Rosemary Shirley DeCamp, a quintessential embodiment of the quintessential small-town American mother, exuded a calming and steadying presence in a plethora of films throughout the 1940s and 1950s. Prior to her Hollywood arrival, she had already established a successful career on the stage and in radio, making her film debut in 1941. Throughout her career, she worked for numerous studios, yet she was most closely affiliated with Warner Bros., for whom she made numerous pictures, often portraying a young mother or the friend or sister of the heroine. One of her most iconic roles was likely as the mother of George M. Cohan, played by James Cagney, in the timeless classic Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942). In addition to her extensive work in film, DeCamp also made significant contributions to television, serving as a regular cast member on The Bob Cummings Show (1961) and playing the mother of Marlo Thomas on That Girl (1966).
Personal Details
BornNov 14, 1910 Prescott, Arizona, USA
Parents
- William Valentine DeCamp
- Margaret Elizabeth DeCamp
Biography
Career
{"id":63729,"title":"Saturday the 14th","year":"1981","character":"Aunt Lucille","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/saturday-the-14th","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_63729.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_63729.jpg"},"released":1}
1981

Saturday the 14th as Aunt Lucille
{"id":10035,"title":"Simon & Simon","year":1981,"character":"","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/simon-simon","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_10035.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_10035.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":10085,"title":"Buck Rogers in the 25th Century","year":1981,"character":"Buck's Mother","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/buck-rogers-in-the-25th-century","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/shows\/poster\/2cq0lv10mdsg.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/shows\/poster\/2cq0lv10mdsg.jpg"},"released":1}

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century as Buck's Mother
{"id":103834553,"title":"Blind Ambition","year":1979,"character":"Maureen Dean's Mother","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/blind-ambition","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_103834553.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_103834553.jpg"},"released":1}
1979

Blind Ambition as Maureen Dean's Mother
{"id":86002,"title":"The Time Machine","year":"1978","character":"Agnes","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-time-machine-1978","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_86002.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_86002.jpg"},"released":1}
1978

The Time Machine as Agnes
{"id":8573,"title":"The Love Boat","year":1977,"character":"Cynthia Loudon","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/the-love-boat","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_8573.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_8573.jpg"},"released":1}
1977

The Love Boat as Cynthia Loudon
{"id":10351,"title":"That Girl","year":1966,"character":"","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/that-girl","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_10351.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_10351.jpg"},"released":1}
1966
{"id":8682,"title":"The Beverly Hillbillies","year":1962,"character":"Priscilla Rolfe Alden Smith-Standish","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/the-beverly-hillbillies","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_8682.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_8682.jpg"},"released":1}
1962

The Beverly Hillbillies as Priscilla Rolfe Alden Smith-Standish
{"id":10462,"title":"Rawhide","year":1961,"character":"Mrs. Armstrong","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/rawhide","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_10462.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_10462.jpg"},"released":1}
1961

Rawhide as Mrs. Armstrong
{"id":82295,"title":"13 Ghosts","year":"1960","character":"Hilda Zorba","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/13-ghosts","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_82295.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_82295.jpg"},"released":1}
1960

13 Ghosts as Hilda Zorba
{"id":66877,"title":"Strategic Air Command","year":"1955","character":"Mrs. Thorne","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/strategic-air-command","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_66877.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_66877.jpg"},"released":1}
1955

Strategic Air Command as Mrs. Thorne
{"id":32370,"title":"Many Rivers to Cross","year":"1955","character":"Lucy Hamilton","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/many-rivers-to-cross","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_32370.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_32370.jpg"},"released":1}

Many Rivers to Cross as Lucy Hamilton
{"id":103831568,"title":"Climax!","year":1955,"character":"Eleanor Farrington","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/climax","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_103831568.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_103831568.jpg"},"released":1}

Climax! as Eleanor Farrington
{"id":67842,"title":"Main Street to Broadway","year":"1953","character":"Mrs. Harry Craig","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/main-street-to-broadway","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_67842.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_67842.jpg"},"released":1}
1953

