ANGELA CARTWRIGHT
September 9, 1952
Angela Margaret Cartwright was born in Altrincham, Cheshire, England, in 1952.
Shortly after Angela’s birth, the family - including older sister Veronica, also an actress - moved to Los Angeles.
She made her first film appearance at the age of three years as Paul Newman's character's daughter in Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956)...
and appeared with Rock Hudson and Sidney Poitier in Something of Value (1957), which was labeled ‘Adult Entertainment’.
Cartwright joined the cast of “Make Room for Daddy” (later “The Danny Thomas Show”) in 1957 at the age of five.
“Make Room for Daddy” (aka “The Danny Thomas Show”) ran from 1953 to 1957 on ABC and from 1957 to 1964 on CBS. In March 1953, Danny Thomas chose Desilu Studios to film it using its three-camera method, perfected on “I Love Lucy,” which ran concurrently on CBS.
Shortly after the third season finished filming, Jean Hagen (who played Margaret, the Mother) left the show. It was explained that Margaret had died suddenly off-screen. In a four-part story arc that began in April 1957, son Rusty fell ill with the measles and Danny hired Kathy O'Hara (Marjorie Lord), a young Irish nurse, to look after him. Kathy was a widow with a little girl named Linda (then played by Lelani Sorenson). Not surprisingly, Danny quickly fell in love with Kathy, as did the kids.
When “I Love Lucy” went off the air (in its half-hour format) in 1957 and “Make Room for Daddy” was facing cancellation, CBS acquired the show and moved “Make Room for Daddy” into “Lucy's” old time slot. With the change of network, the producers also changed Kathy's daughter. Lelani Sorenson was replaced by Angela Cartwright as Linda. Linda was adopted by Danny, and the show's ratings dramatically increased. Never underestimate the ‘cute’ factor!
In “Lucy Makes Room for Danny” (LDCH S2;E2) on December 1, 1958, Lucy and Ricky sublet their Connecticut home to the Williams family (of “Make Room for Daddy”). When Lucy proves an over-protective landlady, the arguing families end up in court!
The night this “Comedy Hour” premiered, “Make Room for Daddy” also aired and concerned Little Linda’s tonsillitis, a subject previously covered by “I Love Lucy” in “Nursery School” (ILL S5;E9). Despite only a half hour passing for viewers, Linda is in perfect health when she arrives on the Ricardo’s doorstep at 9 o’clock!
This cross-over sets in motion a curious anomaly:
Lucy Ricardo meets Danny Williams (Danny Thomas) and his TV family on this episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour”;
Danny Williams drives through the small town of Mayberry and meets Sheriff Taylor, which spawns “The Andy Griffith Show”;
“The Andy Griffith Show” is where the Gomer Pyle (Jim Nabors) character began, before getting his own show;
Gomer, although unnamed and uncredited, turns up on “The Lucy Show,” although here she is Lucy Carmichael, not Lucy Ricardo (even though both women share the maiden name McGillacuddy);
The upshot of all of this is that Lucy Ricardo and Lucy Carmichael both exist in the same world.
Along with her TV brother Rusty Hamer and Keith Thibodeux as Little Ricky, the young stars are called to testify in court about their parents’ poor behavior! Unexpectedly, the children are more polished and reasonable than their elders.
Linda gets some personal time with the judge, played by Gale Gordon. Linda suggests the final verdict: that Fred take Ethel to Florida for two months. She reasons that it will (a) cure him of being a miser, and (b) thaw his frozen ears!
RICKY RICARDO (about Linda): “She’s a regular Lucy Junior!”
In a quid-pro-quo programming move, Lucy and Desi played Lucy and Ricky on “The Danny Thomas Show” on a January 6, 1959 episode titled “Lucy Upsets the Williams Household.” While rehearsing a nightclub show together, Danny Williams invites Ricky and Lucy Ricardo to move in to his apartment. Lucy and Kathy, meanwhile, are spending up a storm at the department stores. To curb their spending, the boys cut off their charge accounts in this battle of the sexes. The character of Linda is only briefly in the story and has no scenes with Lucille Ball.
Cartwright again played Linda Williams in “Make Room For Granddaddy” (1970-71). In January 1971, once again “Daddy” and “Lucy” cross-over, with Lucille Ball playing Lucy Carter of “Here’s Lucy”, Kathy’s old friend, coming to New York for a visit.
When Danny comes home from a trip, there is a series of accidental flirtations between Lucy Carter and Danny that make her believe he is being unfaithful to Kathy. The episode is alternately titled “Lucy and the Lecher” and (less controversially) “Lucy, the Houseguest.” Angela is then 18 years old. This time she gets to stay in the room for Lucy’s arrival!
In 1965 Angela played the role of Brigitta Von Trapp in The Sound Of Music, perhaps her most recognizable role, in one of the most famous films of all time. The film also featured “Lucy” alumni Norma Varden (as housekeeper Frau Schmidt), as well as background actors Leoda Richards, Bert Stevens, Norman Stevans, Bernard Sell, Monty O’Grady, William Meader, Sam Harris, Gertrude Astor, Leon Alton, and Steve Carruthers. The original stage musical (which did not feature Cartwright) was on Broadway at the same time that Lucille Ball was doing Wildcat. The musical’s composers, Rodgers and Hammerstein (aka Dick and Oscar) were frequently mentioned on “I Love Lucy.”
Also in 1965, Cartwright returned to television to play Penny, youngest member of the Space Family Robinson, on “Lost in Space” (1965-68). The Irwin Allen science fiction series went from a black and white drama in its first season, to a color comedy in its second and third. In the season one opening credits, the only character identified by name is Penny. Cartwright was 13 when the series began. “Lucy” alumni who made guest appearances in “Space” include Fritz Feld, Reta Shaw, Wally Cox, Michael J. Pollard, Strother Martin, John Carradine, Hans Conried (who also played her Uncle Tonoose on “Daddy”), Al Lewis, Stanley Adams, Arte Johnson, Norman Leavitt, Helen Kleeb, and Janos Prohaska. Cartwright has remained involved in the franchise, doing cameo appearances in the 1998 re-boot and the 2019 TV series.
Cartwright was back on the Desilu lot to guest star on two episodes of “My Three Sons” in 1965 and 1969.
Angela’s older sister Veronica made two appearances with her sister on “Make Room for Daddy” in 1959 and 1961, one with Lucy’s good friend and co-star Bob Hope. Veronica also appeared on “The Twilight Zone,” a show introduced on “The Westinghouse-Desilu Playhouse” in 1958 with Desi Arnaz standing in for Rod Serling as host.
Angela Cartwright married actor Steve Gullion in 1976. They have two children.
She has been a photographer for 30 years. She is also a fashion designer. Her work is displayed at her studio in Studio City, Los Angeles.