A Tribute To Kelsey Mulrooney

 

Below is an article from the old AlligatorJuice.com vault. I used to do profiles of some of the entertainers who meant something to me. After learning earlier this year that Kelsey Mulrooney passed away in April of 2021, I wanted to post this again. It was originally published on my site in 2004. Kelsey herself once left a message on my guestbook saying she and her friend had stumbled across the page and had enjoyed looking at the old photos (see bottom of page.)

Kelsey appeared in many movies and shows in the 90s. You probably even saw her in one or two of them. I hope this article brings a little smile to those who fondly remember her work. For those that may have missed her talent, I hope this gives you a glimpse of it. May she rest in peace.

Published April 4, 2004....

Kelsey Mulrooney was one of those actresses that seemed to pop up in everything I watched. Beginning when she was six or seven years old, she made her way into feature films, TV movies, and about a dozen TV shows -- including two of my all-time favorites. I couldn't help but notice this kid, and as I followed her career, I noticed a lot of consistencies -- and a lot of growth -- in this young actress. My hope, in 2004, was that although she hadn't done much lately, if she continued in the acting field, she would start getting the credit she deserved. One of Kelsey's first gigs was on the 1994 TV series The Boys Are Back, a show that I watched from time to time thanks to my then-love for George Newbern. She played the granddaughter of Suzanne Pleshette and Hal Linden. The series aired on CBS and lasted all of one season. During the filming of this show (or perhaps the summer before it went on the air), Kelsey nabbed the role of Lottie in the feature film A Little Princess. Lottie, a classmate of main character Sara, had recently lost her mother, and was prone to screaming fits in order to express her inner pain. Sara helps her realize that even though her mother is gone, Lottie can still talk to her as if she was there. During the spring and summer of 1995, Kelsey was one busy little actress. She guest-starred on the TV series Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, which aired in May... ... and then went on to film the TV-movies The Great Mom Swap and the ratings-blockbuster The Christmas Box. In The Great Mom Swap, Kelsey played Tiffany, the younger sister of Karen, a snotty girl who, after a series of troublemaking incidents, is forced to temporarily switch families with her rival, Terri. Terri goes to live with Karen's family, and, having always been an only child, is not amused by Tiffany's antics, which include setting booby traps and telling constant knock-knock jokes. In The Christmas Box, Kelsey played Jenna, the only daughter of a young couple (Richard Thomas and Annette O'Toole) who go to work for a seemingly-grouchy elderly woman (Maureen O'Hara), who teaches them the value of making time for those you love. The movie was so popular it spawned a prequel the following year. In 1996, Kelsey made a guest appearance alongside Elliot Gould on the series Touched By An Angel. That same year, she also played young Norma Jean in the TV-film Norma Jean & Marilyn. In December, she guest-starred on the TV series The Pretender, playing a little girl named Angel, whose spirits are restored by Jarod after the loss of one of her pals. 1997 and 1998 were both busy years for Kelsey. She appeared in the feature film She's So Lovely as well as the film Second Chances. In addition, she did a TV special with Shelley Long called Melinda: First Lady of Magic, which was extremely cheesy but gave Kelsey the chance to do a little levitation. Not only that, in 1997 she made guest appearances on Promised Land and NYPD Blue. She also began a several-episode stint as Debbie Broots on The Pretender. In 1998, she appeared as Del's long-lost daughter on Caroline In The City. She would go on to appear (again, as a different character than before) on Touched By An Angel, as well as Providence.  In 2002, she played "Kimberly" in an episode of the WB series Do Over. Throughout the years, she has played so many different roles and has grown up in front of the cameras. But one thing has been pretty consistent -- she gets a lot of hugging roles! Here's proof... Hugging Dean Cain... Hugging Richard Thomas... Hugging Elliot Gould... About to hug Michael T. Weiss... Hugging Andrea Parker... And hugging Eric Lutes... You can check out Kelsey's page on the internet movie database, here. * * * * Kelsey Mulrooney: 1987-2021

Linkfest '14! (Or, 12 web pages I forgot I even bookmarked in the first place)

Looking to kill a few hours? Here are some fun reads from around the worldwide interwebs that I just happened to bookmark over the past few years.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The 33 Most Beautiful Abandoned Places In The World - My dreamscapes kind of look like these places. I wonder what that says about me?

Brickville Design Works - Robin Sather Photo Gallery - Tons of photos of epic Lego creations made by this one guy, who apparently has eight trillion bricks.

