McComas, Carroll

Actress Carroll McComas, daughter of Charles Carroll McComas and actress, Alice Moore McComas, began her career as a singer, dancer and whistler in vaudeville.

Her first "regular production", so termed by McComas, was in Charles Frohman's THE DOLLAR PRINCESS. For the next few years she played in both drama and musical comedy and was a success in the title role of MISS LULU BETT. Her association with Walter Hampden brought other successful roles in THE JOLLY ROGER, CYRANO DE BERGERAC and THE RING OF TRUTH.

In 1930, McComas left the theater to marry Selskar Gunn, vice president of the Rockefeller Foundation. After her husband's death in 1944, she returned to the stage appearing in the USO tour of OUR TOWN with Raymond Massey. Other roles were in ARMS AND THE MAN, DESIGN FOR A STAINED GLASS WINDOW and as an ANTA guest artist in THE GLASS MENAGERIE. Her last New York appearance was in 1959 in THE INNOCENTS. McComas also appeared on television playing the Nurse opposite Susan Strasberg in ROMEO AND JULIET and in numerous motion pictures, including JAMAICA RUN and THE MIRACLE WORKER. Carroll McComas died in 1962 of a heart attack.

From the description of Carroll McComas papers, 1914-1962. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122378821

Actress Carroll McComas was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the daughter of Judge Charles Carroll McComas, a direct descendent of Charles Carroll, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and Alice Moore McComas, a writer, actress and suffragist. McComas began her career as a whistler in vaudeville when she was thirteen.

Her first "regular production", as she called it, was in Charles Frohman's The Dollar Princess . For the next few years she played in both drama and musical comedy and was a success in the title role of Miss Lulu Bett . Her association with Walter Hampden brought other successful roles in The Jolly Roger, Cyrano De Bergerac and The Ring of Truth .

In 1930, Ms. McComas left the theater to marry Selskar Gunn, vice president of the Rockefeller Foundation . After her husband's death in 1944, she returned to the stage appearing in the USO tour of Our Town with Raymond Massey . Other roles were in Arms and the Man, Design for a Stained Glass Window and as an ANTA guest artist in The Glass Menagerie . Her last New York appearance was in 1959 in The Innocents . McComas also appeared on television playing the Nurse opposite Susan Strasberg in Romeo and Juliet and in numerous motion pictures, including Jamaica Run and The Miracle Worker . Carroll McComas died in 1962 of a heart attack.

From the guide to the Carroll McComas papers, 1914-1962, (The New York Public Library. Billy Rose Theatre Division.)