Lurene Tuttle

Biography

Lurene Tuttle, born on August 29, 1907, in Pleasant Lake, Indiana, and passing away on May 28, 1986, in Encino, California, was a distinguished character actress whose career spanned vaudeville, radio, film, and television. Renowned for her versatility, Tuttle became a prominent figure in network radio, often appearing in up to 15 shows weekly across various genres, earning her the nickname "First Lady of Radio."

Her film debut came with *Heaven Only Knows* in 1947, followed by notable performances in *Macbeth* (1948) directed by Orson Welles, *Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House* (1948), and Alfred Hitchcock's classic *Psycho* (1960), where she portrayed the wife of Sheriff Chambers. Tuttle also played a mother who entrusts her daughter to the troubled Marilyn Monroe in *Don't Bother to Knock* (1952) and appeared alongside Monroe again in *Niagara* (1953) as Mrs. Kettering. She had a rare leading role in *Ma Barker's Killer Brood* (1960) and portrayed Grandma Pusser in the original *Walking Tall* film trilogy.

In addition to her film work, Tuttle became a beloved face on television, racking up over 100 appearances from 1950 to 1986, typically embodying the roles of wise, nurturing mothers or nosy neighbors. One of her memorable roles was as Lavinia (Vinnie) Day in *Life with Father* (1953–1955), which was praised for its stellar casting by columnist Hedda Hopper.