IDA LUPINO

February 4, 1914

Ida Lupino was born in Herne Hill, London, to actress Connie O’Shea and music hall comedian Stanley Lupino, a member of the theatrical Lupino family, which included Lupino Lane, a song-and-dance man. Her father, a top name in musical comedy in the UK and a member of a centuries-old theatrical dynasty, encouraged her to perform at an early age. He built a backyard theatre for Lupino and her sister Rita. Lupino wrote her first play at age seven and toured with a travelling theatre company as a child. By the age of ten, Lupino had memorized the leading female roles in each of Shakespeare’s plays. After her intense childhood training for stage plays, Ida’s uncle Lupino Lane assisted her in moving towards film acting by getting her work as a background actor at British International Studios.

Her first time on screen was in a minor, uncredited role in 1931′s The Love Race, starring her father Stanley.  This was the first and last time she went uncredited in a film. In 1934, she moved to Hollywood. 

She made her TV debut in an episode of the anthology series “The Ford Television Theatre” on February 25, 1954, co-starring with Jack Lemmon. Three months later she did a second episode of the series with her husband, Howard Duff. 

Lupino and Duff co-starred on the CBS series “Mr. Adams and Eve” from 1957 to 1958 (66 episodes).  The role earned her two Emmy nominations. 

Although they played themselves in “Lucy’s Summer Vacation” (LDCH S2;E5), their performances were greatly influenced by their sitcom work. 

The episode first aired on June 8, 1959. The premise has the Ricardos and the Duffs both thinking they are the only ones with access to a remote Vermont cabin. 

Once they realize they are a foursome instead of a couple, the girls plot to get the boys attention away from fishing and poker. 

Like many of Lucille Ball’s guest stars (Milton Berle, Victor Buono, Cesar Romero, Rudy Vallee, and Ethel Merman, to name just a few), Lupino and Duff became arch villains on “Batman” in 1968: Cabala and Dr. Casandra (above). Throughout the 1960s and ‘70s Lupino made many guest appearances on sitcoms including “Bewitched,” “Gilligan’s Island,” and “Family Affair.” 

In addition to being an accomplished actress, Lupino was a respected director. From 1949 to 1968, she directed more than 40 films and television programs, including three episodes of Desilu’s hit crime show “The Untouchables.”  

Before Howard Duff she was married to Louis Hayward and Collier Young. When Lupino filed for divorce from Young, she was already pregnant from an affair with future husband Howard Duff, whom she married in October 1951. Lupino and Duff divorced in 1983.

Her final screen appearance was in My Boys are Good Boys in 1979. She played Mrs. Morton, which was also Lucille Ball’s married name. 

In August 1995 she died of a stroke while battling colon cancer.