Main Street to Broadway as Mrs. Harry Craig
{"id":67760,"title":"By the Light of the Silvery Moon","year":"1953","character":"Alice Winfield","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/by-the-light-of-the-silvery-moon","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_67760.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_67760.jpg"},"released":1}

By the Light of the Silvery Moon as Alice Winfield
{"id":82648,"title":"So This Is Love","year":"1953","character":"Aunt Laura Stokley","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/so-this-is-love","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_82648.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_82648.jpg"},"released":1}

So This Is Love as Aunt Laura Stokley
{"id":67956,"title":"Scandal Sheet","year":"1952","character":"Charlotte Grant","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/scandal-sheet","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_67956.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_67956.jpg"},"released":1}
1952

Scandal Sheet as Charlotte Grant
{"id":68102,"title":"The Treasure of Lost Canyon","year":"1952","character":"Samuella","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-treasure-of-lost-canyon","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_68102.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_68102.jpg"},"released":1}

The Treasure of Lost Canyon as Samuella
{"id":68501,"title":"Night Into Morning","year":"1951","character":"Mrs. Annie Ainley","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/night-into-morning","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_68501.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_68501.jpg"},"released":1}
1951

Night Into Morning as Mrs. Annie Ainley
{"id":68459,"title":"On Moonlight Bay","year":"1951","character":"Alice Winfield","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/on-moonlight-bay","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_68459.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_68459.jpg"},"released":1}

On Moonlight Bay as Alice Winfield
{"id":68754,"title":"The Big Hangover","year":"1950","character":"Claire Bellcap","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-big-hangover","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_68754.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_68754.jpg"},"released":1}
1950

The Big Hangover as Claire Bellcap
{"id":82845,"title":"The Story of Seabiscuit","year":"1949","character":"Mrs. Charles S. Howard","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-story-of-seabiscuit","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/ebjnnp3lg8e0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/ebjnnp3lg8e0.jpg"},"released":1}
1949

The Story of Seabiscuit as Mrs. Charles S. Howard
{"id":69010,"title":"Look for the Silver Lining","year":"1949","character":"Mom Miller","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/look-for-the-silver-lining","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_69010.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_69010.jpg"},"released":1}

Look for the Silver Lining as Mom Miller
{"id":68957,"title":"The Life of Riley","year":"1949","character":"Peg Riley","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-life-of-riley","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_68957.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_68957.jpg"},"released":1}

The Life of Riley as Peg Riley
{"id":174651,"title":"Night Unto Night","year":"1949","character":"Thalia Shawn","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/night-unto-night","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_174651.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_174651.jpg"},"released":1}

Night Unto Night as Thalia Shawn
{"id":10527,"title":"The Life of Riley","year":1949,"character":"Peg Riley","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/the-life-of-riley","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_10527.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_10527.jpg"},"released":1}

The Life of Riley as Peg Riley
{"id":69616,"title":"Nora Prentiss","year":"1947","character":"Lucy Talbot","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/nora-prentiss","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_69616.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_69616.jpg"},"released":1}
1947

Nora Prentiss as Lucy Talbot
{"id":174968,"title":"From This Day Forward","year":"1946","character":"Martha Beesley","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/from-this-day-forward-1946","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_174968.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_174968.jpg"},"released":1}
1946

From This Day Forward as Martha Beesley
{"id":70089,"title":"Two Guys from Milwaukee","year":"1946","character":"Nan","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/two-guys-from-milwaukee","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_70089.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_70089.jpg"},"released":1}

Two Guys from Milwaukee as Nan
{"id":69614,"title":"Danger Signal","year":"1945","character":"Dr. Jane Silla","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/danger-signal","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_69614.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_69614.jpg"},"released":1}
1945

Danger Signal as Dr. Jane Silla
{"id":175133,"title":"Too Young to Know","year":"1945","character":"Mrs. Enright","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/too-young-to-know","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_175133.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_175133.jpg"},"released":1}

Too Young to Know as Mrs. Enright
{"id":70358,"title":"Rhapsody in Blue","year":"1945","character":"Rose Gershwin","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/rhapsody-in-blue","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_70358.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_70358.jpg"},"released":1}

Rhapsody in Blue as Rose Gershwin
{"id":25048,"title":"Blood on the Sun","year":"1945","character":"Edith Miller","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/blood-on-the-sun","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_25048.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_25048.jpg"},"released":1}

Blood on the Sun as Edith Miller
{"id":70175,"title":"Pride of the Marines","year":"1945","character":"Virginia Pfeiffer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/pride-of-the-marines","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_70175.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_70175.jpg"},"released":1}

Pride of the Marines as Virginia Pfeiffer
{"id":95066,"title":"Week-End at the Waldorf","year":"1945","character":"Anna","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/week-end-at-the-waldorf","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_95066.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_95066.jpg"},"released":1}

Week-End at the Waldorf as Anna
{"id":175222,"title":"Bowery to Broadway","year":"1944","character":"Bessie Kirby","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/bowery-to-broadway","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_175222.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_175222.jpg"},"released":1}
1944

Bowery to Broadway as Bessie Kirby
{"id":70676,"title":"Practically Yours","year":"1944","character":"Ellen Macy","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/practically-yours","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_70676.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_70676.jpg"},"released":1}

Practically Yours as Ellen Macy
{"id":175316,"title":"The Merry Monahans","year":"1944","character":"Lillian DeRoyce","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-merry-monahans","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_175316.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_175316.jpg"},"released":1}

The Merry Monahans as Lillian DeRoyce
{"id":22986,"title":"This Is the Army","year":"1943","character":"Ethel Jones","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/this-is-the-army","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_22986.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_22986.jpg"},"released":1}
1943

This Is the Army as Ethel Jones
{"id":70900,"title":"City Without Men","year":"1943","character":"Mrs. Slade","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/city-without-men","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_70900.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_70900.jpg"},"released":1}

City Without Men as Mrs. Slade
{"id":71198,"title":"Commandos Strike at Dawn","year":"1942","character":"Hilma Arnesen","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/commandos-strike-at-dawn","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_71198.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_71198.jpg"},"released":1}
1942

Commandos Strike at Dawn as Hilma Arnesen
{"id":23004,"title":"Jungle Book","year":"1942","character":"Messua","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/jungle-book","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_23004.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_23004.jpg"},"released":1}

Jungle Book as Messua
{"id":30550,"title":"Yankee Doodle Dandy","year":"1942","character":"Nellie Cohan","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/yankee-doodle-dandy","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/2e9e3q65eb80.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/2e9e3q65eb80.jpg"},"released":1}

Yankee Doodle Dandy as Nellie Cohan
{"id":71089,"title":"Eyes in the Night","year":"1942","character":"Vera Hoffman","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/eyes-in-the-night","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_71089.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_71089.jpg"},"released":1}

Eyes in the Night as Vera Hoffman
{"id":175532,"title":"Smith of Minnesota","year":"1942","character":"Mrs. Smith (uncredited)","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/smith-of-minnesota","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_175532.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_175532.jpg"},"released":1}

Smith of Minnesota as Mrs. Smith (uncredited)
{"id":71432,"title":"Hold Back the Dawn","year":"1941","character":"Berta Kurz","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/hold-back-the-dawn","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_71432.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_71432.jpg"},"released":1}
1941

Hold Back the Dawn as Berta Kurz
{"id":95170,"title":"Cheers for Miss Bishop","year":"1941","character":"Minna Fields","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/cheers-for-miss-bishop","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_95170.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_95170.jpg"},"released":1}

Cheers for Miss Bishop as Minna Fields
{"id":175351,"title":"The Voice That Thrilled the World","year":"1943","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-voice-that-thrilled-the-world","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_175351.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_175351.jpg"},"released":1}
1943