Melanie Morse MacQuarrie
Encyclopedia
Melanie Virginia Sydney Morse MacQuarrie (June 13, 1945 - February 1, 2005) was a Canadian actress.
and Sydney Sturgess
and sister of Hayward Morse
. She was born in London, England, but lived in Canada
from the age of six. She earned the nickname "Big Mel," having made several newspaper headlines in London as one of the largest babies born in the United Kingdom
, at 11 pounds, 9 ounces.
(RADA) in London.
Her film work includes roles in Prom Night with Jamie Lee Curtis
and Leslie Nielsen
, as well as Murder by Phone with Richard Chamberlain
. On-stage she performed in such diverse venues as stages in Boston
, Massachusetts
and the Stratford Festival of Canada
, in productions including Peter Pan and Much Ado About Nothing. Her TV appearances include Noises in the Nursery, Drought, and the popular Canadian television series Street Legal
.
from a heart attack
.
Background
MacQuarrie was the daughter of actors Barry MorseBarry Morse
Herbert "Barry" Morse was an Anglo-Canadian actor of stage, screen, and radio best known for his roles in the ABC television series The Fugitive and the British sci-fi drama Space: 1999...
and Sydney Sturgess
Sydney Sturgess
Dorothy Anna "Sydney" Sturgess was a British-Canadian actress. She is best known for her work with the Shaw Festival and the Stratford Festival of Canada...
and sister of Hayward Morse
Hayward Morse
Hayward Morse is a British stage and voice actor. His career began on CBC television and with numerous stage performances in Canada and the United States. He made his USA television debut in 1959 with Ingrid Bergman in the critically acclaimed film The Turn of the Screw...
. She was born in London, England, but lived in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
from the age of six. She earned the nickname "Big Mel," having made several newspaper headlines in London as one of the largest babies born in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, at 11 pounds, 9 ounces.
Career
She worked professionally as a child actor and later as an adult, when she was sometimes billed by her married name Melanie Morse MacQuarrie. She received a scholarship at the age of 19 to the Royal Academy of Dramatic ArtRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art
The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art is a drama school located in London, United Kingdom. It is generally regarded as one of the most renowned drama schools in the world, and is one of the oldest drama schools in the United Kingdom, having been founded in 1904.RADA is an affiliate school of the...
(RADA) in London.
Her film work includes roles in Prom Night with Jamie Lee Curtis
Jamie Lee Curtis
Jamie Lee Curtis is an American actress and author. Although she was initially known as a "scream queen" because of her starring roles in several horror films early in her career, such as Halloween, The Fog, Prom Night and Terror Train, Curtis has since compiled a body of work that spans many...
and Leslie Nielsen
Leslie Nielsen
Leslie William Nielsen, OC was a Canadian and naturalized American actor and comedian. Nielsen appeared in more than one hundred films and 1,500 television programs over the span of his career, portraying more than 220 characters...
, as well as Murder by Phone with Richard Chamberlain
Richard Chamberlain
George Richard Chamberlain is an American actor of stage and screen who became a teen idol in the title role of the television show Dr. Kildare .-Early life:...
. On-stage she performed in such diverse venues as stages in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and the Stratford Festival of Canada
Stratford Festival of Canada
The Stratford Shakespeare Festival is an internationally recognized annual celebration of theatre running from April to November in the Canadian city of Stratford, Ontario...
, in productions including Peter Pan and Much Ado About Nothing. Her TV appearances include Noises in the Nursery, Drought, and the popular Canadian television series Street Legal
Street Legal (TV series)
Street Legal is a Canadian television series, which aired on CBC Television from 1987 to 1994.-Synopsis:A spinoff from the 1985 television movie Shellgame, Street Legal focused on the professional and private lives of the partners in a small Toronto, Ontario law firm, Barr, Robinovitch and Tchobanian...
.
Death
She died in Montague, Prince Edward IslandMontague, Prince Edward Island
Montague is a Canadian town and the largest population centre in Kings County, Prince Edward Island.The town straddles the Montague River which is the dividing line between the townships of Lot 52 and Lot 59. The town functions as a regional service centre for a rural population of 20,000...
from a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
.