Norma MacMillan was a native of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where she met, worked with, and married her producer/manager husband Thor Arngrim. Arngrim had established the now-legendary Totem Theatre company in 1951, which unfortunately ceased operations in 1954. Following its demise, Arngrim, his partner Stuart Baker, and MacMillan relocated to Toronto, where Norma secured voice-over work with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) due to her remarkable vocal versatility.
In her morning radio roles, Norma showcased her ability to portray saccharine characters, whereas in the evening, she brought depth and nuance to her portrayals of "disturbed children." After relocating to New York with her husband, MacMillan drew inspiration from the cartoon industry to voice Casper the Friendly Ghost, a character that would become iconic. Her extensive repertoire also included roles in popular shows such as Davey and Goliath (1960),The Gumby Show (1956),and many more.
In addition to her voice-over work, MacMillan lent her talents to the First Family comedy albums, voicing John-John and Caroline Kennedy in the early 1960s. Perhaps her most visible acting role was her portrayal of the sweet, demure, and naive aunt Martha opposite Ruth Manning's aunt Harriet in Kraft Foods mayonnaise commercials during the 1980s.
Throughout her life, Norma MacMillan remained committed to her craft, even after retiring to Vancouver with her husband in the mid-1990s. She continued to work, joining Co-Op's Radio's Sunday show for senior citizens and serving as a board member of the local 411 Seniors Centre.
Interestingly, both of MacMillan's children enjoyed the spotlight as children. Her daughter, Alison Arngrim, played Nellie in Little House on the Prairie (1974),while her son, Stefan Arngrim, portrayed Barry Lockridge on the short-lived 1968 television show Land of the Giants (1968).
