Written by: Isabel Sanchez

Reta Shaw: The Unsung Heroine of Film and Television

Reta Shaw was an American character actress known for playing strong, hard-edged, working women in film and on many popular television programs of the 1960s and 1970s in the United States. She may be best remembered as the housekeeper, Martha Grant, on the television series The Ghost and Mrs. Muir and as the cook, Mrs. Brill, in the 1964 film Mary Poppins.

Early Life and Beginnings

Shaw was born on September 13, 1912, in South Paris, Maine, to Howard Shaw, an orchestra leader. Her younger sister, Marguerite Shaw, was also an actress. Shaw grew up in a family that believed in spiritualism and reportedly was brought up on a Ouija board. She was a graduate of the Leland Powers School of the Theater in Boston, Massachusetts.

Career Highlights

Shaw's first credited appearance on the Broadway stage was in 1947's It Takes Two. She then appeared in Virginia Reel and on Broadway in a comedic role as Mabel in the original production of The Pajama Game in 1954, as well as in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Picnic, and Annie Get Your Gun, the last on tour with Mary Martin.

She had featured roles in several motion pictures, including Picnic, The Pajama Game, Mary Poppins, Pollyanna, The Ghost and Mr. Chicken, Bachelor in Paradise, and Escape to Witch Mountain.

Television Appearances

Shaw appeared in the first season (1958-1959) of The Ann Sothern Show in the role of Flora Macauley, the overbearing wife of Jason Macauley, played by Ernest Truex. She appeared in Pollyanna in 1960 as Tillie Langerlof.

In the 1960-1961 season, she played the housekeeper Thelma on The Tab Hunter Show. She played a housekeeper in the 1961-1962 series Ichabod and Me and the Wiere Brothers' landlady, Mrs. Stansfield, in Oh Those Bells in 1962.

In 1961, she was cast as Cora in the episode "Uncle Paul's New Wife" of Pete and Gladys, starring Harry Morgan and Cara Williams.

Legacy and Impact

Reta Shaw's legacy lies in her incredible range as an actress, playing strong, independent women in various roles on film and television. Her iconic roles in Mary Poppins and The Ghost and Mrs. Muir continue to inspire and entertain audiences to this day.

Shaw's impact on modern society can be seen in the many strong, independent female characters that followed in her footsteps, paving the way for future generations of actresses to take on more substantial and complex roles.

Trivia and Fun Facts

• Reta Shaw's sister, Marguerite Shaw, was also an actress.
• Shaw was a graduate of the Leland Powers School of the Theater in Boston, Massachusetts.
• She reportedly was brought up on a Ouija board, reflecting her family's spiritualist beliefs.