Debbie Weems
Encyclopedia
Deborah "Debbie" Weems was an American
actress and singer. She is best remembered for her recurring roles on Captain Kangaroo
.
to Benjamin and Rowene Weems, in a family with five sisters. During childhood her parents separated and each remarried. The family later relocated to Marlin
, a town northwest of Houston.
During the 1960s, Weems attended the Interlochen Arts Academy
in Michigan
. She played a lead role in productions such as Annie Get Your Gun
, The King and I
, and The Miracle Worker
, as well as smaller roles in many other productions. She also attended the Boston Conservatory of Music for two years ('68/'70) where she captured leading roles in two major productions - Carnival and Once Upon A Mattress. Weems later moved to New York City
, where she appeared in an Off Broadway musical, Godspell
. Weems was also a regular stock player at the Lakewood Theatre in Barnesville, Pennsylvania
during 1970. Weems also appeared in various commercial
s.
daily children's series, Captain Kangaroo
. In 1976, songs from the television series sung by Weems was released on an album, Debbie Weems Sings Songs from Captain Kangaroo, published by Wonderland Records. She was later featured in an article in the October 23, 1976 edition of TV Guide
, called Don’t Tell Your Mom About Debbie, which was about her career on Captain Kangaroo.
, in which people always identified her as "that cute girl on Captain Kangaroo", hindering her ability to get roles for movies and TV shows geared toward the adult age group. During her tenure on the show, Weems' only other role during this time was in the 1977 movie, Between the Lines where she played a small role of "Annie One". Shortly before her death, Weems was admitted to a residential treatment facility.
. Graveside funeral services were held February 25, 1978 at the family plot in Marlin, Texas
.
Despite her death, episodes starring Weems continued to be televised through the summer of 1978.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress and singer. She is best remembered for her recurring roles on Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo is a children's television series which aired weekday mornings on the American television network CBS for nearly 30 years, from October 3, 1955 until December 8, 1984, making it the longest-running children's television program of its day...
.
Early life
Weems was born in Houston, TexasHouston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
to Benjamin and Rowene Weems, in a family with five sisters. During childhood her parents separated and each remarried. The family later relocated to Marlin
Marlin, Texas
Marlin is a city in Falls County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,628 at the 2000 census, but decreased to 5,967 by 2010. It is also the county seat of Falls County, and has been so since 1851...
, a town northwest of Houston.
During the 1960s, Weems attended the Interlochen Arts Academy
Interlochen Center for the Arts
Interlochen Center for the Arts is a privately owned, 1,200 acre arts education institution in Interlochen, Michigan, roughly 15 miles southwest of Traverse City...
in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. She played a lead role in productions such as Annie Get Your Gun
Annie Get Your Gun (musical)
Annie Get Your Gun is a musical with lyrics and music written by Irving Berlin and a book by Herbert Fields and his sister Dorothy Fields. The story is a fictionalized version of the life of Annie Oakley , who was a sharpshooter from Ohio, and her husband, Frank Butler.The 1946 Broadway production...
, The King and I
The King and I
The King and I is a stage musical, the fifth by the team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. The work is based on the 1944 novel Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon and derives from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, who became governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam in...
, and The Miracle Worker
The Miracle Worker
The Miracle Worker is a cycle of 20th century dramatic works derived from Helen Keller's autobiography The Story of My Life. Each of the various dramas describes the relationship between Keller—a deafblind and initially almost feral child—and Anne Sullivan, the teacher who introduced her to...
, as well as smaller roles in many other productions. She also attended the Boston Conservatory of Music for two years ('68/'70) where she captured leading roles in two major productions - Carnival and Once Upon A Mattress. Weems later moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where she appeared in an Off Broadway musical, Godspell
Godspell
Godspell is a musical by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak. It opened off Broadway on May 17, 1971, and has played in various touring companies and revivals many times since, including a 2011 revival now playing on Broadway...
. Weems was also a regular stock player at the Lakewood Theatre in Barnesville, Pennsylvania
Barnesville, Pennsylvania
Barnesville is an unincorporated community in Rush and Ryan Townships of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. Located in the northeastern part of the state, Barnesville lies within the anthracite coal region...
during 1970. Weems also appeared in various commercial
Television advertisement
A television advertisement or television commercial, often just commercial, advert, ad, or ad-film – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization that conveys a message, typically one intended to market a product...
s.
Captain Kangaroo
From 1973 to 1977, Weems appeared as a regular on the hit CBSCBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
daily children's series, Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo is a children's television series which aired weekday mornings on the American television network CBS for nearly 30 years, from October 3, 1955 until December 8, 1984, making it the longest-running children's television program of its day...
. In 1976, songs from the television series sung by Weems was released on an album, Debbie Weems Sings Songs from Captain Kangaroo, published by Wonderland Records. She was later featured in an article in the October 23, 1976 edition of TV Guide
TV Guide
TV Guide is a weekly American magazine with listings of TV shows.In addition to TV listings, the publication features television-related news, celebrity interviews, gossip and film reviews and crossword puzzles...
, called Don’t Tell Your Mom About Debbie, which was about her career on Captain Kangaroo.
Final years
Weems suffered from typecastingTypecasting (acting)
In TV, film, and theatre, typecasting is the process by which a particular actor becomes strongly identified with a specific character; one or more particular roles; or, characters having the same traits or coming from the same social or ethnic groups...
, in which people always identified her as "that cute girl on Captain Kangaroo", hindering her ability to get roles for movies and TV shows geared toward the adult age group. During her tenure on the show, Weems' only other role during this time was in the 1977 movie, Between the Lines where she played a small role of "Annie One". Shortly before her death, Weems was admitted to a residential treatment facility.
Death
Weems died on February 22, 1978, falling from the 16th floor of her apartment building. Her death has been considered a suicideSuicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
. Graveside funeral services were held February 25, 1978 at the family plot in Marlin, Texas
Marlin, Texas
Marlin is a city in Falls County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,628 at the 2000 census, but decreased to 5,967 by 2010. It is also the county seat of Falls County, and has been so since 1851...
.
Despite her death, episodes starring Weems continued to be televised through the summer of 1978.