Channing Chase Passes On

Channing Chase, an actress who played Pete Campbell's mother Dorothy on Mad Men and also appeared on such shows as Night Court and ER, died on October 6 2018. She was 79 years old.

Channing Chase was born on June 25 1939 in Nashua, New Hampshire.She earned a Bachelor of Arts at the the University of New Hampshire. She made her first appearance on stage at the Charles Playhouse in Boston. She later went to New York City where she established a career in commercials. She appeared in commercials for Toyota, United Airlines, McDonald's, Progressive, Discover, Glade, and First Nationwide Bank. She appeared at the LaMaMa Theatre in New York City and toured with the musical "Promises, Promises"

In 1982 she moved to Hollywood. In 1984 she made her television debut in the TV movie My Mother's Secret Life. In the Eighties she guest starred on such shows as Duck Factory, Santa Barbara, One Big Family, Newhart, Night Court, Out of This World, and Murphy Brown. She appeared in several TV movies, including Billionaire Boys Club. She appeared in the feature films Surrender (1987), No Man's Land (1987), Chances Are (1989), The Rain Killer (1990), and The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990). In the Nineties she appeared in four episode story arc on the TV show ER. She guest starred on such shows as Empty Nest, Sisters, Family Matters, Diagnosis Murder, Coach, Cybill, Home Improvement, and Port Charles. In the Nineties she appeared in the films Clifford (1994) and The Big Day (1999).

From the Naughts into the Teens Miss Chase played the recurring role of Dorothy "Dot" Campbell on Mad Men. During the Naughts she also appeared on the shows Emeril, Life with Bonnie, Cold Case, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, and Courting Alex. She appeared in the films Stealing Havard (2002), You Did What? (2006), Americanizing Shelley (2007), Evan Almighty (2007), and Stolen Lives (2009). Her last appearance on television was in the TV movie My Santa in 2013. Her last appearance on screen was in the feature film This Lonely Place in 2014.

Channing Chase was a very talented actress, although over the years she played more than her share of patrician characters. She certainly had a knack for playing blue bloods. In some respects, the role of Dorothy Campbell was simply another such character. That having been said, the role did give her a chance to display her acting talent. Later in the show's run, Mrs. Campbell developed dementia and her behaviour became erratic, something that Miss Chase played perfectly. While Channing Chase played mostly aristocratic roles, she had the talent to make each one different.