We Found Our Son In The Subway - A short, sweet, true story of a couple's eventual adoption of an abandoned infant one of them found in a subway station. D'aw, I love happy adoption stories.

Photos: Creepy, Abandoned Theme Parks - Exactly what it says.

How A World's Fair Pavilion Became A Family's Cabin - It's been 50 years since the New York World's Fair, and these folks are still living (in) it!

Nevada State Children's Home - Then And Now - The subject matter may not be the most pleasant, but the photographs are interesting/creepy... and the most fascinating part of all? The comments at the bottom... eight years worth of bittersweet memories.

Public Radio Reporter Interviews His Two Little Girls After One Gives The Other The 'Worst Haircut Ever' - This is sweet, and I like it a lot better than most of the too-cute-for-words kiddie Youtube videos out there. (This is just audio.)

Every Facebook Birthday Wall Ever - YEP. Very true, this.

Barbara Butler Custom Playgrounds - Gallery - Amazing work. Lucky kids.

Celebrity Twins - Some celebrities look eerily like other celebrities. I wonder if they all come from the same planet gene pool?

21 Jane Austen Movies And Miniseries Ranked - I may not agree with some of the rankings, and the list leaves out several films, but hey... if you're yearning to go All-Out Austen (and who isn't?), this list should give you a place to start (or continue).

16 Rare Harry Potter Illustrations From The Books' Artist - If you love Harry Potter, check this out. (Actually, if you love Harry Potter, you probably already have.)

My Top 14: Entertainers Who Are 80+

When I heard the news about Shirley Temple Black passing away recently, I began to think about other celebrities who are, well, um, you know... old. And because I love lists, I decided to make a list of entertainers/celebrities who are over 80, who are still with us. (So, obviously, not Shirley Temple Black. R.I.P.)

I started making this list on February 11th, 2014, and on February 12th, one of the people on it died.*

Yeeaahh.

DISCLAIMERS: If any of the following people die within the next few days or weeks, I didn't have anything to do with it. It was just an unlucky coincidence.

And about the rankings -- the numbers below are no reflection on how "important" I think the person is, or how good an entertainer they are, or anything beyond this: They mean something to me. So don't hurt me. Let's do this.

Note: Last updated 11/29/24.

MY TOP 14: ENTERTAINERS WHO ARE 80+

14.
Maureen O'Hara
Actress
b. 1920
(October, 2015: Escaped from the trappings of this mortal coil at age 95) 

One of my favorite movies as a kid was The Parent Trap, in which Maureen played the mom. She was so beautiful. Others may remember her from Miracle On 34th Street, McLintock!, or How Green Was My Valley. Maureen disappeared from the acting scene for nearly twenty years, but made a minor comeback in the 90s, including a starring role in the much-acclaimed TV-movie The Christmas Box, in which she plays an old lady who helps a young dad figure out what's important in life. 

13.
Betty White
Actress
b. 1922

(December, 2021: Had the last laugh at age 99)



Known for her many TV roles, Betty White has been stealing scenes and splitting sides since the 40's. Still going strong as of this writing, Betty recently starred on the TV series Hot In Cleveland, but is probably best known for playing Rose on Golden Girls. But I hardly ever watched Golden Girls. I know, I know... but I was just a kid when it was on. Still, I've seen her in other things over the years, including her hilarious turn on Community in 2010. Also, she's an advocate for animals, so I gotta love her for that!

12.
Debbie Reynolds
Actress
b. 1932
(December, 2016: Sang her swan song at age 84)

From Singin' In The Rain (1952) to In & Out (1997) and beyond, Debbie has been a force of high-spirited entertainment for more than 60 years. She voiced Charlotte in the 1970s cartoon classic Charlotte's Web, which I grew up on (of course, not having any idea at the time that she was famous.) Reading up on her years later, I learned she was married to Eddie Fisher (they had daugher Carrie, aka Princess Leia, in 1956) but that he left her for Elizabeth Taylor, citing true love (ha!). Well, who cares about them, you're the only one making this list, Debbie! (I know you care.)

11.
James Hong
Actor
b. 1929



James Hong may be the go-to guy any time any movie or TV show needs an older Asian dude, but it's for a good reason -- he's super good at what he does. James came to my attention appearing on many of my favorite TV shows over the years, including The Pretender, Lois & Clark, The Adventures Of Brisco County Jr., Friends... and only about a hundred others since 1955! He's even spry enough to still attend fan conventions -- I saw him last year at Wizard World in Portland. Not just a "hey, it's that guy!" anymore, James Hong is now a (somewhat underrated) Hollywood legend.


