Gloria Henry’s best-known role would be in one of the quintessential ‘50s family sitcoms, but she was also a lovely leading lady in some likable little films of the ‘40s. Before getting her start in films, Gloria Henry worked in commercials, radio, and small theater groups before Columbia signed her to a contract. She started out as a leading lady instantly in Columbia’s “B” films. One of her first films was the Bulldog Drummond entry with Ron Randell, Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back (1947), which unfortunately did not live up to the previous film entries from Paramount. Henry, however, continued to work as a leading lady, especially in some solid westerns such as the Phil Karlson film, Adventures in Silverado (1948) with William Bishop and the Gene Autry vehicle The Strawberry Roan (1948), which was his first Cinecolor outing. While Henry continued acting as leading lady in lower budgeted films from the studio, such as her own starring Air Hostess (1949), she played supporting parts in more ambitious films from Columbia, such as Johnny Allegro (1949) with George Raft and Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949) with Lucille Ball and William Holden.
At the end of the ‘40s decade, Henry also worked as leading lady to the legendary country singer Eddy Arnold in Feudin’ Rhythm (1949) and worked in another Autry winner, Riders in the Sky (1949). Into the ‘50s, Henry worked with Wayne Morris, Charles Starrett, and, notably, William Bendix in the comedy Kill the Umpire (1950). Other larger scale pictures where she was given smaller roles included Al Jennings of Oklahoma (1951), which was a vehicle for the always wonderful Dan Duryea, and the tough-as-nails Fritz Lang western Rancho Notorious (1952). In the latter, she had a small but very effective and memorable role as Arthur Kennedy’s fiancée in the beginning. The color cinematography also really brought out how lovely and innocent her eyes were. As the ‘50s went on she worked more in television, but still found time for a few films, including the early Charles Bronson starrer Gang War (1958).
From the ‘50s on, Henry mostly spent her time on the small screen compared to the big one. She guest starred on such shows as The Abbott and Costello Show, Mr. & Mrs. North, Father Knows Best, Perry Mason, The Life of Riley, Broken Arrow, The Thin Man, Hazel, and The Farmer’s Daughter. She was also in the short-lived series The Files of Jeffrey Jones and had a reoccurring role in My Little Margie before she found a more permanent gig playing Dennis the Menace’s mother in Dennis the Menace. Both Henry and Herbert Anderson as Dennis’s father had to deal with his antics (often aimed at Mr. Wilson) for four seasons. Henry’s career continued in the ‘80s after a hiatus with more TV and film work, including on Dallas and Doogie Howser, M.D. Henry’s final acting role was a role in an episode of the acclaimed comedy Parks and Recreation in 2012. She died yesterday after just turning 98 years old.
~Bianca
The Tinseltown Twins 