Introduction
Edith Marie Blossom MacDonald (August 21, 1895 – January 14, 1978), known as Blossom Rock, was an American actress of stage, film and television. She was occasionally billed as Marie Blake or Blossom MacDonald. Her younger sister was screen actress and singer Jeanette MacDonald.
Personal life
Blossom Rock was born on August 21, 1895 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was the second of three daughters born to Anna May (née Wright; July, 1871 – May 16, 1947) and Daniel MacDonald (April, 1869 – August 8, 1924). As a youth she performed on the vaudeville stage with her younger sister, Jeanette, and later with her husband, actor Clarence Rock, whom she married in 1926. They had no children. She also had an elder sister, Elsie MacDonald, with whom she appeared on-stage and in vaudeville.
Career
She later performed in films, credited as Marie Blake, appearing opposite Joan Crawford in her uncredited debut. Her first credited major part was Love Finds Andy Hardy. She became better known, however, as Sally, the hospital switchboard operator in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Dr. Kildare movie series. She later became famous (if not by name) for her television role playing "Grandmama" on The Addams Family.
Death
She died on January 14, 1978, in Los Angeles, California at age eighty-two. She was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.
Selected filmography
- Mannequin (1937)
- Dr. Kildare films as 'Sally' 1930s-1940s
- Jennie (1940)
- Good Morning, Judge (1943)