The beloved actress Carole Cook has passed away at the age of ninety-eight. She was a longtime character actress as well as a protégé of the late-great Lucille Ball. Although she was born in 1924 in Abilene, Texas, and named Mildred Francis Cook, she eventually changed her name to Carole Cook after Lucille Ball urged her to do so, adopting the new Hollywood moniker for the remainder of her life.
Ball helped Cook get her big break in Hollywood. The pair were very close, and Cook even moved in with Ball after her divorce from Desi Arnaz. Cook appeared alongside the famous comedic actress on “The Lucy Show” and “Here’s Lucy.” She also appeared on the game show “Password.” She also played the role of the grandmother in the popular program “Sixteen Candles.” You might also recognize her from appearances in other shows, including “Maude,” “Kojak,” “Dynasty,” and “Cagney & Lacey.”
Cook’s death was confirmed to the media by her agent Robert Malcolm. He spoke to CNN about Cook’s death at the age of ninety-eight, claiming that the actress passed away from heart failure after living a long life in the Hollywood spotlight. She passed away on January 11, 2023, and would have reached her ninety-ninth birthday if she had made it to Saturday.
Cook got her start in Hollywood while working at a theater in Ohio. She received a call from Lucille Ball asking her to drop everything and move to Hollywood to be part of the Desilu musical review. While working on the Ball production, Cook and Ball became friends and remained close for years. Later in her life, Cook would sometimes get mistaken for Ball.
Social media erupted with tributes to Cook after news of her death became public.
“Today we lost one of the greats- Carole Cook was making people laugh since the 1950s- on TV, in movies, and on stage. We became friends when we were in a Broadway play for a full year. At 98, that huge heart of hers just gave up. I love you, Carole.”
“RIP to the legendary #carolecook, who appeared in Season 7 of #laverneandshirley as the hot-to-trot Mrs. Harmon on ‘I Do, I Don’t.’ She will be beyond missed.”
“Carole Cook in Sixteen Candles Friend, fun at dinner parties and always cracking jokes. A super LGBTQ+ ally. The long ash on her ciggy.”
Carole Cook’s death has left a major void in Hollywood. She will be remembered fondly for her wit, humor, and contributions to the entertainment industry. Her legacy as one of the most beloved character actresses of all time will live on long after she is gone.
Carole Cook is survived by her beloved husband, actor Tom Troupe. She will be sorely missed.
Rest in peace, Carole Cook. You will be missed by all.
You can watch the full interview of Let’s Talk to Carole from the Lucy Show. This was recorded for CBS Home Video in 2010.