Gloria Henry.Photo: CBS via Getty
Gloria Henry, best known for her role as family matriarch Alice Mitchell in the hit ’50s and ’60s sitcomDennis the Menace, has died. She was 98.
Henry’s daughter, Erin Ellwood, confirmed toThe Hollywood ReporterandVarietythat her actress mom died on Saturday, just one day after Henry’s birthday. She also confirmed the news in a heartfelt Instagram post on Easter Sunday.
“She’s flying now, free of her body,” Ellwood wrote alongside a photo of Henry standing in front of a mural featuring outspread angel wings in Los Angeles. “She left on a countdown 4 3 2 1 @ 3:40pm. She was such an incredible woman in so many ways. This last year with her has been beautiful and heartbreaking.”
Ellwood shared a second Instagram post in honor of her mother on Monday and asked her followers to consider donating towards an animal advocacy group in honor of Henry. “I would like to ask a favor of you all … My mother was a huge animal advocate, she worked as a docent at the LA zoo for over two decades, as well as MPTF- the organization that Doris Day funded,” she wrote. “If you feel so moved to do so, please donate to the animal advocacy group of your choice in my mother’s name - nothing would make her happier! Thank you 💥#gloriahenry.”
Gloria Henry in Dennis the Menace.CBS via Getty
Born in New Orleans on April 2, 1923, Henry began her acting career with Columbia Studios in 1946, landing the lead female role in the 1947 horse racing filmSport of Kings. She went on to appear in films likeRancho Notorious,Triple ThreatandMiss Grant Takes Richmond, which she starred in opposite Lucille Ball.
In 1959, Henry began playing Alice Mitchell, the mom of Jay North’s Dennis Mitchell, in the CBS sitcomDennis the Menace. The series, which was based on Hank Ketcham’s comic, also starred Herbert Anderson, Joseph Kearns, Jeannie Russell, Gale Gordon, Sylvia Field, and Sara Seegar.
“Many of the fans say, ‘Oh, I always wished you were my mom’ and ‘My mom was jealous of you, because I wanted you for a mom,'” Henrysaidof her beloved character in a 2011 interview. “Which is pretty funny, because I don’t think my own children felt that way.”
Gloria Henry.CBS via Getty
Her final acting appearance was in a 2012 episode ofParks and Recreation.
source: people.com
