Mary Healy

Mary Healy (April 14, 1918 – February 3, 2015) was an American actress, singer, and variety entertainer. Her career consisted of performing, nearly exclusively, with her husband, Peter Lind Hayes, for over 50 years.

Spouse - Peter Lind Hayes (m. 1940; d.1998)

Children

Cathy Lind Hayes
Peter Michael Hayes

Biography

Mary Healy was born April 14, 1918, in New Orleans, Louisiana. After being crowned Miss New Orleans in 1935, Healy's first screen role was in Josetta, where she had a bit part. However in 1939, she had a major role as Jean Patrick in Second Fiddle. Healy made her stage debut in Count Me In, opposite Charles Butterworth and Jean Arthur.

Healy was married to fellow entertainer Peter Lind Hayes from 1940 until his death in 1998. With few exceptions — most notably her role as Mrs. Aouda in Orson Welles' 1946 Broadway production of Around the World in 80 Days, a role that she would later reprise for the The Mercury Summer Theatre on the Air radio adaptation of the musical play — she and her husband worked together exclusively.

In 1949 Healy and Hayes were the first to sing the commercial jingle, "See the USA in Your Chevrolet", which later became a signature song for Dinah Shore. Among their joint ventures were television series including The Peter Lind Hayes Show (1950) and Star of the Family (1950–1952). In the 1960 NBC situation comedy, Peter Loves Mary, they portrayed a show business couple with two children who attempt to adjust to the culture shock of a move from New York City to the suburbs. Also, the couple were regular substitute hosts on Arthur Godfrey's television programs and were frequent guest panelists on What's My Line?

Healy and Hayes appeared in the 1953 cult fantasy film The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T and the 1958 Broadway comedy Who Was That Lady I Saw You With?

During the 1960s they starred in a WOR radio show, The Peter Lind-Mary Healy Show, broadcast weekday mornings from their home in New Rochelle.

Personal life

Healy and Hayes resided in Las Vegas, headlining 14 performances at the Sands Hotel. They were the parents of two adopted children – a son, Peter Michael Hayes, and a daughter, actress Cathy Lind Hayes.

Death

Healy died of natural causes on February 3, 2015, in Calabasas, California, aged 96.

Selected filmography

• Second Fiddle (1939)
• Star Dust (1940)
• He Married His Wife (1940)
• Zis Boom Bah (1941, with Peter Lind Hayes and his mother Grace Hayes)
• Strictly in the Groove (1942)
• The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T (1953, with Peter Lind Hayes)