Pat Carroll, the gregarious Emmy-winning comedian who was a television mainstay for decades before moving on to a voice-over career that included playing the wicked sea witch Ursula on The little Mermaid, has died. She was 95.
Carroll died Saturday of pneumonia at his home in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, his daughter Kerry Karsian said. the hollywood reporter.
Carroll’s jovial personality, eccentric wit and impeccable timing made her a great second banana, and Red Buttons, Jimmy During, mickey rooney, Steve Allen and Charley Weaver were among those who called on her to make their shows funnier. her antics in time of caesar It earned her an Emmy in 1957 and she was nominated for her work on the classic variety show the following year.
in a 2013 interview with kliph NesteroffCarroll compared Howard Morris, Carl Reiner and Sid Caesar in time of caesar to the legendary Chicago Cubs double play combination of Tinkers to Evers to Chance.
“I learned a lot about comedy from watching those three work together. It was foolproof,” Carroll said. “They worked together for so long that they had this innate sense of each other’s timing. It was impossible for them to grope. We did two shows every Saturday night because one was for the West Coast and one was for the East Coast. If they absolutely hated a sketch they did, those three would sit in Sid’s dressing room with the writers and write a new sketch. Yes, amazing.”
For the next two decades, the bubbly blonde always seemed to appear on television.
Carroll played Bunny Halperthe spirited wife of nightclub owner Charley Halper (Sid Melton), in three seasons of The Danny Thomas Show early ‘60’s; It was Hope Stinson, who shared ownership of a newspaper with the character of Ted Knight, in the last season (1986-87) of Too close for comfort; and appeared alongside Suzanne Somers in the 1987-89 series she is the bailiff.
Carroll came to prominence as a moody patient who shared a hospital room with Mary Richards (the latter was there to have her tonsils removed) in The Mary Tyler Moore Show in 1971, and played Lily feneythe mother of Cindy Williams’ character, in a 1976 installment of The verne and Shirley.
His television credits also included Cinderella, Please don’t eat the margaritas, love american style, my three children, policewoman, breaking loose, the love boat, Trapper John, MD, evening shadow, Designing Women Y emergencies.
Carroll was also a game show favorite. Tell the truth, the match game, I have a secret, All Stars Password, you do not say Y The $10,000 Pyramid – whatever, she played it.
and she played doris daythe matchmaker sister of With Six You Get egg roll (1968).
Carroll’s raspy laugh and forceful intonations made her a natural for animation work.
He first slipped into the recording booth in 1966 for the animated series. the super 6. But it was during the ‘80’s that her career as an announcer skyrocketed; she could be heard in the cartoons Yogi’s Treasure Hunt, galaxy high school, Fofur, pound puppies Y supermanorth.
Without a doubt, his most remembered character was Ursula for the 1989 Disney movie. The little Mermaid. It would be one of his favorite roles. “It was a lifelong ambition of mine to make a Disney movie,” Allan told author. neuwirth in Making‘ Cartoon: Inside the most popular animated TV shows and movies. “So, I was their hook, line and sinker.”
Carroll’s enthusiasm made the octopus-like character uniquely hers and Ursula would go on to become one of Disney’s most memorable villains. However, she landed the role only after an arduous search by the studio.
Little Mermaid producer and lyricist Howard ash man I was a big fan of television Dynasty and imagined Úrsula as a joan collins-write. And who better to interpret it than Collins herself? Unfortunately, his agent quickly dismissed the idea.
Writers and directors Ron Clements and John Musker she saw Ursula as more of an aquatic version of Bea Arthur, but her agent took offense when the script compared the actress to a witch, and passed on. Roseanne, Nancy Wilson and Nancy from Heart marching of The sopranos Fame then reportedly read for the role, but neither was quite right.
charlotte rae Y elaine stitch auditioned, but Rae didn’t have the vocal range for Ursula’s signature tune, “Poor Unfortunate Souls”, and stitch couldn’t deliver the song the way ash man Dear.
Carroll, however, immediately understood by ashman Getting closer. The key was a recording she had made of him singing the song. Once Carroll heard and saw that, the rest was easy.
“He gave me that performance! Come on, I’m honest enough to say that,” she said quietly. Making‘ Cartoon. “I got the whole attitude from him… his shoulders were hunching a certain way, and his eyes were moving a certain way… I understood more from that character of Howard singing that song than from anything else.”
Carroll won the role and went on to voice the character in several video games and in 1993. Little Mermaid CBS series. (She also provided the voice for Morgana on the 2000 direct-to-video release The Little Mermaid 2: Return to the Sea.)
Patricia Ann Carroll was born on May 5, 1927, in Shreveport, Louisiana. When she was 5 years old, she and her family moved to Los Angeles. At age 20, she served as a civilian acting technician for the Army, writing, producing, and directing soldier productions. She graduated from Catholic University in Washington, DC in 1949.
Carroll’s first professional appearance came in 1947 opposite Gloria Swanson in a regional stock production of A goose for a goose. This led to her playing more roles in stock companies, and she also honed her comedic skills by performing in nightclubs and resorts.
Carroll’s off-Broadway debut came in 1950 at Whatever happens. Shortly after, she began working on television in Goodyear TV Playhouse, The Red Button Show Y Saturday night magazine.
Carroll first performed on Broadway in 1955 in the musical revue Catch a star! written by Danny and neil simon. The performance earned him a Tony nomination. Decades later, Carroll received rave reviews for her off-Broadway one-man show. Gertrude Stein Gertrude Stein Gertrude Stein: A Single Character Play.
In his 1979 revision by The New York TimesWalter Kerr wrote: “Miss Carroll, working from a text prepared by Marty Martin, gives us the strange, cutrichly dressed woman who could be, and once was, mistaken for a bishop with an enthusiasm that is amazing… I don’t know exactly how Miss Carroll is able to do it, but she manages, with no effort at all, to do we share Gertrude Stein’s attitude toward herself.”
Carroll received a Drama Desk Award for her portrayal of the author; She beat out her fellow nominees Ella Moore, Susan SarandonPhillies Frelich and blyth Danner for the honor
carrol was married to lee karsian from 1955 until their divorce in 1976, and they had three children: Tara, an actress; daughter Kerry, casting director; and her son Sean (died on the same date as her mother 13 years ago).