# Eve McVeagh

Eva Elizabeth "Eve" McVeagh (July 15, 1919 – December 10, 1997) was an American actress of film, television, stage, and radio. Her career spanned 52 years from her first stage role through her last stage appearance. Her roles included leading and supporting parts as well as smaller character roles in which she proved a gifted character actress.

## Early life

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio to Hugh McVeagh, a railroad clerk, and Eva E. Johnson, she moved to Los Angeles in 1923 with her widowed mother and maternal grandmother, Molly Johnson, where she started acting in theater in her teens.

## Stage

Following stage success in Hollywood, McVeagh moved to New York City in her 20s, performing on radio and on Broadway in several productions including the roles of Martha in Snafu (1944–1945) and Patsy Laverne in Too Hot for Maneuvers (1945). After the well received Broadway run of Snafu, McVeagh took over the female lead at The National Theater in Washington DC in 1945.
In 1947, McVeagh played a supporting role opposite Billie Burke and Grant Mitchell in the original play Accidentally Yours. The production received very favorable reviews on the West Coast and was en route to New York where it was predicted to be the "comedy smash hit of 1948". However, the production was not a commercial success and never made it to Broadway. Ms McVeagh did not perform on Broadway again, but after returning to Los Angeles, and working in film and television for years, she traveled back to New York to perform in the play Scuba Duba in 1971.
After this stage work, McVeagh traveled back to her home base in Los Angeles. She starred in West Coast premieres of Broadway shows at the Pasadena Playhouse, most notably the lead in Come Back Little Sheba. Her Hollywood theater work included one year as Martha in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Her stage career continued in Las Vegas in 1981 in The Ninety Day Mistress, playing the mother of June Wilkinson's character. She continued to act in small stage productions including several with the award-winning Theatre Forty Company in Beverly Hills. In Hollywood, her final role was as a member of a lesbian couple in 1989 concluding an over 50 year stage career.

## Film

McVeagh's first film appearance was a supporting role in the classic High Noon (1952) in which she played Mildred Fuller alongside Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly. In the early 1950s she was under contract with Columbia Pictures. During that time, she co-starred in Tight Spot as Clara Moran playing the sister of Ginger Rogers: Of her performance, The New York Times raved "For our money, the best scene, whipped up by scenarist William Bowers, is the anything-but-tender reunion of Miss Rogers and her sister, Eve McVeagh ... an ugly, blistering pip." Ms. McVeagh was also featured opposite Richard Widmark and Lauren Bacall in The Cobweb as Shirley Irwin. She starred as Viv in The Glass Web, and was featured as Mrs. Clinton in Three in the Attic, Mrs. Masters in The Way West, Mrs. Griggs in Crime & Punishment, USA, a reporter in the Dino De Laurentiis production of King Kong, and The Graduate. Her final co-starring film role was in the independent film Money to Burn (1983) as Vivian. Her last onscreen appearance was a cameo role in Creator (1985) with Peter O'Toole. Ms. McVeagh's contributions to film were recognized by the bestowal of full voting membership in the actor's branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in September 1974. Her contributions in film spanned 33 years.

## Television

McVeagh's career in television began in 1946 as a primary cast member in the first American network Soap Opera, Faraway Hill. Other notable early television series on which she guest starred included Dragnet and I Love Lucy (as Lucy's hairdresser, Roberta, in the classic "Black Wig" episode). She was featured in three episodes of Perry Mason and two episodes of The Twilight Zone, and was a regular guest on The Johnny Carson Show. Alfred Hitchcock notably hired actors he liked regularly. McVeagh was featured in four episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents and two episodes of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour ("Last Seen Wearing Blue Jeans" in 1963). She co-starred on the Hitchcock-directed episode, "Incident at a Corner", of the television series Startime (pictured). Roles in the 1960s also included Frances Moseby, a series regular, on The Clear Horizon, a recurring character, Miss Hammond, on Petticoat Junction, as well as roles on Bonanza, Ironside and My Three Sons. Continuing in the 1970s, she appeared in the 1972 television movie "The Daughters of Joshua Cabe".
McVeagh was a regular on The Red Skelton Show for its last season. She also regularly performed in guest spots in Room 222 and McMillan & Wife. A favorite of Lucille Ball going back to I Love Lucy, she appeared with her on Here's Lucy. She guest starred in Love, American Style, and was featured in Little House on the Prairie, The Streets of San Francisco, The Virginian, The Bionic Woman, Charlie's Angels, The Jeffersons, Lou Grant, The Incredible Hulk, Knots Landing, Hill Street Blues, Hunter, and Airwolf. She rounded out the 1970s on a high note as socialite Helen Carrington in the 1979 critically acclaimed television movie Murder by Natural Causes with Hal Holbrook.
In the 1980s, her last decade in entertainment, McVeagh co-starred in an episode of Michael Landon's Highway to Heaven and was featured in two episodes of Simon & Simon. McVeagh guest starred in a 1985 episode of Cagney and Lacey as Dorothy Gantney, the grief-stricken mother of a murder victim in "The Psychic". McVeagh's last television credit was in 1988 on an episode of the Pat Morita series Ohara as Mabel Moore. Her career in television spanned 42 years.

