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Lurene Tuttle (1906-1986)
Gunsmoke

Brother Love, December 31, 1960 Written by John Meston, Guest Cast: Lurene Tuttle, Kevin Hagen, Gene Lyons, Jack Grinnage, Jan Harrison

Homecoming, January 8, 1973 Written by Calvin Clements, Directed by Gunnar Hellstrom, Guest Cast: Richard Kelton, Robert Pratt, Stuart Margolin, Lurene Tuttle, Claudia Bryar, Ivy Jones, Lynn Marta

Although she was most prolific on TV, she appeared in numerous films as well. She played mothers and mothers-in-law, strong willed women and other desirable types. Dainty, red-haired and petite with a distinct voice and classy style she was a competent actress. Born August 29, 1906 in Pleasant Lake, Indiana she was raised primarily in Arizona and began early in acting as a child when her father sent her to Phoenix for acting lessons. She worked in Burbank, California as a child star with Murphy's Comedians an acting troupe. She appeared on stage all over the western U.S. in stock companies. She also did extensive work on radio in the 1930s and on TV in the 1950s, 60s, 70s & 80s. She was a tutor and mentor of actress Helen Hunt who mentioned her in her 1998 Oscar acceptance speech. She was divorced from character actor Melville Ruick and her daughter was the late actress Barbara Ruick. Her film career began in 1934 and includes: "Stand Up and Cheer" (1934) in an uncredited role as a Stenographer, her film debut; "Heaven Only Knows" (1947) as Mrs. O'Donnell; "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House" (1948) with Cary Grant, as Mary; "Macbeth" (1948) as First Gentlewoman/Witch; "Goodbye My Fancy" (1951) as Ellen Griswold; "Room for One More" (1952) as Miss Kenyon; "Niagara" (1953) as Mrs. Kettering; "The Sweet Smell of Success" (1957) as Mrs. Bartha; Hitchcock's "Psycho" (1960) as Mrs. Chambers; "The Fortune Cookie" (1966) as Mother Hinkle; "Walking Tall" (1973-77) the film series, as Grandma Pusser and "Testament" (1983) with Jane Alexander, as Rosemary Abhart her last theatrical film. On TV she was a regular on "Life With Father" (1953-55) as Vinnie Day; "Pete and Gladys" (1960-62) as Mrs. Slocum; "Father of the Bride" (1961-62) as Doris Dunston; "Julia" (1968-71) as Nurse Hannah Yarby. She appeared in TV movies including: "Mrs. Sundance" (1974); "Shooting Stars" (1983) and "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" (1984) her last film appearance. She also guest starred on many TV series including: "I Love Lucy"; "The Beverly Hillbillies"; "Little House on the Prairie" and "St. Elsewhere." She died on May 28, 1986 in Encino, California after a brief illness at the age of 79.

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