Phyllis Love was a talented and versatile actress who graced the stage and screen with her presence for nearly three decades. She was best known for her roles in Broadway plays such as The Member of the Wedding, The Rose Tattoo, and The Country Girl, as well as her film appearances in Friendly Persuasion and The Young Doctors. She also guest-starred in many popular TV shows, such as Perry Mason, The Twilight Zone, and Gunsmoke. However, her career and life came to an end when she succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease on October 30, 2011, at the age of 85. In this article, we will explore the life and legacy of Phyllis Love, as well as the causes and effects of Alzheimer’s disease, the condition that claimed her life.
Contents
Early Life and Career of Phyllis Love
Phyllis Love was born on December 21, 1925, in Des Moines, Iowa. Her parents were Jack Love, who owned a food market, and Lois Love, who owned a cafe before marriage. She attended Roosevelt High School in Des Moines, where she was a close friend of fellow actress Cloris Leachman. She developed a passion for acting and participated in various local and regional drama productions. After graduating from high school, she enrolled in the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh, but soon moved to New York to pursue her acting career. She joined the newly formed Actors Studio in 1948, where she honed her craft under the guidance of Lee Strasberg and other renowned teachers. She made her debut on television in the Actors Studio series, and her Broadway and film debuts in 1950, as Julie Harris’s understudy in The Member of the Wedding, and as an uncredited performer in So Young So Bad, respectively
Broadway Success and Film Roles of Phyllis Love
Throughout the 1950s, Phyllis Love established herself as a prominent and acclaimed stage actress, appearing in eight Broadway shows. She won the Clarence Derwent Award in 1951 for her role as Rosa Delle Rosa in the original production of The Rose Tattoo, written by Tennessee Williams and starring Maureen Stapleton and Eli Wallach. She also received the Donaldson Award for Best Supporting Performance (Actress) for the same role. She played the lead role of Georgie Elgin in The Country Girl, written by Clifford Odets and starring Uta Hagen and Paul Kelly. She also starred in The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker, Bus Stop, Flowering Cherry, and A Distant Bell, among others
Phyllis Love also appeared in several films, mostly in supporting roles. Her most notable film role was as Mattie Birdwell, the daughter of Gary Cooper and Dorothy McGuire, in William Wyler’s Friendly Persuasion, a 1956 drama about a Quaker family during the American Civil War. She also played Dick Clark’s pregnant wife in The Young Doctors, a 1961 medical drama starring Fredric March and Ben Gazzara. She also had minor roles in The Cobweb, The Left Handed Gun, and The Chapman Report
Television Appearances and Retirement of Phyllis Love
Phyllis Love also had a prolific career on television, guest-starring in numerous anthology shows and series from 1950 to 1975. She appeared in two episodes of Perry Mason, both times as the defendant, as Ellen Carter in The Case of the Bogus Books, and as Minerva Doubleday in The Case of the Wooden Nickels. She also appeared in episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, The Fugitive, Ironside, and Bonanza, among others. Her last TV appearance was in a 1975 episode of Harry O, starring David Janssen
After retiring from acting, Phyllis Love changed her first name to Osanna and became a teacher of drama and English at Morningside High School in Inglewood, California, for 15 years. She also led a writer’s group at the Presbyterian Westminster Gardens in Duarte, California. She was married twice, first to playwright James McGee, from 1948 to 1978, and then to Alan Gooding, from 1983 until her death
Alzheimer’s Disease: The Cause of Death of Phyllis Love
Phyllis Love died at her home in Menifee, California, on October 30, 2011, at the age of 85. The cause of death was Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive and irreversible brain disorder that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, a general term for a decline in cognitive abilities that interferes with daily life. Alzheimer’s disease affects more than 6 million Americans and is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States
Alzheimer’s disease is caused by the abnormal accumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain, which damage and kill brain cells. The exact causes of this process are not fully understood, but some risk factors include age, family history, genetics, head injury, cardiovascular disease, and lifestyle factors. Alzheimer’s disease has no cure, but some treatments can help slow down the progression of symptoms and improve the quality of life of patients and caregivers. Some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include memory loss, confusion, disorientation, mood and personality changes, difficulty with language, reasoning, and judgment, and behavioral problems. Alzheimer’s disease can also cause physical problems, such as difficulty with movement, coordination, swallowing, and infections. Alzheimer’s disease is a terminal illness, and the average life expectancy after diagnosis is about four to eight years
Conclusion: The Legacy of Phyllis Love
Phyllis Love was a talented and versatile actress who left a lasting impression on the stage and screen. She was admired for her natural and nuanced performances, her beauty and charm, and her dedication to her craft. She was also a beloved teacher, writer, and friend, who touched the lives of many people. She was a victim of Alzheimer’s disease, a devastating condition that affects millions of people and their families. Her life and legacy are worth remembering and celebrating.
