Beatrice Colen (January 10, 1948 – November 18, 1999) was an American television and film actress. She may be best known for her television roles as roller-skating carhop Marsha Simms on Happy Days and as Etta Candy on the first season of Wonder Woman.[1][2][3]
Beatrice Colen | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 10, 1948 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | November 18, 1999 (aged 51) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1974–1997 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | George S. Kaufman (grandfather) |
Early life
editColen was born to Anne and Bruce D Colen in New York City, New York. Both of her parents were of German Jewish descent. She was the granddaughter of playwright George S. Kaufman.[4]
Career
editStarting in the 1970s, Colen landed roles early in her career in both film and television. On Happy Days, she starred as carhop Marsha Simms in seasons 1-3 and 5.[5]
She was the first actress to portray Etta Candy in the live action adaptation of the DC comic book series Wonder Woman.[6][7] After the pilot, she appeared only during the series' first season (1976–1977), which were set during World War II. When the series was retooled and reset in modern times, the character was dropped.[8]
Colen acted in such television film as Schoolboy Father (1980), Brave New World, and in feature films such as Lifeguard, High Anxiety, American Pop, and Who's that Girl.
She guest-starred on a number of TV shows such as The Odd Couple, All in the Family, The Love Boat, Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974, premiere episode: "The Ripper"), Barney Miller (1981, episode: "The Rainmaker" and the 1975 episode: “Grand Hotel”), The Wonder Years, and Baywatch.
Her final television appearance before retiring was in a 1997 episode of Nickelodeon's The Secret World of Alex Mack.
Personal life and death
editColen was married to Patrick Cronin on October 23, 1977,[9] and together they had two sons, James (born c. 1982) and Charlie (born c. 1983).[10]
She died of lung cancer, which metastisized to a brain tumour years later, on November 18, 1999, in Los Angeles, California, at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.[10][11] Colen died on the opening night of Brentwood High School's production of The Man Who Came to Dinner, which was written by her grandfather, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright George S. Kaufman, and which starred her son, James, in the title role of Sheridan Whiteside; James honoured her wish that he perform that night.[10] Her memorial service was held at Saint James Episcopal Church in Los Angeles 10 days later.[citation needed]
Filmography
edit| Film and television | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1973 | Road Movie | ||
| 1974 | Kolchak: The Night Stalker | Jane Plumm | episode: "The Ripper" |
| 1974-1975, 1978 | Happy Days | Waitress / Marsha Simms / Marsha | 21 episodes (+1 uncredited) |
| 1975 | Ellery Queen | Mary Lou Gumm | episode: "The Adventure of Miss Aggie's Farewell Performance" |
| 1976 | Lifeguard | Judy | |
| 1976-1977 | Wonder Woman | Etta Candy | Main cast (season 1) |
| 1977 | High Anxiety | Maid | |
| 1977 | American Raspberry | Mother | |
| 1981 | American Pop | Prostitute | |
| 1987 | Who's That Girl | Secretary | |
| 1988 | Portrait of a White Marriage | Mrs. Peaco | |
References
edit- ^ "Happy Days: Where Are They Now?". Sitecomesonline.com. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
- ^ "Tribune Democrat Newspaper Archives, Nov 20, 1999, p. 39". NewspaperArchive.com. 1999-11-20. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
- ^ "Post Herald And Register Newspaper Archives, Jan 1, 1977, p. 29". NewspaperArchive.com. 1977-01-01. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
- ^ The New York Times, 12 Jan 1948, Birth Announcement.
- ^ "Joplin Globe Newspaper Archives, Jul 26, 1975, p. 33". NewspaperArchive.com. 1975-07-26. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
- ^ "Valley Morning Star Newspaper Archives, Apr 21, 1976, p. 20". NewspaperArchive.com. 1976-04-21. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
- ^ Galloway, Doug (1999-12-13). "Beatrice Colen". Variety. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
- ^ "It's Cool, I Feel Fine". Trend Chaser. 2016-09-28. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
- ^ "Patrick Cronin, Actor, Weds Beatrice Colen". The New York Times. 1977-10-24. p. 34. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2019-03-06. Retrieved 2018-03-04.
- ^ a b c McBride, Murdoch (1999-11-19). "Theatre Mourns Stage & 'Happy Days' Actress Beatrice Colen, 51". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2014-05-15. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
Beatrice Colen, known as the car-hop on roller skates at Arnold's Malt Shop on TV's "Happy Days," and as the "Wonder Woman" sidekick, Etta Candy, died of lung cancer at Los Angeles' Cedar Sinai Hospital Nov. 18. Ms. Colen was 51.
- ^ Martinez, Al (1999-12-19). "Take Her Sweetly, Take Her Gently . . ". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Archived from the original on 2021-12-01. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
