Beatrice Colen

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Beatrice Colen
BeatriceAsEtta.jpg
Beatrice Colen as Etta Candy on Wonder Woman
Born
Beatrice Colen Schneider

(1948-01-10)January 10, 1948
New York City, U.S.
DiedNovember 18, 1999(1999-11-18) (aged 51)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1974–1997
Known forHappy Days (1974–1978) & Wonder Woman, (1976–1977)
Spouse(s)Patrick Cronin, 1977–1999 (her death)
Children2

Beatrice Colen (January 10, 1948 - November 18, 1999) was an American television and film actress. Her most famous roles were Marsha Simms on Happy Days and Etta Candy on Wonder Woman.[1][2][3]

Early life[]

Colen was born to Anne and Bruce D Colen in New York City, New York. Both of her parents were of German Jewish descent. She was the granddaughter of playwright George S. Kaufman.[4]

Career[]

Starting in the 1970s, Colen landed roles early in her career in both film and television. On Happy Days, she starred as Milwaukee carhop Marsha Simms in seasons 1-3 and 5.[5]

She was the first actress to portray Etta Candy in the live action adaptation of the DC comic book series Wonder Woman.[6][7] After the pilot, she appeared only during the series' first season (1976–77), which were set during World War II. When the series was retooled and reset in modern times, the character was dropped.[8]

Colen acted in such television film as Schoolboy Father (1980), Brave New World, and in feature films such as Lifeguard, High Anxiety, American Pop, and Who's that Girl.

She also guest starred on a number of TV shows such as The Odd Couple, All in the Family, The Love Boat, Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974, premiere episode: "The Ripper"), Barney Miller (1981, episode: "The Rainmaker" and the 1975 episode: “Grand Hotel”), The Wonder Years, and Baywatch.

Her final television appearance before retiring was in a 1997 episode of Nickelodeon's The Secret World of Alex Mack.

Personal life and death[]

Colen was married to Patrick Cronin on October 23, 1977[9] and together they had two sons, James Cronin and Charlie Cronin. She died of lung cancer on November 18, 1999 in Los Angeles, California, at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.[10][11][12] Colen died on the opening night of Brentwood High School's production of The Man Who Came to Dinner, which was written by her grandfather, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright George S. Kaufman, and which starred her son, James Cronin, in the title role of Sheridan Whiteside. Her memorial service was held at Saint James Episcopal Church in Los Angeles ten days later.

Filmography[]

Film and Television
Year Title Role Notes
1973 Road Movie Feature film
1974 Kolchak: The Night Stalker Jane Plumm Episode: "The Ripper"
1974-1978 Happy Days Marsha Simms / Marsha / Waitress TV series (22 episodes)
1976 Lifeguard Judy Feature film
1976-1977 Wonder Woman Etta Candy TV series (13 episodes)
1977 High Anxiety Maid Feature film
1977 American Raspberry Mother Feature film
1981 American Pop Prostitute Feature film
1987 Who's That Girl Secretary Feature film
1988 Portrait of a White Marriage Mrs. Peaco Feature film

References[]

  1. ^ "Happy Days: Where Are They Now?". Sitecomesonline.com. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  2. ^ "Tribune Democrat Newspaper Archives, Nov 20, 1999, p. 39". NewspaperArchive.com. 1999-11-20. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  3. ^ "Post Herald And Register Newspaper Archives, Jan 1, 1977, p. 29". NewspaperArchive.com. 1977-01-01. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  4. ^ The New York Times, 12 Jan 1948, Birth Announcement.
  5. ^ "Joplin Globe Newspaper Archives, Jul 26, 1975, p. 33". NewspaperArchive.com. 1975-07-26. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  6. ^ "Valley Morning Star Newspaper Archives, Apr 21, 1976, p. 20". NewspaperArchive.com. 1976-04-21. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  7. ^ Galloway, Doug (1999-12-13). "Beatrice Colen". Variety. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  8. ^ "It's Cool, I Feel Fine". Trend Chaser. 2016-09-28. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  9. ^ "Patrick Cronin, Actor, Weds Beatrice Colen". The New York Times. 1977-10-24. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-03-04.
  10. ^ Beatrice Colen, known as the car-hop on roller skates at Arnold's Malt Shop on TV's "Happy Days," and as the "Wonder Woman" sidekick, Etta Candy, died of lung cancer at Los Angeles' Cedar Sinai Hospital Nov. 18. Ms. Colen was 51. https://archive.today/20140515172000/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/49123-Theatre-Mourns-Stage-Happy-Days-Actress-Beatrice-Colen-51
  11. ^ "Theatre Mourns Stage & 'Happy Days' Actress Beatrice Colen, 51 | Playbill". Playbill. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  12. ^ MARTINEZ, AL (1999-12-19). "Take Her Sweetly, Take Her Gently . . ". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2018-03-05.

External links[]

Preceded by
No actress 		Actresses to portray Etta Candy
1976–1977 		Succeeded by
Lucy Davis
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