Allyn Ann McLerie

Biography

Allyn Ann McLerie (December 1, 1926 - May 21, 2018) was a talented actress, singer, and dancer hailing from Canada but raised in Brooklyn. Throughout her illustrious career, she collaborated with some of the most prominent choreographers of the Golden Age of musical theatre, including George Balanchine, Agnes de Mille, and Jerome Robbins. McLerie made her Broadway debut as a teenager in Kurt Weill's production of One Touch of Venus. She later stepped into the role of Ivy in On the Town, and in 1948, she originated the character Amy Spettigue in the Broadway show Where's Charley?, earning a Theatre World Award for her performance. Her other notable Broadway appearances include Miss Liberty, the drama Time Limit, Redhead (where she understudied Gwen Verdon), and the iconic West Side Story. Additionally, McLerie showcased her dancing skills as a guest soloist with the American Ballet Theatre during their European and South American tours in 1950-51.

In film, McLerie is perhaps best remembered for her roles as Amy in Where's Charley? (1952), Katie Brown in Calamity Jane (1953), and Shirley in They Shoot Horses, Don't They? (1969), as well as her portrayal of The Crazy Woman in Jeremiah Johnson (1972). Her extensive television career featured guest roles on popular series such as Bonanza, The Waltons, and Dynasty. Notably, she played Miss Janet Reubner on The Tony Randall Show (1976-1978) and Carmen, Arthur Carlson's wife, on WKRP in Cincinnati (1978–82). Her final television appearance was in an episode of Brooklyn Bridge in 1993.