Beatrice Colen

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Beatrice Colen
BeatriceAsEtta.jpg
Born (1948-01-10)January 10, 1948
Where New York City, New York, United States
Died November 18, 1999(1999-11-18) (aged 51)
Where Los Angeles, California, United States
Gender {{{gender}}}
Years Active {{{years_active}}}
Roles {{{roles}}}
Parents {{{parents}}}
Spouse Patrick Cronin, 1977–1999 (her death); two children
Birth Name Beatrice Colen Schneider
Occupation Actress
Appearances
First Appearance: {{{first}}}

Last Appearance: {{{last}}}


Beatrice Colen (January 10, 1948 - November 18, 1999) was an American actress. Her most famous roles were Marsha Simms on Happy Days and Etta Candy on Wonder Woman.[1][2][3]

Early life[edit | edit source]

Colen was born to Anne and Bruce D Colen in New York City, New York. Both of her parents were of German Jewish descent. She was the granddaughter of playwright George S. Kaufman.[4]

Career[edit | edit source]

Starting off in the 1970s, Colen landed roles early in her career in both film and television. During the early seasons of Happy Days, she starred as Milwaukee-based carhop Marsha Simms in seasons 1-3 and 5.[5]

She was the first actress to portray Etta Candy in the live action adaptation of the DC comic book series Wonder Woman.[6][7] After the pilot, she only appeared during the series' first season (1976–77), which were set during World War II. When the series was retooled and reset in modern times, the character was dropped.[8]

Colen acted in such television film as Schoolboy Father (1980), Brave New World, and in feature films such as Lifeguard, High Anxiety, American Pop, and Who's that Girl?.

She also guest starred on a number of TV shows such as The Odd Couple, All in the Family, The Love Boat, Barney Miller (1981, episode: "The Rainmaker"), The Wonder Years, and Baywatch.

Her final television appearance before retiring was in a 1997 episode of Nickelodeon's The Secret World of Alex Mack.

Personal & Family life/Death[edit | edit source]

Colen was married to Patrick Cronin on October 23, 1977[9] and together they had two sons, James Cronin and Charlie Cronin. She died of lung cancer on November 18, 1999 in Los Angeles, California, at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.[10][11][12] Colen died on the opening night of Brentwood High School's production of The Man Who Came to Dinner, which was written by her grandfather, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright George S. Kaufman, and which starred her son, James Cronin, in the title role of Sheridan Whiteside. Her memorial service was held at Saint James Episcopal Church in Los Angeles ten days later.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. "Happy Days: Where Are They Now?". Sitecomesonline.com. Retrieved 27 July 2014. 
  2. "Tribune Democrat Newspaper Archives, Nov 20, 1999, p. 39" (in en). NewspaperArchive.com. 1999-11-20. https://newspaperarchive.com/tribune-democrat-nov-20-1999-p-39/. 
  3. "Post Herald And Register Newspaper Archives, Jan 1, 1977, p. 29" (in en). NewspaperArchive.com. 1977-01-01. https://newspaperarchive.com/post-herald-and-register-jan-01-1977-p-29/. 
  4. The New York Times, 12 Jan 1948, Birth Announcement.
  5. "Joplin Globe Newspaper Archives, Jul 26, 1975, p. 33" (in en). NewspaperArchive.com. 1975-07-26. https://newspaperarchive.com/joplin-globe-jul-26-1975-p-33/. 
  6. "Valley Morning Star Newspaper Archives, Apr 21, 1976, p. 20" (in en). NewspaperArchive.com. 1976-04-21. https://newspaperarchive.com/valley-morning-star-apr-21-1976-p-20/. 
  7. Galloway, Doug (1999-12-13). "Beatrice Colen" (in en-US). Variety. https://variety.com/1999/scene/people-news/beatrice-colen-2-1117883424/. 
  8. "It’s Cool, I Feel Fine" (in en-US). Trend Chaser. 2016-09-28. https://www.trend-chaser.com/entertainment/television/wonder-woman-tv-show/4/. 
  9. "Patrick Cronin, Actor, Weds Beatrice Colen" (in en-US). The New York Times. 1977-10-24. ISSN 0362-4331. https://www.nytimes.com/1977/10/24/archives/patrick-cronin-actor-weds-beatrice-colen.html. 
  10. Beatrice Colen, known as the car-hop on roller skates at Arnold's Malt Shop on TV's "Happy Days," and as the "Wonder Woman" sidekick, Etta Candy, died of lung cancer at Los Angeles' Cedar Sinai Hospital Nov. 18. Ms. Colen was 51. https://archive.is/ccf1x
  11. "Theatre Mourns Stage & 'Happy Days' Actress Beatrice Colen, 51 | Playbill". Playbill. Retrieved 2018-03-05. 
  12. MARTINEZ, AL (1999-12-19). "'Take Her Sweetly, Take Her Gently . . . '" (in en-US). Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. http://articles.latimes.com/1999/dec/19/local/me-45541. 

External links[edit | edit source]

Preceded by
No actress
Actresses to portray Etta Candy
1976–1977
Succeeded by
Lucy Davis