10.
Nancy Olson
Actress
b. 1928



When I was a kid, if you appeared in one kids' movie, you were just all right. But if you appeared in two, you were officially awesome. And Nancy Olson was in both Pollyanna and The Absent-Minded Professor, so, of course, I thought she was the cat's pajamas. One of the last surviving actresses from Pollyanna, Nancy earns a place on my list for being an icon from my childhood. (Which is not to say I don't still watch Pollyanna often, because I totally do.)


9.
John Williams
Composer
b. 1932

Superman, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Hook.

Yes, Hook.

John Williams is one of the most well-known film composers in the world, and even though some people will argue that he tends to re-use his own music, I challenge you to find a prolific composer who doesn't. Besides, even though I may slightly prefer the work of James Newton Howard and Alan Silvestri overall, I can't deny that John Williams' work is the most recognizable of any composer currently working today. (Plus, neither of them is over 80, so...)


8. James Tolkan
Actor
b. 1931



So, first of all: Mr. Strickland. I loved Back to the Future growing up, and heck, I still love it, and you can't help but love Mr. Strickland. Appearing in all three films in the franchise (in the third, as Mr. Strickland's ancestor, Marshal Strickland), James Tolkan/Mr. Strickland reminded us that we, no matter what we do, are slackers.

A dozen years later, James showed up on The Pretender, which had become one of my favorite shows. The double-length episode he appeared in would, coincidentally, become one of my favorite episodes. And so Mr. Strickland, uh, I mean James Tolkan, goes down in my book as being immensely cool.


7.
Dick Van Patten
Actor
b. 1928
(June, 2015: Decided 86 was enough)



I never watched Eight Is Enough (on which Dick Van Patten played the dad), but growing up, I knew of him from his small role in Freaky Friday and from his guest appearence on Lois & Clark in 1994. A few years ago, when I found out he'd written a book (Eighty Is Not Enough) I checked it out and really enjoyed it. The man has led a fascinating life, and he seems genuine and sweet.


6.
Sean Connery
Actor
b. 1930

(October, 2020: Broke away from the bonds of mortality at age 90) 



Sean Connery may be retired now, but his past speaks for itself: James Bond. Indiana Jones's dad. Surprise cameos in Kevin Costner movies that send me through the roof. And that accent! It's beautiful. He's awesome. Long live Sean Connery.


5.
 James Earl Jones
Actor
b. 1931 (September, 2024: Completed his circle of life at age 93)



James Earl Jones and Sean Connery could have a badassery contest, and I really don't know who'd win. But let's talk about James. The man's career has spanned television, film, stage, and, of course, voiceover work (he's both Darth Vader and Mufasa (Darthfasa!)) Other JEJ credits include The Sandlot, Field Of Dreams, and at least five episodes of Mathnet. And if you don't know what Mathnet is, just... go.


4.
  Angela Lansbury
Actress
b. 1925

(October 2022: Took her final ride through the sky at age 96)



All right, so I love Beauty and the Beast, and Angela having played Mrs. Potts, well, she automatically gets a spot on this list. But I was well aware of Angela Lansbury growing up, sitting in on the old folks' viewings of Murder, She Wrote and catching her in Bedknobs and Broomsticks. I, personally, would love to sit down and chat with Angela Lansbury over a spot of tea.


3.
Dick Van Dyke
Actor
b. 1925

Dick Van Dyke first came to my attention playing Bert in Mary Poppins. Some years later, my parents & I watched him on his long-running TV series Diagnosis Murder. (They probably remembered  him from The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-66)). With his long career of being funny and charming, I can't help but hope that my favorite chimney sweep/sidewalk-chalk artist/kite seller/mystery-solving doctor never goes away.


2.
Alan Young
Actor
b. 1919
(May, 2016: Went to that big money bin in the sky at age 96)



Mr. Ed was before my time, but DuckTales (in which Alan voiced Scrooge McDuck) came at exactly the right time for me to appreciate Mr. Young's talent. I also grew up watching Mickey's Christmas Carol and have seen The Time Machine several times. A few years ago, I found out he'd written a memoir, Mr. Ed and Me (later updated to Mr. Ed and Me and More), which I read, and which I loved. Like Dick Van Patten, Alan's memoir is interesting and funny and just a great read. He's written another book about show business, too, which I'm about to read. And perhaps the coolest thing of all? He voiced Scrooge McDuck in last year's video game DuckTales: Remastered! (Which I totally bought, you know I did.) And you know that adorable Scottish accent? He's still got it.

