Interesting, overlooked, and significant obituaries from around the world, as they happen, emphasizing the positive achievements of those who have died. Member, Society of Professional Obituary Writers.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Mary Healy
Actress, singer, and entertainer -- via the New York Times. Largely unknown now, she was a huge part of latter-20th-century entertainment, particularly in tandem with her husband, comic/singer/actor Peter Lind Hayes. They starred in radio, on stage, in several TV outings, and in the unique Dr. Seuss-written feature film "The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T." They inaugurated the jingle "see the USA on your Chevrolet"! I remember as them on "What's My Line?"
They worked perfect together, and were an epitome of the husband-wife song-dance-and-variety team of 20th century entertainment. Hayes was the madcap, and Healey the straight partner, always lovely, always charming. He was Harlequin, she was Colombina, and they could sing, do a comedy sketch, dance, just banter, act out a serious scene -- whatever was needed. This kind of versatility and ease of interplay is something to be learned from.
