Mary Ellen Ruffalo (née Keaggy, August 29, 1929 – 2017), better known as Mary Ellen Kay, was an American television and film actress.[1]

Mary Ellen Kay
Mary Ellen Kay in Government Agents vs. Phantom Legion (1951)
Born
Mary Ellen Keaggy

(1929-08-29)August 29, 1929
Died2017 (aged 87–88)
OccupationActress
Years active1950–1966 (film)
Spouse
Tim Ruffalo
(m. 1963; died 1993)
Children1
RelativesPhil Keaggy (brother)

Biography

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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]

Selected filmography

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References

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  1. ^ Drew p.109
  2. ^ a b Fitzgerald, Michael G.; Magers, Boyd (2006). Ladies of the Western: Interviews with Fifty-One More Actresses from the Silent Era to the Television Westerns of the 1950s and 1960s. McFarland. pp. 112–120. ISBN 9781476607962. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  3. ^ Phil Keaggy (March 27, 2015). Worship in Song and Guitar Artistry (concert). Wheaton College: Wheaton College. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  4. ^ Adams, Marjory (June 15, 1954). "Mary Ellen Kay in Show Business at Age 6; Now Young Film Veteran". The Boston Globe. Massachusetts, Boston. p. 38. Retrieved October 22, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.  
  5. ^ "Mary Kay Ellen interview". Western Clippings. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  6. ^ "God Saved Me For A Purpose – Phil Keaggy Pt. 1". Cultivated podcast. August 14, 2018. pp. 5:30. Retrieved January 27, 2022.

Bibliography

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  • Bernard A. Drew. Motion Picture Series and Sequels: A Reference Guide. Routledge, 2013.
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