Godspeed Mitzi McCall

Mitzi McCall, who formed one half of the comedy team McCall & Brill with her Charlie Brill and appeared on such shows as Laugh-In and Life Goes On, died on August 8 2024 at the age of 93. She and Charlie Brill appeared on the same Ed Sullivan Show on which The Beatles made their first appearance.

Mitzi McCall was born Mitzi Steiner on September 9 1930 in Pittsburgh.  She made her stage debut at the Pittsburgh Plahouse in the play Strange Bedfellows in 1948. In the early Fifties she hosted the children's program Kiddie Castle on KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh. She moved to Hollywood in the mid-Fifties and it was through Bob Hope's wife Dolores (Mitzi's mother had known the Hopes) that she received a meeting with agent Mitchell Gertz. She was signed to Paramount.

Mitzi McCall made her TV debut on an episode of The Colgate Comedy Hour in 1954. She made her film debut in You're Never Too Young in 1955. In the late Fifties she appeared in the movies War of the Satellites (2958), Machine Gun Kelly (1958), and The Cry Baby Killer (1958). She guest starred on The Twilight Zone and The Dennis O'Keefe Show. She also joined the Jerry Lewis Comedy Workshop, where she met Charlie Brill for the first time. Mitzi McCall had been part of a comedy team with Joan Shawlee (best known for playing Buddy's wife Pickles on The Dick Van Dyke Show). When Joan Shawlee left the team, Charlie Brill took her place. Mitzi McCall and Charlie Brill were married in 1960. The comedy team was signed by the William Morris Agency.

In the Sixties McCall & Brill appeared on several variety shows on television, most famously on The Ed Sullivan Show on which The Beatles first appeared. Sadly, their act was not well-received by the audience, which was composed mostly of teenage girls. In addition to The Ed Sullivan Show they also appeared on Tonight Starring Jack Paar, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Gypsy, Pat Boone in Hollywood, The Steve Allen Show, Operation Entertainment, The Mike Douglas Show, The Jey Bishop Show, The Johnny Cash Show, Della, The Hollywood Palace, and Playboy After Dark. They were recurring performers on Here's Edie, The Lively Ones and Laugh-In. Mitzi McCall guest starred on Hot Off the Wire and 87th Precinct.

In the Seventies McCall & Brill appeared on such variety shows, game shows, and talk shows as The Virginia Graham Show, The Merv Griffin Show, Match Game, Rhyme and Rason, Celebrity Sweepstakes, Tattletales, Liar's Club, and Beat the Clock. She was the voice of Penny on The Pebbles and Bam Bam Show an subsequent cartoons spun off from it. She guest stared on Love, American Style; The Girl with Something Extra; Maude, and Family.

In the Eighties Mitzi McCall provided voices for the television cartoons The Richie Rich/Scooby Doo Show, The Fonz and the Happy Days Gang, Snorks, and Paw Paws. She was a guest voice on  Lucky Luke and Gravedale High,. She guest starred on the shows The Twilight Zone and Dragnet. She appeared in the movie White Palace (1990).

In the Nineties Mitzi McCall had recurring roles on Life Goes On, Alright Already, and Silk Stalkings. She provided voices for Yo Yogi!, Darkwing Duck, and Mother Goose and Grimm. She was a guest voice on TaleSpin, Bobby's World, Duckman Private Dick;Family Man, Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Cow and Chicken, Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, Hey, Arnold!, Histeria, and The Wild Thornberrys. She guest starred on Roseanne, Seinfeld, Hot Line, Madman of the People, Ellen, Almost Perfect, ABC Afternoon Specials, Caroline in the City, Edtv, Becker, and Dharma & Greg.

In the Naughts she had a recurring role on Free for All. She guest starred on the soap opera Port Charles, 7th Heaven, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Hannah Montana, and Chuck. she was a guest voice on American Dad!. She appeared in the movies Hard Four (2007), World's Greatest Dad (2009), Limbo Lounge (2010, and Birds of a Feather (2010). She provided voices for several video games. In the Teens she guest starred on The Regular Show and was a guest voice on Adventures in Odyssey, She provided voices for the live-action movie Crimson Peak (2015).

Mitzi McCall was also a writer who wrote for several TV show over the years. She wrote episodes of the shows Here's Edie, 13 Queen's Boulevard, Eight is Enough, The Stockard Channing Show, Ladies' Man, One Day at a Time, It's Not Easy, Small Wonder, Rocky Road, ALF, Mr. Belvedere, Charles in Charge and Free for All. She was an executive script consultant on It's Not Easy and Charles in Charge.

Whether with her partner and husband Charlie Brill or alone, Mitzi McCall was a very funny lady. McCall & Brill perfected a character-driven form of sketch comedy centred on human relationships. While their marriage lasted over sixty years, they were exceptional at playing bickering couples. On their many appearances on game shows, they displayed considerable wit and a talent for innuendo. Mitzi McCall had a talent for comedy and broke new ground for women in the field.