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Carole Cook, born Mildred Frances Cook, was an American actress who played Grandma Helen in the 1984 film Sixteen Candles. She was born in Abilene, Texas, in 1924 and passed away in 2023 at the age of 98. Cook's career spanned both stage and screen, with appearances on television shows like The Lucy Show and in films like The Incredible Mr. Limpet and American Gigolo. She was also a protégé of Lucille Ball, who helped launch her career and even suggested she change her first name to Carole, after her favourite actress Carole Lombard.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Mildred Frances Cook |
| Known Professionally As | Carole Cook |
| Date of Birth | 14 January 1924 |
| Place of Birth | Abilene, Texas |
| Date of Death | 11 January 2023 |
| Role in Sixteen Candles | Grandma Helen |
| Other Notable Roles | Don Knotts' wife Bessie Limpet in The Incredible Mr. Limpet, Mrs. Peacham in The Threepenny Opera, Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly! |
| Spouse | Tom Troupe |
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What You'll Learn
Carole Cook played Grandma Helen in Sixteen Candles
Carole Cook, born Mildred Frances Cook, was an American actress from Texas. She was best known for her appearances on Lucille Ball's comedy television series The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy. She also had a successful film career, with roles in Sixteen Candles, The Incredible Mr. Limpet, American Gigolo, and more.
In Sixteen Candles, Carole Cook played Grandma Helen, the touchy-feely grandmother of Molly Ringwald's character, Samantha. She is known for an infamously inappropriate scene where she grabs at her granddaughter's budding curves.
Cook's career was launched by Lucille Ball, who changed her first name from Mildred to Carole in honour of the actress Carole Lombard. Ball also convinced Cook to move to California to work for her production company, Desilu Studios.
In addition to her film career, Cook also had a successful career on Broadway. She was the second actress to portray Dolly Levi in Hello, Dolly!, and she originated the role of Maggie Jones in the Tony Award-winning musical 42nd Street. She also appeared in the original Broadway productions of Romantic Comedy and 82nd Street.
Carole Cook passed away from heart failure in Beverly Hills, California, on January 11, 2023, at the age of 98.
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Helen was Molly Ringwald's character's grandmother
Carole Cook, born Mildred Frances Cook, played the role of Grandma Helen, Molly Ringwald's character's grandmother, in the 1984 film Sixteen Candles. She was a stage and screen actor, best known for her appearances on Lucille Ball's comedy television series The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy. She also appeared on Broadway and played other notable film roles, including The Incredible Mr. Limpet, American Gigolo, and Hello, Dolly!
In Sixteen Candles, Cook's character, Grandma Helen, is the grandmother of Samantha, played by Molly Ringwald. Helen is a touchy-feely grandmother who exclaims over her teenage granddaughter Samantha's budding curves in an infamously inappropriate scene. The film also starred actors such as John Cusack, Joan Cusack, Jami Gertz, and Debbie Pollack, among others.
Cook's career began in regional theatre after graduating from Baylor University, where she studied Greek drama. She moved to New York in 1954 and made her theatrical debut in 1956, playing Mrs. Peacham in the off-Broadway production of The Threepenny Opera. She was appearing in Kismet in Warren, Ohio, when she received a call from Lucille Ball, who invited her to California to audition for her Desilu Workshop company of young actors. Cook changed her first name from Mildred to Carole in honour of Ball's favourite actress, Carole Lombard.
Cook's career spanned decades and included numerous turns on Broadway and appearances in popular films. She died of heart failure in Beverly Hills, California, on January 11, 2023, at the age of 98, just three days before her 99th birthday. Her husband, actor Tom Troupe, announced her death.
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She was Lucille Ball's protégé
Carole Cook, born Mildred Frances Cook, was a famous actress known for her appearances on Lucille Ball's comedy television series The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy. She was also famous for her film roles in Sixteen Candles, The Incredible Mr. Limpet, American Gigolo, and many others.
Cook was born in Abilene, Texas, on January 14, 1924, and started acting at a very young age. She worked her way up from local theatre to Broadway and then movies. In 1954, she made her theatrical debut in New York, playing Mrs Peacham in the off-Broadway production of The Threepenny Opera. She was appearing in Kismet in Warren, Ohio, when she received a call from Ball, who had read a review of her performance in Annie Get Your Gun. Ball asked her to come to California to audition for her Desilu Workshop company of young actors. Ball also convinced her to change her first name from Mildred to Carole in honour of the actress she most admired, Carole Lombard.
Cook and Ball's mentorship blossomed into a deep bond, with Ball serving as the matron of honour at Cook's wedding to actor Tom Troupe. Cook always credited Ball with shaping not just her career but also her outlook on life. She often said, "Lucy taught me to love myself first". Ball taught her the importance of thinking on her feet and embracing her unique humour.
Cook worked alongside Ball on 18 episodes of The Lucy Show from 1963 to 1968, often playing Lucy Carmichael's friend Thelma Green. She also appeared in five instalments of CBS's Here's Lucy from 1969 to 1974. She portrayed the wife of Don Knotts' character in The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964) and was Molly Ringwald's Grandma Helen in Sixteen Candles (1984).
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Cook was in multiple Broadway productions
Carole Cook played Grandma Helen, Molly Ringwald's touchy-feely grandmother, in the 1984 film Sixteen Candles.
In addition to her film and television work, Cook was a Broadway and screen actress. She was in the original casts of Threepenny Opera, 42nd Street (originating the role of Maggie Jones), A Romantic Comedy, and Radio Gals. She also made her New York cabaret debut at the age of 94, singing numbers from Sondheim to Coleman and sharing anecdotes from her career.
Cook's career began in 1945 when she graduated from Baylor University, where she studied Greek drama. She then worked in regional theatre and made it to New York in 1954, appearing in an off-Broadway revival of Threepenny Opera. In 1956, she made her theatrical debut, as mentioned above.
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She also appeared in several TV shows
Carole Cook, who played Grandma Helen in Sixteen Candles, had a prolific career in television. She appeared in several TV shows, including Lucille Ball's comedy series The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy. She often played Lucy Carmichael's friend Thelma Green in The Lucy Show and was a series regular on Here's Lucy, appearing in five episodes from 1969 to 1974.
Cook also made guest appearances on popular television shows such as Darkroom, Knight Rider, Emergency!, Magnum, P.I., McMillan and Wife, Murder, She Wrote, Charlie's Angels, and Cagney & Lacey, where she played Donna La Mar, the girlfriend of Charlie Cagney (Dick O'Neill). She showed her versatility by taking on a variety of roles, including playing the ex-wife of Walter Findlay (Bill Macy) on Maude and the bar owner of the cop hangout Stella's on Kojak.
In addition to these guest roles, Cook also had a starring role in a Season 4 episode of Hart to Hart. She demonstrated her comedic talent and range by portraying a variety of characters, from bar owners to girlfriends and ex-wives, leaving a lasting impression on audiences and contributing to a diverse and successful career in television.
Later in her career, Cook appeared in the long-running medical drama Grey's Anatomy, showcasing her ability to take on dramatic roles and reach new audiences. Her presence on television screens spanned several decades, and her work continues to be remembered and celebrated.
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Frequently asked questions
Carole Cook played Grandma Helen in Sixteen Candles.
Helen's granddaughter, Samantha, was played by Molly Ringwald.
Carole Cook is also known for her roles in The Incredible Mr. Limpet, American Gigolo, and The Gauntlet.
