Helen Kleeb (January 6, 1907 – December 28, 2003) was an American film and television actress. In a career covering nearly 50 years, she may be best known for her role from 1972 to 1981 as Miss Mamie Baldwin on the family drama The Waltons.

Early life and career

Kleeb began acting on stage in Portland, Oregon, late in the 1920s, where she attended the Ellison-White Conservatory of Music. She also gained her first radio experience in Portland.

From 1949 to 1951, she performed voices for the radio program Candy Matson. In 1956–1957, Kleeb guest-starred on Hey, Jeannie!, starring Jeannie Carson. In the 1960–1961 television season, Kleeb appeared as Miss Claridge, a legal secretary, on the sitcom Harrigan and Son.

She appeared in episodes of Dennis the Menace, I Love Lucy, Pete and Gladys, Hennesey, Death Valley Days, The Virginian (Season 7, Episode 13, The Big Tiny), Get Smart, The Andy Griffith Show, Green Acres, Bewitched, Gunsmoke (as “Mrs. Randolph” in S1E38’s “Unknown Grave” - 1956), Little House: A New Beginning, Highway to Heaven, Room 222, and The Golden Girls as well as in small film roles in The Manchurian Candidate, and Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte. She also appeared in a number of episodes of The Waltons, as well as Dragnet, starring Jack Webb, during the 1950s. Kleeb also appeared on many radio drama shows, some now playing on XM Satellite Radio.

Personal life

Kleeb's first marriage and the birth of a son, Tom Pendergast, caused a hiatus in her career. After her first husband's death in 1950, she taught drama at a college before she returned to acting. She is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1952Kansas City ConfidentialMrs. CraneUncredited
195399 River StreetMiss HendersonUncredited
Half a HeroDesk NurseUncredited
1954Witness to MurderNurse in Mental WardUncredited
Magnificent ObsessionMrs. Eden
1955There's Always TomorrowMiss Walker
The Desperate HoursMiss WellsUncredited
1956A Day of FuryMrs. McLean
Friendly PersuasionOld LadyUncredited
1957Hot Summer NightScrub WomanUncredited
The Invisible BoyMiss VandergriftUncredited
1958High School ConfidentialMiss DodgeUncredited
Summer LoveBit RoleUncredited
I Want to Live!Prison MatronUncredited
1959Curse of the UndeadDora
The GazeboMiss SpenceUncredited
1960Cage of EvilMrs. Melton, Cherry's Motel
1961The Young SavagesMrs. PattonUncredited
AdaMrs. SmithUncredited
1962The Manchurian CandidateMrs. Henry Whittaker - ChairladyUncredited
40 Pounds of TroubleChild Welfare WorkerUncredited
1963Toys in the AtticWarkins' SecretaryUncredited
1964Seven Days in MayEsther Townsend
Hush… Hush, Sweet CharlotteTown Gossip
Sex and the Single GirlHilda
1965The Hallelujah TrailHenrietta
1965Get SmartFriedaSeason 1, episode 4: "Our Man in Toyland"
1966Munster, Go Home!EmilyUncredited
The Fortune CookieThe Lawyers' Receptionist
BewitchedSarah AlbrightSeason 3, episode 11: "Oedipux Hex"
1967Eight on the LamBit RoleUncredited
FitzwillyMrs. Mortimer
1968The PartySecretary
BlueElizabeth Parker
1968The Virginian (TV series)Mrs. MauderSeason 7, episode 13: "Big Tiny"
1969-1971Room 222Mrs. Tandyrecurring character
1970Halls of AngerRita Monahann
1971Star Spangled GirlYWCA Receptionist
1972-1981The WaltonsMamie Baldwinrecurring character
1982The Best Little Whorehouse in TexasDora
1985Who's the Boss?Mrs. RandolfSeason 1, episode 16: "Angela’s Ex part 2"
1988The Golden GirlsElizabeth Ann HollingsworthSeason 3, episode 25: "Mother's Day"
1997A Walton EasterMiss Mamie BaldwinTV movie

External links