Catherine McLeod, a Scottish descendant, was a self-proclaimed movie enthusiast since childhood, growing up during the Great Depression. Born on July 2, 1921, in Santa Monica, California, she received convent training and later pursued a career in the entertainment industry.
Initially, Catherine worked as a theater cashier in Dallas before returning to Los Angeles, where she enrolled in an acting school. Her talent was discovered by a scout, who subsequently signed her to an MGM contract in 1944.
Throughout her early career, Catherine primarily secured small roles, which culminated in her finest showcase to date. In the 1946 romantic drama "I've Always Loved You," she portrayed a character who evolved from a naive 18-year-old to an embittered 45-year-old woman, set to classical music.
In comparison, most of her co-starring "B" roles were loanouts and less demanding in scope. She appeared alongside Elizabeth Taylor in "Courage of Lassie" (1946),Don Ameche in "That's My Man" (1947),and Bill Elliott in "The Fabulous Texan" (1947) and "Old Los Angeles" (1948). Catherine also starred in "So Young, So Bad" (1950) opposite Paul Henreid, "My Wife's Best Friend" (1952) alongside Anne Baxter, "Sword of Venus" (1953) with Robert Clarke, and "A Blueprint for Murder" (1953) behind Jean Peters.
Finding her film career unfulfilling, Catherine transitioned to television, appearing in plays and anthologies such as "Lux Theatre," "Schlitz Playhouse," and "Alcoa Theatre." She also took on roles in crime programs like "Richard Diamond," "Perry Mason," and "77 Sunset Strip," as well as westerns like "Bronco," "Colt.45," and "Maverick" during the mid-1950s and 1960s.
Catherine's personal life was marked by her second marriage to actor Don Keefer in 1950, with whom she had three sons: Don (born 1953),John (born 1955),and Tom (born 1962). John and Tom would later find work behind the scenes in the industry.
In the following decade, Catherine shifted her focus to soap operas, appearing on programs such as "Search for Tomorrow" (1951),"General Hospital" (1963),and "Days of Our Lives" (1965). She is perhaps best remembered for her commercial work, particularly the Anacin advertisement where she plays a harried homemaker struggling to cook dinner, exclaiming, "Mother, please! I'd rather do it myself!"
Catherine's final film appearance was a minor role in the 1976 thriller "Lipstick." She passed away on May 21, 1997, at the age of 75.
