Mary Carlisle Dies at 104

Mary Carlisle, one of the last remaining adult actresses of 1930s Hollywood, has passed on at the age of 104.

Carlisle notably starred opposite Bing Crosby in three films, COLLEGE HUMOR (1933), DOUBLE OR NOTHING (1937), and DOCTOR RHYTHM.

Carlisle films previously reviewed here include MADAM SATAN (1930), in which she appeared at the costume party as Little Bo Peep; MURDER IN THE PRIVATE CAR (1934); and DANCE, GIRL, DANCE (1940). She was also in ROVIN' TUMBLEWEEDS (1939) with Gene Autry.

Carlisle retired from films in 1943. She had a second career with Elizabeth Arden and a long, happy marriage.

Lara Fowler remembers meeting Mary in a post at Backlots. On Twitter, reminisces of meeting the actress were shared by Karie Bible, Christina Rice, and Alan K. Rode.

Obituaries were published by The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, and The Washington Post.

Carlisle's contemporaries who are still with us include Olivia de Havilland, age 102, and Marsha Hunt, age 100. Patricia Morison passed on earlier this year at 103; French actress Danielle Darrieux, who worked in Hollywood in the '30s, died last fall at 100. (Update: Fay McKenzie, who I saw speak at the 2013 TCM Classic Film Festival, turned 100 earlier this year! Like Mary Carlisle, her films included '30s Westerns.)

Child actresses of the era remaining with us include Cora Sue Collins, Baby Peggy Montgomery, and June Lockhart. In the last few months we've lost Juanita Quigley at 86 and Ann Gillis at 90.

It's sad to see the great ladies of the classic film era pass from the scene. Farewell to the sweet and lovely Mary Carlisle.