She Became One Of Television's Most Familiar Faces
Millions of viewers remember Marge Redmond as Sister Jacqueline, the warm, witty nun who served as friend, mentor, and narrator on ABC's The Flying Nun. While Sally Field was the show's breakout star, Redmond's steady, understated performance earned her widespread praise and helped make the sitcom a television staple during its three-season run from 1967 to 1970.
She Didn't Start Out In Hollywood
Redmond was born Marjorie Redmond on December 14, 1924, in Cleveland, Ohio, and grew up in nearby Lakewood. Long before television fame, she worked as a bank typist and mail clerk while developing her acting skills in local theater productions, proving that her path to Hollywood was anything but overnight.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
Community Theater Was Her First Big Break
Her professional career began in stock theater companies around Cleveland, where she appeared in musicals and stage productions. Those early years gave her valuable experience performing live, something that later made her a dependable character actress on Broadway, television, and film.
Screenshot from The Rockford Files, NBC (1974–1980), Modified
She Built A Career On Stage Before Television
By the 1950s, Redmond had reached New York, where she appeared in stage productions including Phoenix '55. She also understudied stars like Judy Holliday in Bells Are Ringing, demonstrating the versatility and professionalism that would define her long career.
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Her Marriage Connected Her To Another Familiar Actor
In 1950, Redmond married actor Jack Weston, who would later become known for films like The Fortune Cookie and Dirty Dancing. The couple eventually moved to Los Angeles together after leaving Broadway, hoping television would provide new opportunities. It did, although the marriage later ended in divorce.
Screenshot from Dirty Dancing, Vestron Pictures (1987)
Hollywood Quickly Put Her To Work
After arriving in California in the late 1950s, Redmond became one of television's busiest guest stars. She appeared on series including The Twilight Zone, My Favorite Martian, Ben Casey, Perry Mason, and The Munsters, steadily building an impressive résumé before landing her signature role.
Screenshot from The Twilight Zone, CBS (1959–1964)
The Flying Nun Changed Everything
In 1967, Redmond was cast as Sister Jacqueline on The Flying Nun. Beyond acting as Sister Bertrille's closest confidante, she also narrated the series, making her voice just as recognizable to audiences as her face.
Screenshot from The Flying Nun, ABC (1967–1970)
Critics Took Notice Of Her Performance
Although The Flying Nun is usually associated with Sally Field, Redmond received the show's only Primetime Emmy nomination. She was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy in 1968, a testament to how much critics appreciated her performance.
Screenshot from The Flying Nun, ABC (1967–1970)
She Never Became Typecast
After the sitcom ended in 1970, Redmond avoided disappearing from television. Instead of relying on one famous role, she continued landing guest appearances across multiple decades, proving that casting directors valued her reliability and range.
Screenshot from The Flying Nun, ABC (1967–1970)
She Worked With Some Of Hollywood's Biggest Directors
Redmond quietly assembled an impressive film career alongside her television work. She appeared in Billy Wilder's The Fortune Cookie, Alfred Hitchcock's final film Family Plot, and Woody Allen's Manhattan Murder Mystery, giving her credits with three legendary filmmakers.
Viewers Probably Remembered Her From Commercials Too
Even people who never watched The Flying Nun often recognized Redmond as Sarah Tucker, the friendly innkeeper in a long-running series of Cool Whip television commercials during the 1970s. The campaign kept her familiar to audiences well after her sitcom days.
Screenshot from The Flying Nun, ABC (1967–1970)
Broadway Never Stopped Calling
Despite her television success, Redmond remained active in theater. She understudied Angela Lansbury in the original Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd and later appeared in The Dresser, continuing to balance stage work with screen acting.
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She Became A Reliable Television Character Actress
Throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, Redmond popped up everywhere. She appeared on The Rockford Files, Columbo, Matlock, Murphy Brown, Mama's Family, The Cosby Show, Law & Order, and dozens of other popular series that needed memorable supporting performers.
Screenshot from Columbo, NBC (1968-2003)
She Even Worked In Video Games
Late in her career, Redmond adapted to a changing entertainment industry by providing voice work for video games, including Max Payne 2 and Grand Theft Auto IV. It was another example of her willingness to embrace new opportunities well into her eighties.
She Preferred Working Over Celebrity
Unlike many television stars of her era, Redmond rarely sought the spotlight away from the camera. She gave relatively few high-profile interviews and instead focused on maintaining a steady acting career that lasted nearly five decades.
Screenshot from The Flying Nun, ABC (1967–1970)
Her Personal Life Stayed Largely Private
Following her divorce from Jack Weston, Redmond never remarried. She generally kept her personal life out of public view, allowing her work rather than her private affairs to define her reputation in Hollywood.
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She Continued Acting Into The 2000s
Redmond's final screen appearances came during the 2000s, capping a career that stretched from live theater to classic network television and eventually voice acting. Few performers successfully navigated so many different eras of entertainment.
Silver Screen Collection, Getty Images
Her End Was Quietly Announced
Redmond passed on February 10, 2020, at age 95 from natural causes. Interestingly, her passing was not publicly announced until several months later, when SAG-AFTRA included her in its In Memoriam publication before trade publications reported the news.
Screenshot from The Flying Nun, ABC (1967–1970)
Fans Rediscovered Her Legacy
As classic television found new audiences through streaming services and nostalgia programming, appreciation for Redmond's work has continued to grow. Her Emmy-nominated performance introduced many younger viewers to an actress whose career extended far beyond a single sitcom.
Screenshot from The Flying Nun, ABC (1967–1970)
She Helped Make The Flying Nun Work
While Sally Field understandably received most of the attention, Redmond's grounded performance gave the series emotional balance. Sister Jacqueline served as the show's wise center, helping audiences embrace even its most fantastical storylines.
Screenshot from The Flying Nun, ABC (1967–1970)
What Really Happened To Marge Redmond?
Nothing mysterious happened after The Flying Nun. Instead of fading away, Marge Redmond built one of television's most durable supporting careers, appearing in acclaimed films, hit television shows, Broadway productions, commercials, and even video games before quietly retiring. Though she never became a household superstar, she earned lasting respect as one of Hollywood's most dependable character actresses.
Screenshot from The Flying Nun, ABC (1967–1970)
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