Araby Lockhart (born December 4, 1926) is a Canadian stage and television actress, best known for her performances in the films Capote and Police Academy and her stage performances as a member of Hart House Theatre and the Straw Hat Players. Lockhart has also served as President of the Actors' Fund of Canada.
Biography Lockhart became interested in acting as a teenager and attended the University of Toronto in 1947, where she acted at Hart House Theatre under artistic director Robert Gill. She also accompanied Gill to act in summer stock theatre in Woodstock, New York. In the summer of 1948, Gill's students Murray and Donald Davis founded the Straw Hat Players repertory theatre company at their summer home in Port Carling, Muskoka; Lockhart was a member of the company and acted in the company's first production of the melodrama The Drunkard, along with classmates Charmion King, Ted Follows, and Eric House. While at Hart House, she met John Gray, an aspiring writer and actor, and they married in 1952.
Lockhart also toured Canada with the show Spare Rib, showcasing the history of Canada as told and performed by women, in 1955 and served as a member of the Stratford Festival company. In 1956, Lockhart appeared in two Crest Theatre productions: The School for Scandal and The Women.
In 1960, Lockhart, Gray and their three children, John, Nicholas, and Rebecca, moved to London to find work in the vital West End theatre scene. Lockhart produced and performed in the Canadian satirical revue Clap Hands, co-written by Gray, at the Prince Charles Theatre and the Lyric Hammersmith, along with Peter Mews, and Eric House. While in London, the couple had two more children, Susannah and Felix.
Gray and Lockhart divorced in 1983.
Film and television performances YearTitleRoleNotes1952Tales of Adventure Episode: "The Moonstone - Part 1"1956The Wayne and Shuster HourEpisode: "Why Can't the Indians Be the Good Guys"1956Woman AloneShort 1957First PerformanceEpisode: "Cousin Elva" 1956-1958On CameraMrs. ParkerSeries: "Billy's Burglar" 1958Anne of Green Gables Mrs. Bell1952-1960EncounterMrs Knowles/Janet Kane/PetraEpisodes: "Ordeal by Poison", "The Death Around Us", "An Enemy of the People"1960The UnforeseenEpisode: "The New Member" 1964ITV Play of the WeekBessieEpisode: "The Rose Tattoo"1964Story ParadeMlle. GarneauEpisode: "Not For Every Eye" 1965The AirbaseHelen Arkwright 3 episodes 1965The Wednesday PlayMary Danziger/Lady Harriet FountainEpisodes: "The Pistol" and "And Did Those Feet?"1967Danger Island Mrs. Ridout 5 episodes 1969The Saint American LadyEpisode: "The Ex-King of Diamonds" 1969McQueenEpisode: "Vanity, Vanity" 1972Norman Corwin PresentsEpisode: "The One-Man Group"1982Little Gloria... Happy at Last1984Police Academy Mrs. Lassard1986Check It Out! Nurse ErngoldEpisode: "Store Wars" 1986 Whodunit? Garbage Lady1986AdderlyEpisode: "The Dancing Lesson" 1987Anne of Avonlea Gossip at ballUncredited1988Friday's CurseElder FlorenceEpisode: "The Quilt of Hathor" 1989Alfred Hitchcock PresentsMrs. Pickett Episode: "Diamonds Aren't Forever" 1989Looking for MiraclesChief's Secretary1991Dracula: The SeriesMiss RinghoffEpisode: "Sophie, Queen of the Night"1992Maniac Mansion DollyEpisode: "Misery Loves Company" 1992Forever KnightAlice Episode: "Hunters" 1994AvonleaMrs. MillingsEpisode: "Someone to Believe In" 1998Real Kids, Real AdventuresGrannyEpisode: "Rescue in the Tetons" 2000Psi FactorMary NelsonEpisode: "Chiaroscuro" 2000The Wonderful World of DisneyOperator #1Episode: "Mail to the Chief" 2002Franklin's Magic ChristmasMrs. Collie2002Salem Witch TrialsGoodwife Hawley2003The BlobheadsGarage Sail LadyEpisode: "The Emperor's Garage Sale"2005This Is WonderlandEpisode 2.4 2005CapoteDorothy Sanderson2006AbsolutionEunice Manning2007 Still Small VoicesOlder Woman2007The GatheringElderly Woman2008Rent-a-GoalieEpisode: "Upstairs" 2008-9The Jon Dore Television ShowMs. Adelaide St. Vincent / Old Lady at Fight2 episodes 2009The Ron James ShowEpisode: 1.7 2011Single White SpennyPhoto Lady 1Episode: "Circumcision"
References
Sources
External links Interview with Theatre Museum Canada