## Radio

Photograph (right) was taken for "Let's Play Tennis Week" a charity event with stars of that era.
During the "Golden Age of Radio", McVeagh had several leading and supporting series roles and episodic leads in the 1940s and 1950s. She played Mrs. Harriet Beatty on the "Clyde Beatty Show", and was a regular on "Broadway Is My Beat" and "Stars Over Hollywood". She starred in "Hollywood Hostages", an episode of "Suspense", as Grace. McVeagh was a principal performer on "Jeff Regan, Investigator", Jack Webb's radio noir series. "McVeagh's ditzy—and sultry—characterizations were regularly featured" in the series. She also played the lead in the role of convicted murderess Marie Lafarge in the 1953 episode of Crime Classics, "The Seven Layered Arsenic Cake of Madame Lafarge". McVeagh appeared as the title character in the May 29, 1960 episode of "Gunsmoke" entitled "Bad Seed" and again in the January 29, 1961 episode entitled "Harriet".

## Acting and voice coach

McVeagh was an acting and voice coach at the Film Actors Workshop at Warner Brothers Studios. Additionally, she taught privately and guest lectured at the University of Southern California in the School of Theatre.

## Family life

McVeagh was married to character actor and director Clarke Gordon (her fourth husband) at the time of her death and had four children and nine grandchildren.

## Death

Eve McVeagh Gordon died on December 10, 1997, from natural causes in Los Angeles. She was 78 years old.

