Meredith MacRae American actress Date of Birth: 30.05.1944 Country: USA

Biography of Meredith MacRae

Meredith Lynn MacRae was an American actress, best known for her television roles as Billie Jo Bradley in the series "Petticoat Junction" and Sally Ann Morrison in "My Three Sons." She was born on May 30, 1944, in Houston, Texas, USA, to showbiz parents Gordon and Sheila MacRae. Her parents instilled in her a strong work ethic and wanted her to stand on her own two feet. Despite being able to afford a luxurious life in Beverly Hills, Meredith's family lived in a modest home in the San Fernando Valley. She helped around the house and took care of her younger sister and brothers in order to earn the things she wanted, from dolls to party dresses.

As a teenager, Meredith performed in summer theater productions, including "Take Me Along" with Dan Dailey, "Bye Bye Birdie" with Andy Williams, and "Annie Get Your Gun." She earned a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Although her parents were initially disappointed when she didn't graduate college, Meredith knew she wanted to continue her education. During a break from filming "My Three Sons," she returned to college and completed her degree. She later realized that it would have been a mistake to give up her education as she had learned so much that helped her in her career and life overall.

Meredith agreed to appear in the comedy musical "Bikini Beach" in 1964, the third installment in the "Beach Party" film series produced by American International Pictures (AIP). She made guest appearances in shows such as "The F.B.I.," "The Rockford Files," and "Fantasy Island." In the TV series "Webster," she played the character Amanda Parson, while in "CHiPS," she portrayed Beth, and in "Magnum, P.I.," she played Charlotte Graham. Meredith also appeared on various game shows, including "Funny You Should Ask," "Match Game," "What's My Line?," "I've Got a Secret," "Card Sharks," and "Family Feud." In the 1980s, she hosted "Mid-Morning Los Angeles" and won a local Emmy award for her interviewing skills. Later, she created and hosted the show "Born Famous," where she interviewed children of celebrities. Additionally, Meredith was involved in charity work, including fundraising for the American Cancer Society and serving as an honorary chairperson for the National Council on Alcoholism.

Meredith was married three times. Her first husband was Richard Berger, a representative from MGM. She then married actor Greg Mullavey, with whom she had her only daughter, Allison Mullavey. Her third husband was Philip Neal, a director of a Fortune 500 company. In the late 1990s, Meredith was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She underwent surgery, chemotherapy, and voluntarily took a new anti-cancer drug. However, on July 14, 2000, she passed away due to complications from brain cancer. Honoring her last wish, Meredith's body was cremated, and her ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. Her widower, Philip Neal, passed away from a heart attack on October 29, 2008.