According to the Los Angeles Times, Rose Marie, most recognized for her role as Sally Rogers in The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-66), died at the age of 94 on December 28, 2017.
Rose Marie began her career entertaining people at the age of three in vaudeville, singing for records, and singing and acting on stage, in films, nightclubs, and on television in a career that would span 91 years.
Rose Marie joined Dick Van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Morey Amsterdam, Richard Deacon, Carl Reiner, Larry Mathews, Ann Morgan Guilbert, and Jerry Paris on the 1960s gold mine television sitcom, The Dick Van Dyke Show. While the star of the show was obviously that of the title actor as comedy writer Rob Petrie, in addition to his his wife, Laura (Mary Tyler Moore), Rose Marie joined Morey Amsterdam’s Buddy Sorrell as the wisecracking duo who helped Rob write for the (fictional) Alan Brady Show for five seasons. She always provided just enough sarcasm and jokes balanced with sweet to make her a truly lovable and hilarious character. Her comic timing with Morey Amsterdam was second to none, and together they still are arguably one of the best comedic duos in history that will ever be seen on television. Rose Marie’s character of Sally Rogers was really “one of the guys,” although she often and humorously complained about being single and wanting a fella, often quoting phrases of wisdom from her Aunt Agnes and talking about her only source of company at home, her cat Mr. Henderson. She often “performed” on the show singing and treating audiences to her Jimmy Durante impression, but she really helped break new ground by being a woman on television in the 1960s who was “funny.”
Here is a clip from The Dick Van Dyke Show from one of the many writing story sessions for The Alan Brady Show, featuring the classic trio at work:
The last remaining members of The Dick Van Dyke Show cast are Dick Van Dyke himself, who recently celebrated his 92nd birthday, Carl Reiner, the creator of the show as well as the portrayer of star Alan Brady, Jerry Van Dyke, Dick Van Dyke’s brother on and off the show, and Larry Mathews, who played Rob and Laura’s son Ritchie.
Rest in peace, Rose Marie. Thank you for bringing us so much genuine joy and laughter in still one of the best and funniest television shows of all time.