1.
  Beverly Cleary
Author
b. 1916

(March, 2021: Closed her final chapter at age 104)



Oh my freaking goodness, if this woman ever dies, I'm going to cry my eyes out. (ETA: WAHHH.) Even though she hasn't written anything in years, her past work is more than enough to put her at #1.

Reasons I Love Beverly Cleary

1. Ramona Quimby
First appearing as a minor (but hilariously naughty) character in the Henry Huggins books, Ramona soon branched out into a series of her own, and became one of the most relatable, sympathetic heroines in kid literature. She had fears -- of the usual things like dogs and the dark, but also of deeper things, like her parents' happiness and whether or not anyone loved her. She struggled to understand the adults in her life and often found things confusing and unfair. She was every kid, put into typewritten form.

2. Leigh Botts
Beverly Cleary won the Newbery Award for Dear Mr. Henshaw in the 80's, and for good reason -- it is excellent. So is its lesser-known sequel, Strider. Cleary captures the trials and angst of a boy who, over the course of the two books, goes from being a naive little kid, writing to his favorite author, to navigating high school and the world of girls.

3. A Girl From Yamhill and My Own Two Feet
Beverly Cleary's two memoirs are so vibrant, so compelling, so wonderful, that I've read them both multiple times. She was born in rural Oregon at the tail end of World War I. Later, her family moved to the suburbs, where they managed to make ends meet during the depression. In the second book, Beverly is off to college, then taking her first job, and meeting her future husband. Never dull, full of lively descriptions, and teeming with interesting glimpses into the lives of those in the early 20th century, these two memoirs show us that Mrs. Cleary wasn't just a children's book writer. She was a writer.

* * * * * * *

So that's my Top 14. You're probably thinking, hey, what about ---? Well, here's a list of some other people who are also 80+ and cool:

Maya Angelou (1928-2014)
Richard Sherman (1928-2024)
Fyvush Finkel (1922-2016)
Roy Dotrice (1923-2017)
 Ivy Bethune (1918-2019)
Al Molinaro (1919-2015)
Carol Channing (1921-2019)
Cloris Leachman (1926-2021)
Eva Marie Saint (1924-)
Lauren Bacall (1924-2014)
Ruby Dee (1922-2014)
June Lockhart (1925-)
Richard Erdman (1925-2019)
Katherine Helmond (1929-2019)
June Foray (1917-2017)
Ellen Albertini Dow (1913-2015)
Barbara Hale (1922-2017)
Robert Duvall (1931-)
William Goldman (1931-2018)
  James Garner (1928-2014)
Kirk Douglas (1916-)
Noel Neill (1920-2016)
Ed Asner (1929-2021)
Jerry Hardin (1929-)
Glynis Johns (1923-2024)
Florence Henderson (1934-2016)
Christopher Plummer (1929-)

Marsha Hunt (1917-2022)

Jean Marsh, Maggie Smith & Judi Dench were all 79 when I made this list.

*I started this list on February 11th, 2014, and before I could publish it, my original #13, Sid Caesar, died. :(

Where Are They Now: Minor Made-for-TV-Movie Actors Edition

When I think of all the made-for-TV movies I enjoyed as a kid, it saddens me that so many of the actors have slipped into the depths of obscurity. 

Or have they?

Maybe they've gone on to do great things, just... not in front of the camera. 

Perhaps they've earned university degrees... become directors... raised happy families... or have worked toward solving social problems.

Or maybe they're all dead.

HEY, LET'S FIND OUT TOGETHER!

Here are ten actors from TV-movies from my childhood or youth who I'm curious about.

- - - - - - - - - - -
1. Schuyler Grant

Known For: Playing Diana Barry in Anne Of Green Gables (1985), Anne Of Green Gables The Sequel (1987), and... that other one. She was originally up for the role of Anne, but was demoted to Diana when the producers decided that the actress playing Anne ought to be Canadian.

Schuyler Then:



Schuyler More Recently:

Yep, she's blonde. And a yoga instructor! It looks as though Schuyler hasn't done much acting besides Anne, save for an episode of Law & Order, a movie I've never heard of, and a brief stint on All My Children. She married in 1995 and has two children. 

