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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Family, friends, and fans across Texas and the |
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nation mourn the loss of celebrated actress and Abilene native |
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Carole Cook, who passed away on January 11, 2023, at the age of 98; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Born Mildred Frances Cook on January 14, 1924, |
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Carole Cook graduated in 1945 from Baylor University, where she |
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studied Greek drama; after working in regional theater, she made it |
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to Broadway in 1954 in a revival of Threepenny Opera; she was in a |
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production of Kismet in Warren, Ohio, when she was contacted by |
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legendary actress Lucille Ball, who encouraged her to travel to |
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California to audition for her Desilu Workshop company of young |
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actors; it was Ms. Ball who would later suggest she change her name |
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and offered "Carole" in honor of her friend Carole Lombard, because |
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the two shared "the same healthy disrespect for all things in |
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general"; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Cook signed with Desilu, and in 1960, she made |
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her television debut in U.S. Marshal; known for her appearances on |
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The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy, she had memorable turns on countless |
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television shows, including Starsky and Hutch, Charlie's Angels, |
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Knight Rider, Laverne and Shirley, The Love Boat, |
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Murder, She Wrote, and Grey's Anatomy; and |
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WHEREAS, Along the way, Ms. Cook garnered roles in numerous |
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films; in 1963, she appeared in Palm Springs Weekend, and the |
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following year, she costarred with Don Knotts in |
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The Incredible Mr. Limpet; in the 1980s, she was cast in American |
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Gigolo and Grandview, U.S.A., and she won acclaim for her comedic |
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role as Molly Ringwald's grandmother in Sixteen Candles; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to her extensive work in film and |
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television, Ms. Cook was the star of several stage productions; she |
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followed Carol Channing as the second actress to portray Dolly Levi |
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in Hello, Dolly! and went on to perform in the original Broadway |
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productions of Romantic Comedy and 42nd Street; moreover, she |
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received a Helen Hayes Award nomination for her work on the national |
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tour of Steel Magnolias, and in 2023, the Texas Cultural Trust |
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honored her with its Medal of Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement in |
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Musical Theatre; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Cook married actor Tom Troupe in March 1964, and |
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the couple enjoyed a rewarding union that spanned nearly six |
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decades; over the years, they acted together in such plays as The |
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Lion in Winter and Father's Day and raised money for those living |
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with HIV/AIDS; and |
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WHEREAS, Whether on stage, screen, or film, Carole Cook |
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delighted audiences with humor, irreverence, and prodigious |
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talent, and her work will forever remain a source of joy and |
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inspiration; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Carole Cook and extend |
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sincere condolences to the members of her family: to her husband, |
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Tom Troupe; to her stepson, Christopher, and his wife, Becky; to her |
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sister, Regina; to her nieces and nephews; and to all who mourn her |
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passing; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Carole |
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Cook. |