Olive Osmond
Encyclopedia
Olive May Osmond was the matriarch of the American
Osmond singing family
, and mother of entertainers Donny Osmond
and Marie Osmond
.
Osmond was born in Samaria
, Idaho
, the daughter of Vera Ann and Thomas Martin Davis. She moved to Ogden, Utah
, where she worked as a secretary. There, she met George Osmond
. They married on December 1, 1944.
Their first two children, Virl and Tom, were born with a degenerative condition which left them nearly deaf. Doctors warned the couple that any other children would be at risk of inheriting the same disorder, but George and Olive wanted a large family. The rest of the children, Alan
, Wayne
, Merrill
, Jay, Donny
, Marie
, and Jimmy
, were born healthy.
George formed a barbershop quartet consisting of Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay. Singer Andy Williams
' father saw their act at Disneyland
, and from 1962 to 1971, the Osmond Brothers
appeared on The Andy Williams Show
. Donny made his show-business debut on the program the day after his sixth birthday.
The brothers eventually left The Andy Williams Show and launched a successful recording career. They – including Donny, Marie, and Jimmy as solo artists – scored several hits, their biggest being the #1 "One Bad Apple". From 1976 to 1979, Donny and Marie hosted The Donny and Marie Show
.
Marie played Olive in the 1982 TV movie Side by Side: The True Story of the Osmond Family. Another 2001 TV movie, Inside the Osmonds, produced by Jimmy, depicted the brothers' egos, George's fiscal mismanagement, and the family's quest to build a multi-media empire as leading to their downfall. Because of Tom's and Virl's perceived disabilities, Olive used her family's fame to start The Osmond Foundation, now known as the Children's Miracle Network
.
Osmond died on May 9, 2004, which was Mother's Day
and five days after her 79th birthday; the cause of her death was complications from a stroke
she had suffered three years earlier on November 13, 2001. She was surrounded by her family. She is still remembered by many Osmond fans everywhere as "Mother Osmond". She was survived by husband George (who died on November 6, 2007), their 9 children, 55 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Osmond singing family
The Osmonds
The Osmonds are an American family music group with a long and varied career—a career that took them from singing barbershop music as children, to achieving success as teen-music idols, to producing a hit television show, and to continued success as solo and group performers...
, and mother of entertainers Donny Osmond
Donny Osmond
Donald Clark "Donny" Osmond is an American singer, musician, actor, dancer, radio personality, and former teen idol. Osmond has also been a talk and game show host, record producer and author. In the mid 1960s, he and four of his elder brothers gained fame as the Osmond Brothers on the long...
and Marie Osmond
Marie Osmond
Olive Marie Osmond is an American singer, actress, doll designer, and a member of the show business family The Osmonds. Although she was never part of her family's singing group, she gained success as a solo country music artist in the 1970s and 1980s...
.
Osmond was born in Samaria
Malad City, Idaho
For the Mumbai, India Suburb, see Malad .Malad City is the only city in and the county seat of Oneida County, Idaho, United States. Its population was 2,158 at the 2000 census....
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, the daughter of Vera Ann and Thomas Martin Davis. She moved to Ogden, Utah
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
, where she worked as a secretary. There, she met George Osmond
George Osmond
George Virl Osmond was the patriarch of the Osmond family.George Virl Osmond was born in Etna, Wyoming, the son of Agnes Laverna and Rulon Osmond. Rulon died at age 24 on November 24, 1917 shortly after George was born...
. They married on December 1, 1944.
Their first two children, Virl and Tom, were born with a degenerative condition which left them nearly deaf. Doctors warned the couple that any other children would be at risk of inheriting the same disorder, but George and Olive wanted a large family. The rest of the children, Alan
Alan Osmond
Alan Ralph Osmond was a member of the family musical group The Osmonds. He was the oldest of the seven siblings who could sing, as the two oldest brothers, Virl and Tom, are hearing impaired although Tom is currently under treatment. During much of the Osmonds' career, Alan was the leader of the...
