Beach, California, on July 20, 1989, at age 82. Her only survivors were cousins, including actor Mort Mills.

Partial filmography

Film

Viennese Nights – Shocked Woman on Street Crooner – One of Teddy's Fans Jimmy the Gent – Nurse Happiness Ahead – Bob's Comedienne FriendThe St. Louis Kid – Giddy Girl Babbitt – Miss McGoun, Babbitt's SecretaryMaybe It's Love – Secretary Red Hot Tires – MaggieSweet Music – Girl at the Railroad A Night at the Ritz – Isabelle, Hassler's SecretaryTraveling Saleslady – Miss WellsThe Case of the Curious Bride – Telegraph Office Clerk G Men – Gregory's Secretary Go into Your Dance – Silent Showgirl The Girl from 10th Avenue – Secretary Front Page Woman – Nurse Don't Bet on Blondes – Owen's secretaryBroadway Gondolier – 2nd Irate Caller Page Miss Glory – Beauty Shop OperatorI Live for Love – Clementine – Donna's MaidThe Case of the Lucky Legs – Spudsy's WifeShipmates Forever – Cowboy's Girl I Found Stella Parish – Sob Sister Miss Pacific Fleet – Violet Johnson – Butch's Girl Broadway Hostess – Nurse Dangerous – Huree – a Nurse The Murder of Dr. Harrigan – Nurse Margaret BrodyFreshman Love – SquirmyColleen – Miss Hively – Cedric's Secretary Brides Are Like That – JennieSnowed Under – Secretary Taking Mike's Dictation The Singing Kid – Secretary The Golden Arrow – Appleby's Secretary Murder by an Aristocrat – FlorriePublic Enemy's Wife – Telephone Operator Jailbreak – Gladys JoyLove Begins at 20 – Alice GillingwaterStage Struck – Ms. Warren Down the Stretch – NurseThe Captain's Kid – Libby, the HousekeeperFugitive in the Sky – Agatha OrmsbyGod's Country and the Woman – Miss FlintMaid of Salem – Susy AbbottThey Gave Him a Gun – SaxeThe Go Getter – Mrs. BlairEver Since Eve – Employment ClerkDance Charlie Dance – Jennie Wolfe – Arden's AgentMarry the Girl – Kidnapped Nurse Talent Scout – Janet MorrisMr. Dodd Takes the Air – Fan with Locket Second Honeymoon – ElsieMissing Witnesses – Woman Waiting in Lane's Office Change of Heart – Stenographer Swing It, Sailor! – Gertie BurnsSally, Irene and Mary – Miss BarkowKentucky Moonshine – 'Sugar' HatfieldRascals – Patient Always Goodbye – Al's Bride-to-Be Young Fugitives – KathyI'll Give a Million – Nanette Strange Faces – Lorry MayPride of the Navy – Minor Role Three Smart Girls Grow Up – Secretary For Love or Money – Amy, The MaidWhen Tomorrow Comes – Waitress Babes in Arms – Receptionist Dad for a Day – Employment Agency Receptionist First Love – Agnes, Barbara's MaidDanger on Wheels – EsmeDouble Alibi – Hospital Switchboard OperatorGirl in 313 – Jenny, Hotel MaidQueen of the Mob – Billy's NurseBlack Diamonds – Nina NortonDulcy – Miss Twill Kitty Foyle – Pat DayTall, Dark and Handsome – Martha, Sales GirlThe Flame of New Orleans – Party Guest Father Takes a Wife – SecretaryYou Belong to Me – DorisPacific Blackout – IreneRoxie Hart – Secretary The Night Before the Divorce – Olga – the MaidTrue to the Army – MaeShip Ahoy – Nurse The Great Man's Lady – PersisThey All Kissed the Bride – Susie JohnsonBetween Us Girls – Mary BelleStand By All Networks – Nora CassidyMy Heart Belongs to Daddy – Dawn Lady Bodyguard – Miss TracyThe Powers Girl – NancyFlight for Freedom – Newspaper Woman They Got Me Covered – HelenHit Parade of 1943 – JanieSo Proudly We Hail! – Lt. Sadie SchwartzThank Your Lucky Stars – Fan Mystery Broadcast – SmittyHands Across the Border – Sophie LawrenceThe Navy Way – AgnesSwing in the Saddle – Addie LaTourI Love a Soldier – Cecilia 'Cissy' GrantCasanova Brown – Monica CaseTahiti Nights – MataHigh Powered – Cassie McQuadeDon Juan Quilligan – Lucy BlakeBlonde from Brooklyn – Diane PeabodyShe Wouldn't Say Yes – Train Passenger at BarA Guy Could Change – Grace ConleyFrom This Day Forward – Alice BeesleyStrange Impersonation – Talkative NurseSwing Parade of 1946 – Marie FinchOne Exciting Week – Mabel TaylorIt's a Wonderful Life – Cousin TillyA Likely Story – Nurse Merton of the Movies – Gladys Shed No Tears – Hilda – the Maid Texas, Brooklyn & Heaven – Wife The Snake Pit – Nurse Jones Let's Live a Little – Miss AdamsAnd Baby Makes Three – Mrs. Bennett Young Daniel Boone – Helen BryanThe Fuller Brush Girl – Woman Selling Magazine The Stooge – Ms. Regan Room for One More – Grace RobertsSailor Beware – GingerDreamboat – Wife in Bar Let's Do It Again – Nelly – the MaidClipped Wings – MildredThe Eternal Sea – Admitting Nurse When Gangland Strikes – Emily ParsonsThe Birds and the Bees – Mrs. BurnsideCalling Homicide – Flo Burton – Script Girl Bundle of Joy – MatronThe Go-Getter – Miss Wellington, aptitude testerPublic Pigeon No. 1 – Mrs. Bates Hold That Hypnotist – Hotel Maid Gun Duel in Durango – SpinsterThe Last Stagecoach West – Miss Feeney, Bryceson's Secretary The Joker Is Wild – Heckler The Sad Sack – Sgt. HansenRock-A-Bye Baby – NurseI Married a Monster from Outer Space – Mother Bradley Don't Give Up the Ship – Mother at Wedding Party Career – Marie, Secretary to Shirley DrakeAll in a Night's Work – Miss SchusterAda – Clubwoman with Pecan Pie Bachelor in Paradise – Mrs. Bruce Freedman The Errand Boy – Commissary CashierGirls! Girls! Girls! – Mrs. Figgot – Hat Customer Fun in Acapulco – Mrs Stevers Who's Minding the Store? – Mattress CustomerParadise, Hawaiian Style – Mrs. BeldenThe Strongest Man in the World – MercedesGoodbye, Franklin High – Teacher

Television