## Stage, Radio, Television and Film Credits

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1943 | Silk Hat Harry | Jayne Spence | Stage (Music Box Theater, Hollywood – original cast) |
| 1944–1945 | Snafu | Martha | Stage (Broadway – original cast) |
| 1945 | Too Hot for Maneuvers | Patsy Laverne | Stage (Broadway – original cast) |
| 1946 | Faraway Hill | Series Regular | Television Soap Opera. First soap opera on American Television network. |
| 1947 | Public Prosecutor | Dorcas Lyndon | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1947 | Accidentally Yours | Jean Erwin | Stage (Touring Company – original cast – see "Stage" section for more details) |
| 1948–1950 | Jeff Regan, Investigator | Principal Actor | CBS Radio Series |
| 1950–1951 | Clyde Beatty Show | Mrs. Harriet Beatty | Syndicated Radio Series |
| 1949–1954 | Broadway Is My Beat | Series Regular | CBS Radio Series |
| 1952–1954 | Stars Over Hollywood | Series Regular | CBS Radio Series |
| 1952 | Racket Squad | Guest Star | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1952 | High Noon | Mildred Fuller | Film |
| 1952 | Your Jeweler's Showcase | | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1952-1953 | Schlitz Playhouse | Elly | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1953 | Crime Classics | Madame Marie Lafarge | Episode: "The Seven Layered Arsenic Cake of Madame Lafarge" (CBS Radio Series) |
| 1953 | The Glass Web | Viv | Film |
| 1953 | Life with Luigi | | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1954 | Dragnet | | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1951-1954 | Fireside Theatre | Marge / Murial Tannant | TV series, 4 episodes |
| 1954 | I Love Lucy | Roberta | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1954 | Climax! | | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1955 | The Ford Television Theatre | Suzie | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1955 | Tight Spot | Clara Moran | Film |
| 1955 | Stage 7 | Miss Shelby | Episode: "The Traveling Salesman" (TV series) |
| 1955 | The Cobweb | Mrs. Shirley Irwin | Film |
| 1955 | Not as a Stranger | Mr. Ferris | Film, Uncredited |
| 1955 | Crossroads | Myrtle Greenspant | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1955 | I'll Cry Tomorrow | Ethel | Film, Uncredited |
| 1955 | It's a Dog's Life | Elsa, Piano Player | Film, Uncredited |
| 1955 | I Led 3 Lives | Miss Cutler | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1956 | Crusader | Pearl Winacheck | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1956 | The 20th Century-Fox Hour | Nurse | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1956 | Science Fiction Theatre | Ann Page | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1956 | Highway Patrol | Mrs. West | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1956 | Reprisal! | Nora Shipley | Film, Uncredited |
| 1956 | The Opposite Sex | Departing Woman | Film, Uncredited |
| 1956 | The Rack | Woman at Airfield | Film, Uncredited |
| 1956 | Suspense | Grace | Episode: "Hollywood Hostages" (CBS Radio Series) |
| 1957 | The Shadow on the Window | Bessie Warren | Film, Uncredited |
| 1957 | The Jack Benny Program | Reunion Guest | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1957 | Sierra Stranger | Ruth Gaines | Film |
| 1957 | Adventures of Superman | Mrs. Wilson | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1957 | The George Sanders Mystery Theater | Thelma | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1957 | Casey Jones | Nell Dixon | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1958 | The Court of Last Resort | Edith Elwell | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1958 | Mike Hammer | Veronica Karnes | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1958 | The Left Handed Gun | Mrs. McSween | Film, Uncredited |
| 1958 | General Electric Theater | Woman | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1958 | Unwed Mother | | Film |
| 1958 | Man with a Camera | Mrs. Collins | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1959 | Alcoa Theatre | Miss Bellows | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1959 | Crime and Punishment U.S.A. | Mrs. Griggs | Film |
| 1959 | The Thin Man | Dakota Dane | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1959 | Rawhide | Beulah | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1959 | Dennis the Menace | Mrs. Purcell | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1959 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Waitress | Season 5 Episode 4: "Coyote Moon" |
| 1960 | Johnny Ringo | Molly Crawford | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1957-1960 | Perry Mason | Saleswoman / Laura Richards / Nora Fleming | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1960 | Lawman | Josie, Saloon Gal | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1960 | Riverboat | Julie Scott | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1960 | Man on a String | Madame Pusawa | Film, Uncredited |
| 1960 | Startime | Georgia | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1960 | The Clear Horizon | Frances Moseby (1960-1962) | TV series |
| 1960 | The Wizard of Baghdad | Oracle | Film, Uncredited |
| 1961 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Eve the Reporter (uncredited) | Season 6 Episode 31: "The Gloating Place" |
| 1961 | Coronado 9 | Laura Tyler | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1961 | Surfside 6 | Blosson McKenzie | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1961 | The Real McCoys | Myra McCoy | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1961 | Tales of Wells Fargo | The Woman | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1961 | Cain's Hundred | Bunny Baxter | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1962 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Mrs. Archer | Season 7 Episode 20: "The Test" |
| 1962 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Mae | Season 7 Episode 30: "What Frightened You, Fred?" |
| 1962 | Checkmate | Bess Conrad | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1962 | Have Gun - Will Travel | Katherine | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1962 | Thriller | Bonnie / Mrs. Curtis | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1962 | The Law and Mr. Jones | Mrs. Pierce | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1962 | The Tall Man | Lily Varnell | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1963 | The Alfred Hitchcock Hour | Rose Cates | Season 1 Episode 28: "Last Seen Wearing Blue Jeans" |
