Mabel Ida Albertson (July 24, 1901 – September 28, 1982) was an American actress of television, stage, radio and film who portrayed Phyllis Stephens in the TV sitcom Bewitched. She also appeared in TV's The Time Tunnel (S1:E30, "Town of Terror").

Early years Mabel Ida Albertson was born on July 24, 1901, in Haverhill, Massachusetts, to Flora (Craft) and Leopold Albertson, Russian-born Jewish immigrants. Her younger brother was actor Jack Albertson, who portrayed Grandpa Joe in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Their mother, a stock actress, supported the family by working in a shoe factory.

Albertson graduated from the New England School of Speech and Expression.

She traced her show business career back to age 13, when she was paid $5 per performance to play piano behind palm trees for a reader. She later moved to California and became involved with the Pasadena Playhouse.

She "moved directly into professional stage work in stock, vaudeville, and night clubs, appearing with Jimmy Durante."

Career

Film and television Albertson portrayed Phyllis Stephens, Darrin's neurotic, snippy and interfering mother, on the television sitcom Bewitched, who invariably ended her stays at the Stephenses' home by saying to her husband, "Frank, take me home. I have a sick headache." She also played the mother of Jack Benny (seven years her senior) on several episodes of his television series. From 1972 to 1973, she played Mabel, the mother-in-law of Paul Lynde on The Paul Lynde Show. She appeared in at least one episode of the courtroom drama series Perry Mason: as Carrie Wilson in the Season 6, 1962 episode titled "The Case of the Hateful Hero". Albertson also guest-starred as the mother of Marilyn Munster's would-be suitor in the first broadcast episode of The Munsters, "Munster Masquerade". Dragnet 1967 "The Big Bullet" Albertson played Jessie Gaynor, and she played the mother of Barbara and Margaret Whiting in Those Whiting Girls. She also played the dean of a women's college in an episode of The Tab Hunter Show, Susannah's mother in Accidental Family,Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. 6. Alice's mother in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, Donald Hollinger's mother on That Girl, Irene Brady in The Tom Ewell Show, Howard Sprague's mother on The Andy Griffith Show, Miss Ramsey on Hazel, Mrs. White on The Lucy Show episode "Lucy and the Missing Stamp", Eileen Ruby, Harry Ruby's wife, in Make Room For Daddy episode "Danny Goes On USO Tour", Dick Van Dyke's mother on The New Dick Van Dyke Show, and Ethel Kendricks on the Mary Tyler Moore Show episode "Anyone Who Hates Kids and Dogs", Gertrude Mills on The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. Rawhide Season 2 Episode 24 as Kalla, Gypsy Queen. In the 1957 episode of Gunsmoke, "Cows and Cribs", she played Ma Smalley, a kindly boarding house owner. In the 1963 episode of Gunsmoke, "Kate Heller", she played the title character, as well as "Gody Baines" in a 1961 episode (Long, Long Trail). In 1966 she played Madam Adella in the Bonanza episode "A Dollar's Worth of Trouble". In Season 1 (1952/53) of Adventures of Superman, she played Kate White, Perry White's sister in the episode "Drums of Death" originally aired January 16, 1953. A memorable early film role for Albertson was as a proper banker's wife who is repulsed by the bucolic title characters in Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki (1955). She was also seen in She's Back on Broadway, So This Is Love, About Mrs. Leslie, Forever, Darling, The Long, Hot Summer, Don't Give Up the Ship, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever and as Mrs. Van Hoskins, a wealthy woman whose jewels are stolen, in the screwball comedy film What's Up, Doc? (1972).

Other works

Albertson was heard on Dress Rehearsal, Joe Rines' Dress Rehearsal, and the Phil Baker Show.Sies, Luther F. (2014). Encyclopedia of American Radio, 1920-1960, 2nd Edition, Volume 1. McFarland & Company, Inc. . Pp. 203, 350, 520. She was also a writer for radio programs. Albertson's Broadway credits include The Egg (1962) and Xmas in Las Vegas (1965).

Death According to her former daughter-in-law, Cloris Leachman, Mabel Albertson died on September 28, 1982, of Alzheimer's disease at St. John's Hospital, after suffering seven years of poor health in Santa Monica, California at age 81. Her ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean. Her brother, Jack Albertson had been working and became a well-known actor in Hollywood until he died a few months prior to her death after succumbing to colon cancer.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes1928 Gang War Reporter in the Prologue 1939 Mutiny on the Blackhawk The Widow 1952 About Face Mrs. Carter Uncredited1952 My Pal Gus Mrs. Frisbee Uncredited1953 Adventures of Superman Kate White Season 1 - Episode 18 - Drums of Death1953 She's Back on Broadway Velma Trumbull 1953 So This Is Love Mary Garden 1954 About Mrs. Leslie Mrs. Sims 1954 Black Widow Sylvia Uncredited1955 Ma and Pa Kettle at Waikiki Teresa Andrews 1955 The Cobweb Regina Mitchell-Smyth 1956 Ransom! Mrs. Partridge 1956 Forever, Darling Society Reporter 1957 Four Girls in Town Mrs. Conway 1957 Man Afraid Maggie 1958 The Female Animal Irma Jones 1958 The Long, Hot Summer Elizabeth Stewart 1958 Home Before Dark Inez Winthrop 1959 The Hangman Amy Hopkins 1959 Don't Give Up the Ship Mrs. Trabert 1959 The Gazebo Miss Chandler 1959 Have Gun Will Travel Madame Chalon 1960 All the Fine Young Cannibals Mrs. McDowall 1961 All in a Night's Work Mrs. Kingsley Sr. 1962 Period of Adjustment Mrs. Alice McGill 1966 A Fine Madness Chairwoman 1967 Daniel Boone Mrs. Abigail Adam’s Episode: “Take the Southbound Stage”1967 Barefoot in the Park Harriet 1970 On a Clear Day You Can See Forever Mrs. Hatch 1972 What's Up, Doc? Mrs. Van Hoskins

References

External links

Mabel Albertson scrapbook, 1933-1939, held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts