HELEN KLEEB

January 6, 1907

Helen Kleeb was born in South Bend, Washington. She

began acting on stage and on radio in Portland, Oregon, in the late 1920s. She is best remembered as Miss Mamie Baldwin (one of the moonshiner Baldwin Sisters) on “The Waltons” (1972-81) as well as in four Waltons specials. 

Her screen debut was also her television debut, at age 45, when she was featured on the anthology series “Rebound” on March 7, 1952. 

In 1955, she played Miss Klein secretary to MGM’s Mr. Reilly (Parley Baer) in “Ricky Needs an Agent” (ILL S4;E29) filmed on April 7, 1955 and first aired on May 16, 1955.  This was her only appearance on the series and the only time she acted opposite Lucille Ball. 

Coincidentally, Kleeb also appeared with Parley Baer in the a 1962 episode of “The Andy Griffith Show,” also shot at Desilu.

In mid-August 1955, Kleeb showed up on “I Love Lucy’s” summer replacement series, produced by Desilu, “Those Whiting Girls.” 

A year later, Kleeb was back at Desilu for their Western “The Sheriff of Cochise” in an episode titled “The Red-Haired Visitor.” No, that red-haired visitor was NOT Lucille Ball!

Continuing her annual visits to Desilu Studios, Kleeb did a September 1957 episode of “Date with the Angels” which was directed by James V. Kern, who’d performed the same job on the final two seasons of “I Love Lucy,” although William Asher directed Kleeb in “Ricky Needs an Agent.”

Two months later she was seen in an episode of “The Adventures of Jim Bowie” filmed at Desilu Studios. 

In June 1959, Kleeb was on Desilu’s “The Ann Sothern Show.” Four months later, Lucille Ball guest-starred on the series as Lucy Ricardo.

From 1960 to 1961, Kleeb played the recurring character of secretary Miss Claridge (above center) on Desilu’s “Harrigan and Son” doing 5 out of its 34 episodes. 

In 1962, she played a nurse on an episode of Desilu’s hit gangster series “The Untouchables.” This would be her final time appearing for Desilu, but she would continue acting on television, becoming a recognizable and best loved character actor. 

Her final screen credit was playing Miss Mamie Baldwin on “A Walton Easter” (1997). 

Kleeb was married to John Gerald Prendergast from 1937 to 1950 and Elmer Garrison from 1959 until her passing.  She died on December 28, 2003 at age 96.