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Catherine McLeod

Catherine McLeod

Actor · Died May 11, 1997, aged 75 · Santa Monica, California, USA

Catherine McLeod (July 2, 1921 – May 11, 1997) was an American actress who made over sixty television and movie appearances between 1944 and 1976. She memorably portrayed the one woman whom James Garner's character Bret Maverick wanted to marry on the 1957 television series Maverick, in the episode "Rage for Vengeance," and appeared in literally dozens of other series including The Millionaire, Meet McGraw, Richard Diamond, Private Detective, 77 Sunset Strip, Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer, Bronco, Perry Mason, Colt .45, Lawman, Bonanza, Hawaiian Eye, Have Gun - Will Travel, The Outer Limits, The Virginian, and the Ten Thousand Horses Singing episode of Studio One opposite James Dean and John Forsythe. Movies included Frank Borzage's I've Always Loved You (1946), Courage of Lassie (1946), The Fabulous Texan (1947), That's My Man (1947), Old Los Angeles (1948), My Wife's Best Friend (1952), A Blueprint for Murder (1953), William Witney's The Outcast (1954), Ride the Wild Surf (1964), and Lipstick (1976). McLeod's greatest impact upon American consciousness by far, however, was as purveyor of one of the most ubiquitous catchphrases of its era when she portrayed the woman in the 1963 headache remedy television commercial who plaintively but irritably said, "Mother, please! I'd rather do it myself!" The announcer's voiceover would then intone, "Sure you have a headache... tense, irritable.... but don't take it out on her." Description above from the Wikipedia article Catherine McLeod, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 2, 1921
Died
May 11, 1997 (aged 75)
From
Santa Monica, California, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
18 on MovieCove · 51 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 70% in 30 days

What are Catherine McLeod's films like?

Across their 7 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Morality.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
35%
Morality
22%
Survival
20%
Bonds
20%
Society
3%
Purpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 7 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 5 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 0 · Charged 5 · Intense 2

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 3 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 0

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 3 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 6 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
5
Warm
3
Dread
1
Joyful
1
Hopeful
2
Other
6

How their films linger

Hopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet3
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Catherine McLeod's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 10 of their 18 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Roku Channel (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Catherine McLeod's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

51 credits, 18 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Lipstick(1976)

    as Vogue Lady

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Marcus Welby, M.D.(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Pate

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • The F.B.I. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Lorraine Fryes

  • Ride the Wild Surf(1964)

    as Mrs. Kilua

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Outer Limits(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Abby Kagan

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • The Virginian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Amy Sturgis · as Mary Mallory

  • The Sergeant Was a Lady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Maj. Hay

  • 87th Precinct (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Cain's Hundred (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 2 episodes · as Secretary

  • Tammy Tell Me True(1961)

    as Mrs. Bateman

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Angel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Stagecoach West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Emily Walker

  • Coronado 9 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Martha Travis

  • Hawaiian Eye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. McClure

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • One Step Beyond(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Mary Dermott

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • 77 Sunset Strip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Bronco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Return to Warbow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Kathleen Fallam

  • Alcoa Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Edie

  • Maverick(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Margaret Ross

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Perry Mason(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Lorraine Ferrell · as Nora Huxley

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Have Gun, Will Travel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Richard Diamond, Private Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Mildred Tyler

  • Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Effie Fallon · as Myra Hanscom

  • State Trooper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Matinee Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Gunsmoke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Letty Rickers · as Lizzie

  • The Outcast(1954)

    as Alice Austin

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Heart of Juliet Jones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Juliet Jones

  • Public Defender (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Loretta Young Show(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Martha Patton

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • A Blueprint for Murder(1953)

    as Maggie Sargent

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Sword of Venus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Claire

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Isabel Harris

  • My Wife's Best Friend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Jane Richards

  • Four Star Playhouse(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Leila · as Nora

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • 10,000 Horses Singing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as D. D. Dillward

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Bess Maguire

  • Lux Video Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Grace · as Sandra

  • So Young, So Bad(1950)

    as Ruth Levering

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Suspense (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Studio One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · as Bessie · as D. D. Dillward · as Monica Dixon · as Sgt. Shirley Marsh

  • The Philco Television Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Old Los Angeles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Marie Marlowe

  • The Fabulous Texan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Josie Allen

  • That's My Man(1947)

    as Ronnie Grange

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • I've Always Loved You(1946)

    as Myra Hassman

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Courage of Lassie(1946)

    as Alice Merrick

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Harvey Girls(1946)

    as Louise (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Forever Yours (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Martha

Career shape

Star power in the 61st percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 51 titles from 1945 to 1976.

Highest rated

I've Always Loved You (1946)

Midcredits 72nd

Most popular right now

Courage of Lassie (1946)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting51 of 51: 51 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score67th

By decade

1940s10 · acting1950s28 · acting1960s12 · acting1970s1 · acting

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Catherine McLeod's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 51st percentile, the median of all 10; across their 7 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 51st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Approval · how many liked their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Reach · how many have seen their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Midcredits score across 18 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th6

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 18 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed4

Most loved · actor

The Harvey Girls (1946)

Midcredits 79th · 72% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 7 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 48. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Catherine McLeod work with?

People who share at least 2 of Catherine McLeod's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Frank Borzage shares the most, 2.

Directors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers