Ruth McDevitt

Delightfully daffy and an apple dumpling of a darling, wizened character actress Ruth McDevitt was born Ruth Shoecraft in Michigan but raised in Ohio where her father served as a county sheriff. She attended the American Academy of Dramatic Art with designs of becoming an actress but married a Florida widower soon after and put full focus on being a wife. Her husband died in 1934 and, at age 40+, Ruth decided to dabble again with community theater productions which reignited her passion. She became a viable presence on Broadway and radio in the late 30s and 40s in both comedic and dramatic fare. Highlights on the stage included roles in Picnic and The Solid Gold Cadillac. Her flair for eccentric comedy opened a huge door for the veteran player in the television and film worlds during the 50s and 60s as one of those faces you couldn't put a name to but instinctively knew. She drew attention as the mother of Wally Cox in the Mister Peepers (1952) series and later milked laughs as a gun totin', sharpshootin' granny in the comedy Pistols 'n' Petticoats (1966) starring Ann Sheridan. The series ended after only one season due to the death from cancer of Ms. Sheridan. Ruth decorated a number of fluffy film comedies as a befuddled, warble-voiced elderly in such fun as The Parent Trap (1961), The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968), Angel in My Pocket (1969) and Mame (1974). Ruth died of natural causes in 1976.