- - - - - - - - - - -

2. Barret Oliver

Known For: Among other things, playing Dickon in The Secret Garden (1987). You also may remember him from D.A.R.Y.L. and The Neverending Story. His last film came out in 1989.

Barret Then:

Barret More Recently:

Uh, nope, sorry, not going to show you the photo I found on Google where -- if that IS indeed him -- he's rocking a hobo beard, and is crushing my childhood... crush. NOPE. WILL NOT ALLOW IT. 

Oh but wait, there's more....

According to Wikipedia: In his teens Oliver left acting to join the Church of Scientology's Sea Org and was stationed at its Gold Base compound.^[4] As is common practice among teenagers in the Sea Org, he married a fellow Scientologist at age 19.^[5][6] He has since divorced.^[7] Later Oliver became a printer and photographer specializing in nineteenth century processes such as collodion and Woodburytype. His work has been displayed in museum and gallery exhibitions and used in films. In 2007 he published A History of the Woodburytype.^[8]

Tears. Cold, brutal tears. MOVING ON....

- - - - - - - - - - -

3. Sophie Wilcox

Known For: Playing Lucy in the old-school Narnia series (1988-1989)

Sophie Then:

Sophie More Recently:

After Narnia, Sophie seemed to take a break from acting, returning for a brief stint in several 90's projects... then another hiatus... and finally a role in a 2011 film called Gangster Kittens.

Sorry, not those kind of kittens.

- - - - - - - - - - -

4. Whip Hubley

Known For: His role as Lancelot in the Keshia Knight-Pulliam version of A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court (1989). He also appeared in Top Gun and St. Elmo's Fire.

Whip Then:

Whip More Recently:

Now in his 50's, Whip is still acting. Over the years he's guest-starred on shows like Profiler, The Division, Charmed, The District, and he has a movie coming out this year called Drones. He is married and has three children.

- - - - - - - - - - -

 6. Lisa Jakub

Known For: Playing the daughter in the 1996 TV-movie Bermuda Triangle. She also played Robin Williams's daughter in Mrs. Doubtfire and appeared in Independence Day.

Lisa Then:

Lisa Now:

Well, check out her website (there's a photo of her there!) According to the site, she is now married, a writer, and enjoys traveling and yoga -- and acting, for her, is a thing of the distant past.

- - - - - - - - - - -

7. Ciarán McMenamin

Known For: Playing the adult David Copperfield in the 1999 BBC production of, um, David Copperfield.

Ciarán Then:

Ciarán Now:

In 2011, he got the lead role in the fifth season/series of the British TV show Primeval. He has also made a few feature films in recent years, but does not seem to have forgotten his TV-movie respect -- having made half a dozen since Copperfield. Nice, nice....

- - - - - - - - - - -

8. Jodelle Ferland

Known For: Her portrayal of a young girl who's lost her father in Mermaid (2000). She also played Hollis in Pictures Of Hollis Woods (2007).

Jodelle Then:

Jodelle More Recently:

From a role in the Twilight saga to the voice of Aggie in Paranorman to somewhere around a dozen movies in the last two years alone, yes -- this girl's still acting. She turned 18 in October.

- - - - - - - - - - -

9. Tasha Scott

Known For: Playing Jennifer, Candace Cameron's cabinmate in the crazypalooza Camp Cucamonga (1990). She also appeared in the legendary Troop Beverly Hills and guest-starred on Full House and Quantum Leap (which lended her some actual cred.)

Tasha Then:

Tasha Now:

A singer (who once competed on Star Search), Tasha has recorded several R&B songs in recent years.

- - - - - - - - - - -

10. Ryan Merriman

Known For: Being a TV-movie-starring fiend in movies like Everything That Rises (1998), Smart House (1999), The Luck of The Irish (2001), and A Ring Of Endless Light (2002) (and yes, I've seen them all). He also played "Young Jarod" on the TV series The Pretender and I had a huge crush on him, but felt awkward about it because he was -- gasp -- 3 years younger than me!

Ryan Then:

Ryan Now:

Hello.

Still acting, Ryan has seven (7!) movies coming out in 2013. He married at age 21, but is now divorced. He remains attractive.

- - - - - - - - - - -

(See Also: Where Are They Now: Minor Sitcom Stars Edition)

- - - - - - - - - - -