The full story of one of Hollywood's most accomplished character actresses

Moviegoers will remember her as the housekeeper in White Christmas, the nurse in Now, Voyager, and the crotchety choir director in Sister Act, but Mary Wickes was one of the most accomplished character actresses of the twentieth century. Mary Wickes: I Know I've Seen That Face Before (University Press of Mississippi),is filled with never-published behind-the-scenes stories from Broadway and Hollywood, and chronicles the life of a complicated woman who brought an assortment of unforgettable nurses, nuns, and housekeepers to life on screen and stage-and who led a startling life off stage.

Wickes was part of some of the most significant moments in film, television, theatre, and radio history. On that frightening night in 1938 that Orson Welles recorded his earth-shattering “War of the Worlds” radio broadcast, Mary was waiting on another soundstage for him, oblivious to the havoc taking place outside. When silent film star Gloria Swanson decided to host a live talk show on this new thing called television, Mary was one of her first guests. When Lucille Ball made her first TV appearance anywhere, Mary appeared with her-and became Lucy's closest friend for more than thirty years. Mary was the original Mary Poppins, long before an umbrella carried Julie Andrews across the rooftops of London. And when Disney began creating 101 Dalmatians, Mary was asked to pose for animators trying to capture the evil of Cruella de Vil.

Wickes' life also serves as a window into the development of entertainment media in the United States. She worked in live radio, saw talking pictures introduced, worked with some of the most important playwrights and theatrical directors on Brodway, and was also present for the very start of television.

Throughout her career, the pinched-faced actress worked with a Who's Who of the entertainment industry. As a result, she became a confidante to some of the day's biggest stars, including Bette Davis and Doris Day. Bolstered by interviews with almost three hundred people, I Know I've Seen That Face Before includes scores of never-before-shared anecdotes about Hollywood and Broadway. In the process, it introduces readers to a complex woman who sustained a remarkable career for sixty years.

Steve Taravella is a longtime journalist and communications specialist. He has received eleven writing awards, including the Dag Hammarksjold Award for Human Rights Advocacy in Journalism and the Society of Professional Journalists' Mark of Excellence Award.