Actress. Born Mary Isabella Wickenhauser in St. Louis, Missouri, the only child of Frank Wickenhauser a well-to-do St. Louis banker, and his wife Mary Isabella (née Shannon). An excellent student, Wickes completed a political science degree at the Washington University in St. Louis, graduating in 1930. She reportedly originally intended to become a lawyer.
She made her Broadway debut in 1934. Wickes began acting in films in 1939. One of her earliest notable film appearances was in 'The Man Who Came to Dinner' in 1942. She first attracted attention in the film 'Now, Voyager', also released in 1942, as the nurse. The same year, she had a large part in the Bud Abbott and Lou Costello comedy 'Who Done It?' She continued playing supporting roles in films during the next decade. In the 1950s, she played regular roles in the television sitcoms 'Make Room for Daddy' and 'Dennis the Menace.' She appeared in the holiday classic 'White Christmas' in 1954. In the 1960s and 1970s, she played frequent guest roles in each of her friend Lucille Ball's television series, 'I Love Lucy', 'Here's Lucy,' and 'The Lucy Show.' She appeared regularly in the children's television show, 'Sigmund and the Sea Monsters.' By the 1980s, her appearances in television series such as 'M*A*S*H,' 'The Love Boat,' 'Kolchak: The Night Stalker,' and 'Murder, She Wrote' made her an easily-recognizable character actress. In the 1990s, she appeared in 'Postcards From the Edge' and achieved the biggest success of her career in 'Sister Act' in 1992 as Sister Mary Lazarus. She reprised the role in the sequel 'Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit'. Her final acting credit was in the 1996 Disney film 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' as the voice of the gargoyle Laverne.
Hospitalized in 1995, Wickes died of a multitude of ailments fillowing surgery for a broken hip from a fall. She was 85 years old. She never married and left no immediate family.
She made her Broadway debut in 1934. Wickes began acting in films in 1939. One of her earliest notable film appearances was in 'The Man Who Came to Dinner' in 1942. She first attracted attention in the film 'Now, Voyager', also released in 1942, as the nurse. The same year, she had a large part in the Bud Abbott and Lou Costello comedy 'Who Done It?' She continued playing supporting roles in films during the next decade. In the 1950s, she played regular roles in the television sitcoms 'Make Room for Daddy' and 'Dennis the Menace.' She appeared in the holiday classic 'White Christmas' in 1954. In the 1960s and 1970s, she played frequent guest roles in each of her friend Lucille Ball's television series, 'I Love Lucy', 'Here's Lucy,' and 'The Lucy Show.' She appeared regularly in the children's television show, 'Sigmund and the Sea Monsters.' By the 1980s, her appearances in television series such as 'M*A*S*H,' 'The Love Boat,' 'Kolchak: The Night Stalker,' and 'Murder, She Wrote' made her an easily-recognizable character actress. In the 1990s, she appeared in 'Postcards From the Edge' and achieved the biggest success of her career in 'Sister Act' in 1992 as Sister Mary Lazarus. She reprised the role in the sequel 'Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit'. Her final acting credit was in the 1996 Disney film 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' as the voice of the gargoyle Laverne.
Hospitalized in 1995, Wickes died of a multitude of ailments fillowing surgery for a broken hip from a fall. She was 85 years old. She never married and left no immediate family.
Actress. Born Mary Isabella Wickenhauser in St. Louis, Missouri, the only child of Frank Wickenhauser a well-to-do St. Louis banker, and his wife Mary Isabella (née Shannon). An excellent student, Wickes completed a political science degree at the Washington University in St. Louis, graduating in 1930. She reportedly originally intended to become a lawyer.
She made her Broadway debut in 1934. Wickes began acting in films in 1939. One of her earliest notable film appearances was in 'The Man Who Came to Dinner' in 1942. She first attracted attention in the film 'Now, Voyager', also released in 1942, as the nurse. The same year, she had a large part in the Bud Abbott and Lou Costello comedy 'Who Done It?' She continued playing supporting roles in films during the next decade. In the 1950s, she played regular roles in the television sitcoms 'Make Room for Daddy' and 'Dennis the Menace.' She appeared in the holiday classic 'White Christmas' in 1954. In the 1960s and 1970s, she played frequent guest roles in each of her friend Lucille Ball's television series, 'I Love Lucy', 'Here's Lucy,' and 'The Lucy Show.' She appeared regularly in the children's television show, 'Sigmund and the Sea Monsters.' By the 1980s, her appearances in television series such as 'M*A*S*H,' 'The Love Boat,' 'Kolchak: The Night Stalker,' and 'Murder, She Wrote' made her an easily-recognizable character actress. In the 1990s, she appeared in 'Postcards From the Edge' and achieved the biggest success of her career in 'Sister Act' in 1992 as Sister Mary Lazarus. She reprised the role in the sequel 'Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit'. Her final acting credit was in the 1996 Disney film 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' as the voice of the gargoyle Laverne.
Hospitalized in 1995, Wickes died of a multitude of ailments fillowing surgery for a broken hip from a fall. She was 85 years old. She never married and left no immediate family.
She made her Broadway debut in 1934. Wickes began acting in films in 1939. One of her earliest notable film appearances was in 'The Man Who Came to Dinner' in 1942. She first attracted attention in the film 'Now, Voyager', also released in 1942, as the nurse. The same year, she had a large part in the Bud Abbott and Lou Costello comedy 'Who Done It?' She continued playing supporting roles in films during the next decade. In the 1950s, she played regular roles in the television sitcoms 'Make Room for Daddy' and 'Dennis the Menace.' She appeared in the holiday classic 'White Christmas' in 1954. In the 1960s and 1970s, she played frequent guest roles in each of her friend Lucille Ball's television series, 'I Love Lucy', 'Here's Lucy,' and 'The Lucy Show.' She appeared regularly in the children's television show, 'Sigmund and the Sea Monsters.' By the 1980s, her appearances in television series such as 'M*A*S*H,' 'The Love Boat,' 'Kolchak: The Night Stalker,' and 'Murder, She Wrote' made her an easily-recognizable character actress. In the 1990s, she appeared in 'Postcards From the Edge' and achieved the biggest success of her career in 'Sister Act' in 1992 as Sister Mary Lazarus. She reprised the role in the sequel 'Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit'. Her final acting credit was in the 1996 Disney film 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' as the voice of the gargoyle Laverne.
Hospitalized in 1995, Wickes died of a multitude of ailments fillowing surgery for a broken hip from a fall. She was 85 years old. She never married and left no immediate family.
Bio by: Iola
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Mary Isabella, daughter of Frank A.--M. Isabella Wickenhauser.
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