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Forever embraced as the muttering, bumbling Aunt Clara on the "Bewitched" (1964) television series, endearing character actress Marion Lorne had a five-decade-long career on the stage before ever becoming a TV household name.

Born Marion Lorne MacDougall, she grew up in her native Pennsylvania, the daughter of Scottish and English immigrants. Trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, she appeared in stock shows, and was on the Broadway boards by 1905. She married playwright Walter C. Hackett and performed in many of his plays throughout the 1920s and 1930s. They eventually settled in England where they founded the Whitehall Theater. It was there that Marion began to sharpen and patent her comedy eccentrics. Upon Hackett`s death in 1944, she returned to the States and became a hit in such tailor-made stage shows as "Harvey".

Marion made a definitive impression in her movie debut at age 60+ with Alfred Hitchcock`s immortal suspenser Strangers on a Train (1951) as murderer Robert Walker`s clueless, smothering mother. Surprisingly Hollywood used her only a couple more times after that auspicious movie debut -- a grievously sad waste of a talented comedienne. Marion quickly turned instead to TV and proved a dithery delight in such sitcoms as "Mister Peepers" (1952) and "Sally" (1957), gaining quirky comedy status as well her regular appearance on the "The Garry Moore Show" (1958).

It was, however, her hilarious role as the befuddled witch-aunt on "Bewitched" (1964) -- whether bouncing into walls or conjuring up some unintended piece of witchcraft -- that put a lasting sheen on her long career. For that role she deservedly won an Emmy trophy for "Best Supporting Actress Award" -- albeit posthumously. Sadly, Marion succumbed to a heart attack just ten days before the actual ceremony in 1968. The star of the series, Elizabeth Montgomery, accepted the award on her behalf.

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