Caroline McWilliams
Encyclopedia
Caroline Margaret McWilliams (April 4, 1945 – February 11, 2010) was an American
actress best known for her portrayal of Marcy Hill on the television series Benson
and Sally on the television series Soap
. McWilliams was a regular on the CBS
soap, Guiding Light
(as Janet Norris) for several years and also appeared in a short-term role (as Tracy DeWitt) on the NBC
soap Another World
. She also had a recurring role on Beverly Hills, 90210
playing the mother of Jamie Walters' character Ray Pruit.
. She graduated in 1966 with a bachelor's degree from Carnegie Mellon University
in Pittsburgh. She was married in 1982 to Michael Keaton
, with whom she had a son, Sean, born in 1983. They divorced in 1990.
as Janet Mason Norris from 1969 until 1975. She was a regular on Soap
beginning in the second season in 1978 season. She then moved to Benson
(as a different character) when that series premiered in 1979. She remained on Benson until 1981: the storyline stated that her character was departing to get married (her fiance on the show having been played by Ted Danson
).
After this, she made a number of one-time appearances in comedies and dramas as well as appearing in numerous made-for-television movies
McWilliams appeared in two major motion pictures:
at her home in Los Angeles, California
on February 11, 2010, aged 64.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress best known for her portrayal of Marcy Hill on the television series Benson
Benson (TV series)
Benson is an American television sitcom which aired from September 13, 1979, to April 19, 1986, on ABC. The series was a spin-off from the soap opera parody Soap ; however, Benson discarded the...
and Sally on the television series Soap
Soap (TV series)
Soap is an American sitcom that originally ran on ABC from 1977 to 1981.The show was created as a parody of daytime soap operas, presented as a weekly half-hour prime time comedy. Similar to a soap opera, the show's story was presented in a serial format and included melodramatic plot elements such...
. McWilliams was a regular on the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
soap, Guiding Light
Guiding Light
Guiding Light is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running drama in television and radio history, running from 1937 until 2009...
(as Janet Norris) for several years and also appeared in a short-term role (as Tracy DeWitt) on the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
soap Another World
Another World (TV series)
Another World is an American television soap opera that ran on NBC from May 4, 1964 to June 25, 1999. It ran for a total of 35 years. It was created by Irna Phillips along with William J...
. She also had a recurring role on Beverly Hills, 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210 is an American drama series that originally aired from October 4, 1990 to May 17, 2000 on Fox and was produced by Spelling Television in the United States, and subsequently on various networks around the world. It is the first series in the Beverly Hills, 90210 franchise...
playing the mother of Jamie Walters' character Ray Pruit.
Personal life
Although she was born in Seattle, McWilliams grew up in Rhode IslandRhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. She graduated in 1966 with a bachelor's degree from Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University
Carnegie Mellon University is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States....
in Pittsburgh. She was married in 1982 to Michael Keaton
Michael Keaton
Michael John Douglas , better known by the stage name Michael Keaton, is an American actor known for his early comedic roles, most notably his performance as the title character of Tim Burton's Beetlejuice . Keaton is also famous for his dramatic portrayal of Bruce Wayne/Batman in Tim Burton's...
, with whom she had a son, Sean, born in 1983. They divorced in 1990.
Career
McWilliams's television appearances spanned every decade from the 1960s through the 2000s. She was a regular player on Guiding LightGuiding Light
Guiding Light is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest running drama in television and radio history, running from 1937 until 2009...
as Janet Mason Norris from 1969 until 1975. She was a regular on Soap
Soap (TV series)
Soap is an American sitcom that originally ran on ABC from 1977 to 1981.The show was created as a parody of daytime soap operas, presented as a weekly half-hour prime time comedy. Similar to a soap opera, the show's story was presented in a serial format and included melodramatic plot elements such...
beginning in the second season in 1978 season. She then moved to Benson
Benson (TV series)
Benson is an American television sitcom which aired from September 13, 1979, to April 19, 1986, on ABC. The series was a spin-off from the soap opera parody Soap ; however, Benson discarded the...
(as a different character) when that series premiered in 1979. She remained on Benson until 1981: the storyline stated that her character was departing to get married (her fiance on the show having been played by Ted Danson
Ted Danson
Edward Bridge “Ted” Danson III is an American actor best known for his role as central character Sam Malone in the sitcom Cheers, and his role as Dr. John Becker on the series Becker. He also plays a recurring role on Larry David's HBO sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm and starred alongside Glenn Close...
).
After this, she made a number of one-time appearances in comedies and dramas as well as appearing in numerous made-for-television movies
McWilliams appeared in two major motion pictures:
- White Water SummerWhite Water SummerWhite Water Summer is a 1987 American drama film directed by Jeff Bleckner.-Plot:School is out for the summer, and a group of young teenagers go on a hike with Vic, an experienced guide. One teen, Alan, butts head with Vic during the film as Vic's attempts to teach life lessons annoy Alan. The more...
(1987) - as Virginia Block - MermaidsMermaids (film)Mermaids is a 1990 comedy-drama film directed by Richard Benjamin and starring Cher, Bob Hoskins, Winona Ryder , and Christina Ricci in her first film role...
(1990) - as Carrie
Illness and death
Caroline McWilliams died from multiple myelomaMultiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma , also known as plasma cell myeloma or Kahler's disease , is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell normally responsible for the production of antibodies...
at her home in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
on February 11, 2010, aged 64.