, Wayne
Wayne Osmond
Melvin Wayne Osmond is the second oldest of the original Osmond Brothers singers and the fourth oldest of the nine Osmond children. He has been performing since he was six years old and made his national television debut on the Andy Williams Show with brothers, Alan, Merrill, and Jay. They...
, Merrill
Merrill Osmond
Merrill Davis Osmond is the lead singer and bassist of the 1970s music group The Osmonds. He continues to perform with his brothers and also without them as a solo act...
, Jay, Donny
Donny Osmond
Donald Clark "Donny" Osmond is an American singer, musician, actor, dancer, radio personality, and former teen idol. Osmond has also been a talk and game show host, record producer and author. In the mid 1960s, he and four of his elder brothers gained fame as the Osmond Brothers on the long...
, Marie
Marie Osmond
Olive Marie Osmond is an American singer, actress, doll designer, and a member of the show business family The Osmonds. Although she was never part of her family's singing group, she gained success as a solo country music artist in the 1970s and 1980s...
, and Jimmy
Jimmy Osmond
James Arthur "Jimmy" Osmond is an American singer, actor, and businessman.-Biography:Jimmy Osmond is the youngest of his siblings and an occasional member of their musical group, The Osmonds. He is the ninth and last child of George and Olive Osmond, and his siblings are Virl, Tom, Alan, Wayne,...
, were born healthy.
George formed a barbershop quartet consisting of Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay. Singer Andy Williams
Andy Williams
Howard Andrew "Andy" Williams is an American singer who has recorded 18 Gold- and three Platinum-certified albums. He hosted The Andy Williams Show, a TV variety show, from 1962 to 1971, as well as numerous television specials, and owns his own theater, the Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri,...
' father saw their act at Disneyland
Disneyland Park (Anaheim)
Disneyland Park is a theme park located in Anaheim, California, owned and operated by the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts division of the Walt Disney Company. Known as Disneyland when it opened on July 18, 1955, and still almost universally referred to by that name, it is the only theme park to be...
, and from 1962 to 1971, the Osmond Brothers
The Osmonds
The Osmonds are an American family music group with a long and varied career—a career that took them from singing barbershop music as children, to achieving success as teen-music idols, to producing a hit television show, and to continued success as solo and group performers...
appeared on The Andy Williams Show
The Andy Williams Show
The Andy Williams Show is a television variety show which ran from 1959 to 1971 , and a short-lived run in syndication, beginning in the fall of 1976...
. Donny made his show-business debut on the program the day after his sixth birthday.
The brothers eventually left The Andy Williams Show and launched a successful recording career. They – including Donny, Marie, and Jimmy as solo artists – scored several hits, their biggest being the #1 "One Bad Apple". From 1976 to 1979, Donny and Marie hosted The Donny and Marie Show
Donny & Marie (1976 TV series)
Donny & Marie was an American variety show which aired on ABC from January 1976 to January 1979. The show stars brother and sister pop duo Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond...
.
Marie played Olive in the 1982 TV movie Side by Side: The True Story of the Osmond Family. Another 2001 TV movie, Inside the Osmonds, produced by Jimmy, depicted the brothers' egos, George's fiscal mismanagement, and the family's quest to build a multi-media empire as leading to their downfall. Because of Tom's and Virl's perceived disabilities, Olive used her family's fame to start The Osmond Foundation, now known as the Children's Miracle Network
Children's Miracle Network
The Children's Miracle Network Hospitals is an international non-profit organization that raises funds for children's hospitals, medical research and community awareness of children's health issues. The organization, founded in 1982 by the Osmond family and John Schneider, is headquartered in...
.
Osmond died on May 9, 2004, which was Mother's Day
Mother's Day
Mother's Day is a celebration honoring mothers and celebrating motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, yet most commonly in March, April, or May...
and five days after her 79th birthday; the cause of her death was complications from a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
she had suffered three years earlier on November 13, 2001. She was surrounded by her family. She is still remembered by many Osmond fans everywhere as "Mother Osmond". She was survived by husband George (who died on November 6, 2007), their 9 children, 55 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.