- Born
- Died
- Birth nameGloria Kelly McMillan
- Gloria McMillan was born on March 13, 1933 in Portland, Oregon, USA. She was an actress, known for Centennial (1978), Our Miss Brooks (1952) and Our Miss Brooks (1956). She was married to Ron Cocking and Gilbert W. Allen. She died on January 19, 2022 in Huntington Beach, California, USA.
- SpousesRon Cocking(June 28, 1987 - January 19, 2022) (her death)Gilbert W. Allen(November 23, 1954 - 1974) (divorced, 4 children)
- Her acting mentor was the late Eve Arden.
- Surrogate daughter of Eve Arden.
- She started her career on radio at age four in Portland, OR.
- Her mother, who was the first female children's agent, booked her to work with some of the biggest names in the business.
- Best known by the public for her role as Harriet Conklin on Our Miss Brooks (1952).
- [on her on- and off-screen chemistry with Eve Arden, who played Miss Constance Brooks] And I'll never forget Eve, one day, went over to Wendell Lightman, who was using a big explicative about the light that didn't work, and she walked over to him, in a very, gentle manner, as she came down off the ladder, she said, 'We have a young teenager on- the set, and I won't allow that language, so I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't use the word [if].'
- [on Eve Arden] She had done many years of Broadway, in musicals, and did summer stock in theaters. She also did comedy in New York, at the beginning of her career and she was the epitome of her career; she was also a wonderful actress. She was my mentor, teacher and surrogate mother for so many years, taught me how to not use any language, not to backtalk her, just to become a professional actress. She even took me to a play. She was very, very good to me and was very great to me. We became friends and have been up until it was time for her to go--her passing. It was a wonderful experience.
- [asked if Eve Arden was particularly typecast after the run of "Our Miss Brooks"] I don't know about that . . . I know that she played the character, doing it very well. And [as actors] we enjoy doing something else and I think she enjoyed playing the character and teaching some kids valuable lessons.
- [Who responded if [Eve Arden] had any problems with her cast on [Our Miss Brooks (1952)]: Without going into any kind of detail, there were a couple of (2 or 3) times, in that run, where a member would have a challenge or a problem, in a personal life and Eve would always be there... we would always be there for each other and I don't believe that is true of a lot of groups of actors, that worked together. She was always there for us, we were always there for her, in times of need. You know, life happens, things go on in your life. Life isn't perfect and I think if you have a cast (as a family), we just kind of looked out for each other. And gosh, she was very unusual and I was a teenager, obviously and I would have these issues and just being a teen, I would have 'thought things,' and she talked to me and it would all just be great. She made sense to me about I was able to influence and I have to just say that. She guided all of us, as a leader... that's hard to explain, we were truly a unit. I guess that's maybe the best way to say it, answering all those years, all of us had issues, as with other family members that we lost or things would happen; and she was always there for us and I looked back on it's just the wonderful thing that I could have ever done.
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