| 1963 | The Lieutenant | Marge Fowler | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1961–1963 | 77 Sunset Strip | Landlady / Elizabeth Dawson | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1962-1963 | Wagon Train | Mrs. Sharp / Yolanda | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1963 | Petticoat Junction | Miss Hammond | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1964 | Arrest and Trial | Mrs. Nello | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1964 | Twilight Zone | Ella Koch / Nurse | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1964 | Karen | Mrs. Peters | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1965 | The Man from U.N.C.L.E | Baroness | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1965 | The Alfred Hitchcock Hour | Sylvia Boggs | Season 3 Episode 27: "The Second Wife" |
| 1965 | Dr. Kildare | Dr. Ruth Becker | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1965 | Daniel Boone | Eleanor Tully / Kate Bothwell | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1966 | Hank | Miss Krimmer | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1966 | My Favorite Martian | Mother | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1966 | My Mother the Car | Goldie | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1966 | F Troop | Wilma McGee | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1966 | My Three Sons | Clara | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1967 | The F.B.I. | Bea Jensen | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1967 | The Way West | Mrs. Masters | Film |
| 1967 | Bonanza | Harriet Guthrie | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1967 | The Graduate | Mrs. Carlson, Party Guest | Film, Uncredited |
| 1968 | Ironside | Manager | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1968 | Three in the Attic | Mrs. Clinton | Film |
| 1969 | Mayberry R.F.D. | Mrs. Whitakker | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1969 | Dragnet | Mrs. Shore / Margaret Chance / Bonnie McKenzie | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1969 | Roberta | Anna | TV movie |
| 1969 | The Virginian | Mrs. Foster / Maude | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1970 | Airport | Mrs. Henry Bron, Passenger | Film, Uncredited |
| 1970 | The Liberation of L.B. Jones | Miss Griggs | Film |
| 1970 | The Odd Couple | Mrs. Lachman | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1970–1971 | The Red Skelton Show | Series Regular (Various Characters) | Television Variety Series |
| 1969-1971 | Room 222 | Madge Morano / PTA member | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1971 | Love, American Style | Eloise Hempsted | TV series, 1 episode, (segment "Love and the Artful Codger") |
| 1971 | Scuba Duba | Landlady | Stage Studio Arena Theater (Buffalo, NY) |
| 1972 | Glass Houses | | |
| 1972 | The Courtship of Eddie's Father | Lorraine Karn | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1972 | The Daughters of Joshua Cabe | Mother Superior | TV movie |
| 1972 | Alias Smith and Jones | Woman | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1973 | The Streets of San Francisco | Mrs. Logan | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1973 | Here's Lucy | Woman with Dog | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1968-1973 | Adam-12 | Margaret Willis / Marge Jenkins / Thelma Walker | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1972-1974 | McMillan & Wife | Lady in Elevator / Mrs. Denny / Woman | TV series, 3 episodes |
| 1974 | The Snoop Sisters | Coven Member | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1974 | Police Story | Ethel | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1974 | Movin' On | Rosalie | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1975 | The Texas Wheelers | Mrs. Klate | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1975 | Little House on the Prairie | Mrs. Hillstrom | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1975 | Maude | Renee | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1976 | King Kong | Reporter | Film, Uncredited |
| 1977 | The Bionic Woman | Middle Aged Woman | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1979 | Charlie's Angels | Old Lady (with Lasso) | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1979 | Murder by Natural Causes | Helen Carrington | TV movie |
| 1979 | Barnaby Jones | Millie Kelley | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1980 | Days of Our Lives | Mrs. Kositchek (Recurring) | Television Soap Opera |
| 1980 | Spoon River Anthology | Several Characters | Stage (Theatre Forty Company, Beverly Hills) |
| 1980 | The Jeffersons | Mrs. Simpson | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1980 | CHiPs | Wife | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1979-1981 | Lou Grant | Clare / Elizabeth Benson | Television |
| 1981 | The Incredible Hulk | Landlady | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1982 | Long Day's Journey Into Night | Mary | Stage (Richmond Shepard Theater Studios, Hollywood) |
| 1982 | Knots Landing | Mrs. Green | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1982 | Life of the Party: The Story of Beatrice | Mrs. Rugolo | TV movie |
| 1982 | Hill Street Blues | Tenant | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1983 | Knight Rider | Slot Granny | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1983 | Money to Burn | Vivian | Film |
| 1984 | Jennifer Slept Here | Mrs. McGovern | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1984 | Hunter | Mrs. Onadon | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1984 | Airwolf | Annie | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1985 | Highway to Heaven | Flora | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1985 | T. J. Hooker | Manager | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1985 | Creator | Woman with monkey | Film |
| 1985 | Cagney & Lacey | Dorothy Gantney | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1985-1986 | Simon & Simon | Mrs. Talbot | TV series, 2 episodes |
| 1987 | Mathnet | Mrs. Swaggle | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1987 | Square One TV | Mrs. Swaggle | TV series, 1 episode |
| 1988 | Ohara | Mabel Moore | TV Series, 1 episode (final appearance) |