Mary Ellen Kay | |
---|---|
Born | Mary Ellen Keaggy August 29, 1929
Boardman, Ohio, U.S. |
Died | 2017 (aged 87–88) |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1950–1966 (film) |
Spouse |
Tim Ruffalo
(
m. 1963; died 1993) |
Children | 1 |
Relatives | Phil Keaggy (brother) |
Mary Ellen Ruffalo ( née Keaggy, August 29, 1929 – 2017), better known as Mary Ellen Kay, was an American television and film actress. [1]
Kay was born in Boardman, Ohio, on August 29, 1929. [2] She was one of ten siblings and the sister of virtuoso guitarist Phil Keaggy. Her brother credits her with introducing him to the Christian faith. [3] Prior to her acting career, Kay was a singer, having started at the age of 6. She later toured with Gene Ryan's orchestra, and by the time she was 17, she had become a headliner in supper clubs. Her initial foray into acting occurred through Little Theatre productions in the Hollywood area. [4] Kay co-starred with Rex Allen in 19 western films. [2]
In 1963, she married her second husband, Tim Ruffalo. They had one son, Bill, and remained together until his passing from a stroke in 1993. [5] In an interview dated August 14, 2018, Kay's brother, Phil Keaggy, revealed that Mary Ellen had passed away in 2017 at the age of 87. [6]
Mary Ellen Kay | |
---|---|
Born | Mary Ellen Keaggy August 29, 1929
Boardman, Ohio, U.S. |
Died | 2017 (aged 87–88) |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1950–1966 (film) |
Spouse |
Tim Ruffalo
(
m. 1963; died 1993) |
Children | 1 |
Relatives | Phil Keaggy (brother) |
Mary Ellen Ruffalo ( née Keaggy, August 29, 1929 – 2017), better known as Mary Ellen Kay, was an American television and film actress. [1]
Kay was born in Boardman, Ohio, on August 29, 1929. [2] She was one of ten siblings and the sister of virtuoso guitarist Phil Keaggy. Her brother credits her with introducing him to the Christian faith. [3] Prior to her acting career, Kay was a singer, having started at the age of 6. She later toured with Gene Ryan's orchestra, and by the time she was 17, she had become a headliner in supper clubs. Her initial foray into acting occurred through Little Theatre productions in the Hollywood area. [4] Kay co-starred with Rex Allen in 19 western films. [2]
In 1963, she married her second husband, Tim Ruffalo. They had one son, Bill, and remained together until his passing from a stroke in 1993. [5] In an interview dated August 14, 2018, Kay's brother, Phil Keaggy, revealed that Mary Ellen had passed away in 2017 at the age of 87. [6]