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Allyn Ann McLerie

Highest Rated: 91% Jeremiah Johnson (1972)

Lowest Rated: 17% Words and Music (1948)

Birthday: Dec 1, 1926

Birthplace: Grand-Mère, Québec, Canada

Actress Allyn Ann McLerie parlayed early Broadway success into a lengthy career as a character actor on television. The Quebec native first earned notice on the stage in 1948 when she starred opposite Ray Bolger in Frank Loesser's musical "Where's Charley?" as a 21-year-old. She continued acting on Broadway, but began focusing on screen work throughout the 1950s. She starred again opposite Bolger in the film version of "Where's Charley?" (1952), while adding supporting credits in the musicals "The Desert Song" (1953) and "Calamity Jane" (1953). After marrying actor George Gaynes, McLerie took several prolonged breaks from acting before appearing in Sydney Pollack's dance marathon drama "They Shoot Horses Don't They?" (1969), starring Jane Fonda. That kicked off a string of roles, primarily as a guest performer on television dramas such as "Cannon" (CBS, 1971-76) and "The Waltons" (CBS, 1971-81). Her film credits during this time included appearances in three Robert Redford-led hits, "Jeremiah Johnson" (1972), "The Way We Were" (1974), and "All the President's Men" (1976). (The first two were also directed by Pollack). She then began a run as a series regular on "The Tony Randall Show" (ABC/CBS, 1976-78), playing the straight-laced secretary to Randall's widowed judge. When the show ended, she returned to television guest roles, before appearing in the blockbuster mini series "The Thorn Birds" (1983).  She had recurring roles on "WKRP in Cincinnati" (CBS, 1978-82), as the wife of station manager Arthur Carlson (Gordon Jump), and on "Punky Brewster" (NBC, 1984-88), which starred Gaynes. She earned critical acclaim as part of the cast of Jay Tarses's landmark dramedy "The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd" (NBC/Lifetime, 1987-91), where she played the hard-to-please mother of Blair Brown's title character. She retired from acting shortly after the series ended. Her last role was an uncredited appearance in her husband's film "Police Academy: Mission to Moscow" (1994). McLerie died from complications related to Alzheimer's Disease on May 21, 2018.

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Highest rated movies

91% 89% Jeremiah Johnson
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89% 64% Monte Walsh
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83% 49% The Reivers
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82% 89% They Shoot Horses, Don't They?
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73% 87% Calamity Jane
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64% 81% The Way We Were Watchlist
56% 61% Cinderella Liberty
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17% 62% Words and Music
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And Baby Makes Six
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56% Born Innocent
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Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet 92% Living Proof: The Hank Williams Jr. Story Audrey Williams (Character) - 1983
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Oldest Living Graduate Mrs. Hampton (Character) - 1980
No Score Yet No Score Yet And Baby Makes Six Dora Finley (Character) - 1979
No Score Yet No Score Yet A Shining Season Polly Baker (Character) - 1979
No Score Yet No Score Yet Return Engagement Florence (Character) - 1978
No Score Yet 29% Someone I Touched Jean (Character) - 1975
No Score Yet 71% Death Scream Alice Whitmore (Character) - 1975
No Score Yet 56% Born Innocent Emma Lasko (Character) - 1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet France Inc. L'Américaine (Character) - 1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Miss Martin (Character) - 1974
56% 61% Cinderella Liberty Miss Watkins (Character) - 1973
64% 81% The Way We Were Rhea Edwards (Character) - 1973
No Score Yet 25% The Magnificent Seven Ride! Mrs. Donavan (Character) - 1972
91% 89% Jeremiah Johnson Crazy Woman (Character) - 1972
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Shadow of a Gunman Mrs. Grigson (Character) - 1972
89% 64% Monte Walsh Mary Eagle (Character) - 1970
83% 49% The Reivers Alison (Character) - 1969
82% 89% They Shoot Horses, Don't They? Shirl (Character) - 1969
73% 87% Calamity Jane Katie Brown (Character) - 1953
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Desert Song Azuri (Character) - 1953
No Score Yet No Score Yet Where's Charley? Amy Spettigue (Character) - 1952
17% 62% Words and Music Singer in Garrick Gaeities (uncredited) (Character) - 1948

TV

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet Days and Nights of Molly Dodd Florence Bickford (Character) 1987-1991
No Score Yet No Score Yet Simon & Simon Edith 'Edie' Krelman (Guest Star) 1986
No Score Yet No Score Yet Mr. Belvedere Unknown (Guest Star) 1986
No Score Yet No Score Yet Punky Brewster Maggie McLerie (Guest Star) 1984-1985
No Score Yet 80% Knight Rider Unknown (Guest Star) 1984
No Score Yet No Score Yet Trapper John, M.D. Unknown (Guest Star) 1981 1983
No Score Yet No Score Yet Benson Unknown (Guest Star) 1981
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hart to Hart Unknown (Guest Star) 1981
No Score Yet No Score Yet Barney Miller Harriet Shulton (Guest Star) 1980
No Score Yet No Score Yet Love Story Vivian (Character) 1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Waltons Marjorie Simmons (Guest Star) 1973
No Score Yet No Score Yet Cannon Mrs. Glen (Guest Star) 1972
No Score Yet No Score Yet Bonanza Unknown (Guest Star) 1970