Mary Lee Robb

Mary Lee Robb
Born(1926-02-15)February 15, 1926
DiedAugust 28, 2006(2006-08-28) (aged 80)
Palm Springs, California, USA
EducationUniversity of California, Los Angeles
Spouses
Charles Vance Smith
(divorced)
William Cline
(m. 1983; died 2005)
Children2

Mary Lee Robb Cline (February 15, 1926, – August 28, 2006)[1] was a radio actress during the 1940s and 1950s. Her name is sometimes seen as Marylee Robb.[2]

Early life

Robb was born in Streator, Illinois,[1] and lived much of her early life in Chicago.[2] Her father, Alex S. Robb, was an executive at NBC.[1] Her mother, Madeline Bourg-Robb, began working in guest relations for NBC in 1948.[3] In 1939 her family moved to Los Angeles, California, where she attended University High School and University of California, Los Angeles.[2]

Career

Robb made her radio debut in 1947 on the Lum and Abner program.[1] She also appeared on The Penny Singleton Show.[4]

As Mary Lee Robb, she is best known for playing Marjorie, Gildersleeve's niece, on The Great Gildersleeve, replacing Louise Erickson in that role.[5] A small role in a 1948 episode of that program led to the full-time role of Marjorie, which she played until 1954.

Personal life and death

Robb married Charles Vance Smith on December 13, 1953, in Los Angeles.[6] They were divorced later.[1] Robb left acting in the mid-1950s in order to raise their son, Robb Smith, and daughter Alexandra. In 1983 she married William H. Cline, who died in 2005.[1]

On August 28, 2006, she died of heart failure at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, California.[1] Mary Lee Robb was survived by her daughter Alexandra, son Robb, son-in-law Alex, and daughter-in-law Melissa. Robb also left behind her two grandchildren, Robbyn and Tyler.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Mary Lee Robb Cline, 80; Played Gildy's Niece on 'The Great Gildersleeve". Los Angeles Times. 8 September 2006. Retrieved 23 December 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Kyle, Otto R. (January 31, 1951). "By the Way". The Decatur Daily Review. Illinois, Decatur. p. 6. Retrieved April 1, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Mary Lee Robb Cast In Radio Show On Coast". Daily Times-Press. Illinois, Streator. August 21, 1948. p. 4. Retrieved March 13, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 268. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4.
  5. ^ Kyle, Otto R. (September 6, 1948). "By The Way". The Decatur Herald. Illinois, Decatur. p. 6. Retrieved April 1, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Mary Lee Robb Weds in West". Daily Times Press. Illinois, Streator. January 13, 1953. p. 4. Retrieved March 13, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.