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Historical Museum 
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Eddie
Cochran Legends
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Marion Ross was born on
October 25, 1928 in a small Minnesota community called Watertown. She
spent her early years growing up in the town of Waconia. After leaving
Waconia, the family moved to Willmar, Mn and later to Albert Lea, MN.
At the young age of 13, she changed the spelling of her name from
"Marian" to "Marion" because she thought it would look better on a
marquee. During the long cold winter nights in Albert Lea, she dreamed
of becoming an actress and moving to California where there was
something swell to do every day. After Marion completed her sophomore
year in high school, she moved to Minneapolis and took a job as an au
pair so she could take drama lessons at the MacPhail Center for the
Arts. After a year in Minneapolis, where she attended Southwest High
School, her family moved to San Diego, California, and Marion enrolled
in San Diego State College.
 As a freshman, Ross was named the school's most outstanding actress. She kept busy in many college plays until her graduation in 1950. Then she performed in summer theater in La Jolla, California. The director was quite impressed by her talent, and urg ed her to give Hollywood a shot. With the assistance of an old college professor, Ross worked her way into a contract for Paramount. In 1953, Ross made her big-screen debut in "Forever Female," where she appeared with Ginger Rogers. A steady stream of film work followed, including parts in "The Glenn Miller Story" (1954), "Sabrina" (1954), and "Operation Petticoat" (1959). But she was not destined for big-screen success; television would prove to be her medium. Ross' fame on the small screen began in 1953 when she played the Irish maid on the series "Life With Father" for two years. Her list of credits spans the history of classic TV, from "The Burns and Allen Show" to "Love Boat" and "Night Court." Marion Ross' prolific television career includes an exhaustive 400-plus appearances on different shows, in addition to her long-running role as Mrs. Cunningham on "Happy Days." "People have different
opinions about this, but I'll use it to my
advantage," says the actress best known as Marion Cunningham,
Ritchie
and Joanie's mom on Happy Days (1974-84). "If I call the plumber and he
says, 'I can't come right away,' I'll say, 'Did you ever watch Happy
Days? I'm Mrs. C, you know.' And not only does he get over here right
away, but he brings his entire
family."
Ross loves getting attention and having fans ask for autographs. "That's why I am an actress," she admits. "And Happy Days seems to have a whole new generation of fans because of the reruns. As I told Henry Winkler, 'It was Halloween, [and I opened] the door and there was a whole bunch of little Fonzies out there.'  Marion and Her Happy Days Farm truck which can be seen at the Freeborn County Historical Museum. Marion graciously donated her favorite truck to the museum. It is now part of the permanent Marion Ross Exhibit. Ross has acted on Broadway and in films, but she adores doing TV. In recent years, she played recurring roles as Drew Carey's mom on The Drew Carey Show and nasty Grandma Forman on That '70s Show. Ross lives in Los Angeles with actor Paul Michael, her beau of 15 years. "That's why I don't mind playing this assortment of old ladies. Because I have such a wonderful romance in my life." She has two grown kids in show business: actor Jim Meskimen's credits include How the Grinch Stole Christmas; Ellen Plummer is a writer/producer on Friends. Ross' fame also led to a nonacting job she savors. She's official spokeswoman for the town of Marion, Illinois. "They have me come to their town. They pay me money. And there on the water tower is my name, Marion. The bank has my name too: the Bank of Marion. I said, 'You shouldn't have gone to all this trouble!' It's too cute." Actress Marion Ross, star of the television show "Happy Days," center, reacts after the unveiling of her new star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles, Thursday, July 12, 2001. Honorary Hollywood Mayor Johnny Grant, left, and Leron Gubler, right look on as, left to right, "Happy Days' producer Garry Marshall and co-stars Tom Bosley, Erin Moran, Henry Winkler and Anson Williams, background look on. (AP Photo/E.J. Flynn) Information gathered from © 2001, Biography Magazine. http://www.biography.com and the Minneapolis Tribune and Marion Ross Biography  Photo courtesy of Adam Hammer/Albert Lea Tribune .  Albert Lea, MN Susquicentennial Parade Grand Marshal, Marion Ross, went by in a beautiful cream-colored convertible Packard Ultramatic, smiling and waving at the people of her hometown. Marion Ross greeted the thousands of people lining the streets of Albert Lea with an American flag during the 2006 Third of July Parade.  Drawing on fun-filled memories of her childhood in Albert Lea, actress Marion Ross gratefully accepted the dedication and official name change Saturday, June 7th, 2008 of the Albert Lea Civic Theatre into what will now be called the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center. She said when she thinks about who she is now and where she came from, it is the people of Albert Lea and the experiences she had here that have helped to lead her to her successes. "This is thrilling, beyond words for me," Ross said of the dedication. "It means so much for me to come here." In a tribute to Ross at the start of the dedication ceremony, her life-partner, Paul Michael, sang "The Impossible Dream." He talked of how Ross once was a 13-year-old girl from Albert Lea who had dreams of becoming a famous star. She got signed on to Paramount at the age of 21 and has blossomed ever since. "I donít think her dream included having a theater named after her," he joked.  Marion Ross reaches over to kiss the cheek of her life partner Paul Michael after he sang "The Impossible Dream" for Ross during the dedication.  Marion Ross cuts the ribbon during the dedication of the renamed Marion Ross Performing Arts Center in Albert Lea. Later that evening, Ross performed A.R. Gurneyís "Love Letters" with her life-partner Paul Michael. In lieu of an official visit, Governor Tim Pawlenty signed a proclamation that proclaimed Saturday as Marion Ross Day. Albert Lea Mayor, Randy Erdmann, presented Ross with a commemorative statue, which had inscribed on it that it was presented to "our star" in honor of the dedication. A framed, smaller version of the new sign on the north end of the building was also presented to Ross.  Photos and information above are courtesy of Brie Cohen and the Albert Lea Tribune. Marion Ross Current Month TV Schedule IMDB.com Click here for a list of films,
plays and TV series
Marion has appeared in. |
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