Kathleen Freeman
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Notes
She refuses to give her exact age, for fear of its connotations and disputes several film reference books that say she is 80. "I used to lie about my age, making myself older for roles," she scoffed. "And they took me seriously." --From "'The Full Monty': Been Around? Yep, and Goin'" by Jesse McKinley in The New York Times, January 5, 2001
At the time of her death, Ms. Freeman's age was reported variously as 78 and 82.
Biography
A character player, instantly recognizable and long beloved for her prolific assortment of portrayals of steely mothers, dour maids and hard-hearted Hannahs, Kathleen Freeman actually began her career just out of diapers as part of her parents' vaudeville act. The petite, stout performer formed her own theater company and was acting in "Ethan Frome" when she was spotted by talent scouts and signed for the movies. Freeman's early film career began with numerous nameless roles in the late 1940s and 50s in such films as "The Naked City" (1948), "Dream Wife" (1953) "The Fly" (1958). She was especially memorable in a hilarious supporting role in "Singin' in the Rain" (1952) as the voice teacher of Jean Hagen. The actress also enjoyed a 10 film collaboration with Jerry Lewis ranging from "Three Ring Circus" (1954) through "The Nutty Professor" (1963) and "The Disorderly Orderly" (1964) and winding up with "Which Way to the Front?" (1970).
In her long and prolific career (with some 100 features and several hundred TV shows to her credit), Freeman always proved the stalwart character player whether playing a frontierswoman ("The Ballad of Cable Hogue" 1970) or an officious clerk ("Teen Wolf Two" 1987). She has been a frequent presence on the small screen as well with regular roles on several series ("Topper," CBS 1953-54; "It's About Time," CBS 1966-67; "The Beverly Hillbillies," CBS 1969-71) and TV-movies (e.g., "The Last Ride of the Dalton Gang," NBC 1970). One of Freeman's better-remembered battleaxes was her Sister Mary Stigmata from "The Blues Brothers" (1980) and "Blues Brothers 2000" (1998). In a similar spoof vein, "Dragnet" (1987) saw her as a belligerent landlady, and "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult" (1994) presented her as the tougher-than-leather mother of Fred Ward.
Throughout her distinguished career, Freeman also acted on stage and was featured in tours of such hits as "Deathtrap," "Woman of the Year" and "Annie" (playing Miss Hannigan). In 2000, she landed perhaps her best role ever as the crusty but lewd piano player Jeanette Burmeister (who just shows up one day out of the blue) in the hit musical "The Full Monty." Her second act opening number "Jeanette's Showbiz Number" proved one of the more memorable moments of the show and brought a richly deserved Tony nomination for the veteran performer.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Film Production - Main (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Cast (Short)
Life Events
1926
Joined parents in their vaudeville act when she was 2 1/2 (date approximate)
1948
Film debut in one-line part ("Read about that bathtub murder?") in "The Naked City"
1948
Starred in the short "Annie Was a Wonder"
1951
Acted in "A Place in the Sun"
1952
Made uncredited appearance in "Singin' in the Rain"
1953
Played 'Happy' Stella Kowalski in "The Affairs of Dobie Gillis"
1953
TV series debut, "Topper" (CBS), played the maid Katie
1954
Made first of 10 features with Jerry Lewis, "Three Ring Circus"
1954
Had regular role on "Mayor of the Town" (syndicated)
1955
Co-starred in "Artists and Models", starring Lewis
1958
Appeared as a neighbor on "The Donna Reed Show" (ABC)
1958
Had supporting role in "The Fly"
1961
Reteamed with Jerry Lewis in "The Errand Boy" and "The Ladies' Man"
1963
Supported Lewis in "The Nutty Professor" and "Who's Minding the Store?"
1964
Again worked with Lewis in "The Disorderly Orderly"
1966
Eight teaming with Jerry Lewis, "Three on a Couch"
1969
Acted in "Support Your Local Sheriff" and again reteamed with Jerry Lewis for "Hook, Line and Sinker"
1970
Tenth and last film with Lewis, "Which Way to the Front?"
1970
Co-starred in "Myra Breckinridge"
1971
Cast as a nosy landlady on the short-lived CBS sitcom "Funny Face", starring Sandy Duncan
1975
Played a policewoman in "The Strongest Man in the World"
1978
Broadway debut in "13 Rue de l'Amour"
1979
Appeared as the mother of bank robbers in the NBC Western movie "The Last Ride of the Dalton Gang"
1980
Had supporting role as a nun in "The Blues Brothers"
1987
Acted in "Dragnet"
1988
Played Ma in the TBS update of "Our Gang"
1988
Was the third secretary of "Murphy Brown" (CBS)
1990
Provided a character voice in "Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland"
1992
Voiced the First Elder in "FernGully: The Last Rainforest"
1994
Co-starred in "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult"
1995
Made several appearances on the Fox sitcom "Married ... With Children", playing Al Bundy's mother-in-law
1998
Reprised role of Sister Mary Stigmata in "Blues Brothers 2000"
2000
Delivered showstopping turn as a pianist (who just showed up one day) in the stage musical "The Full Monty"; earned Tony nomination
Videos
Movie Clip
Trailer
Companions
Bibliography
Notes
She refuses to give her exact age, for fear of its connotations and disputes several film reference books that say she is 80. "I used to lie about my age, making myself older for roles," she scoffed. "And they took me seriously." --From "'The Full Monty': Been Around? Yep, and Goin'" by Jesse McKinley in The New York Times, January 5, 2001
At the time of her death, Ms. Freeman's age was reported variously as 78 and 82.
In addition to her many film credits, Ms. Freeman has toured extensively in stage productions like "Deathtrap", "Annie" (as Miss Hannigan) and "Woman of the Year".
"I think I'm a living example of the fact that you don't have to be in every inch of a film or play to be important to it. And let's be candid here: I never felt any great personal beauty. I guess I was awfully pretty at some point, but funny was always my book." --Kathleen Freeman quoted in The New York Times, January 5, 2001
"I'm not interested in ever showing up without doing my best. I've been trained. You've got to be great every time, not once." --Kathleen Freeman to Michael Buckley at www.broadwayonline.com, May 22, 2001.
