Actress Frances Bergen (mother of Candice Bergen)dies in Los Angeles at 84

[The Straight Story]

Actress Frances Bergen dies in Los Angeles at 84
The Associated Press | Tuesday, Oct 3 2006 7:15 PM

Last Updated: Tuesday, Oct 3 2006 7:15 PM

Frances Bergen, a model and actress who married ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and was the mother of actress Candice Bergen, has died. She was 84.

Bergen died Monday at a Los Angeles hospital after a prolonged illness, Heidi Schaeffer, a publicist for Candice Bergen, said Tuesday. She declined to specify the illness.

Born Frances Westerman in Birmingham, Ala., she moved to Los Angeles with her mother after her father died of tuberculosis.

When she was 19, she attended a recording of "The Edgar Bergen/Charlie McCarthy Show" and caught the attention of the 39-year-old vaudevillian who, with his impish, top-hatted dummy Charlie, hosted radio's highest-rated programs at the time.

The two met and married following more than a year of courtship. She later launched a successful modeling career and became the face of the iconic "Chesterfield Girl" and "Ipana Girl" advertisements.

Her glamorous marriage to one of America's most famous celebrities was closely watched. When she gave birth in 1946 to their first child, Candice, it made headline news. The infant made her first public appearance in a magazine advertisement with her parents.

http://www.bakersfield.com/119/story/77013.html

[Radio_Lady]

1. How sad! I wonder if Candice Bergen will write a book about her

very odd childhood, in which she states that she sat on her father, Edgar Bergen's knee on one side, with her little wooden brother, Charlie McCarthy, the ventroliquist's dummy, on the other.

Edgar mouthed the words for BOTH children while pulling Charlie's string and signaling his daughter with his finger (on her neck, I think, but I could be wrong).

Candice has said she's just glad she survived her childhood. I've never heard much about her mother.

In peace,

Radio_Lady in Oregon

PS. I listened to Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy when I was little. I loved Candice Bergen in "Murphy Brown" and now on "Boston Legal." She's one of my favorite actresses. Smart and wry and beautiful! RIP to her mother, Frances. Candice now begins a journey free of her parents -- it's sad but somehow, you learn so much about them when they depart -- and it leads to a certain freedom.

[calimary]

3. She did - it was called "Knock Wood."

Pretty good book, too. An interesting look inside.

[Radio_Lady]

5. I remember now -- sorry for not having complete recall at 12 Midnight!

I've never read the book. The hardcover released in 1984, so she has a lot more ground to cover if she writes another book. Thanks for posting and straightening me out!

http://www.amazon.com/Knock-Wood-Candice-Bergen/dp/0671252941


Photo of Frances Bergen

[kskiska]

6. Edgar Bergen was one of the worst ventriloquists

It's a good thing he was mostly on radio.

[Radio_Lady]

8. Yes, I agree. Bergen was good enough for radio, but Paul Winchell, now

deceased, was talented enough for television -- and more.



His web site is still working at:

http://www.paulwinchell.com/

RIP, Paul Winchell and Jerry Mahoney

[cmkramer]

7. She has a real younger brother too

He's quite a bit younger than her -- I believe he's in his mid forties now. Last time I saw or heard anything about him, he was about 5 or 6, so I have no idea what he's doing now.

[Radio_Lady]

9. Here's a link that might help:

http://www.obituariestoday.com/Obituaries/ObitShow.cfm?Obituary_ID=30649§ion=pin



"In 1962, Kris Bergen was born. Bergen finally had a flesh-and-blood son, and because Kris had his own flesh-and-blood sister, he was spared the jokes about his "wooden brothers." Kris had a strong bond with his aging father and would usually accompany Bergen on his performances."

From one obituary:
http://www.pr-inside.com/frances-bergen-dies-r21135.htm

Veteran model-turned-actress FRANCES BERGEN has died in Los Angeles after a long illness. She was 84. Bergen, the wife of late ventriloquist EDGAR BERGEN and mother of actress CANDICE BERGEN, passed away at the Cedar-Sinai Medical Center on Monday (02OCT06). The cause of death has not been revealed. Bergen was born Frances Westerman in Birmingham, Alabama before moving to Hollywood with her mother after her father died. Her husband passed away in 1978. Bergen is survived by Candice, her son KRIS BERGEN and a granddaughter.

[Radio_Lady]

10. UPDATE: IMDB reveals Kris Bergen worked in film industry up until 1999.

That's about all there is on the Internet.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0074053/

[WernhamHogg]

2. Sad news

Oddly enough, while I was at work today I started thinking about the show Murphy Brown for no particular reason. Maybe I'm psychic*! ;-)

(*Or maybe I just have a really boring job)

[Radio_Lady]

4. Here's your fantasy at work, Wernham...

[stanwyck]

11. Plus, Candace is one of us

a liberal. I read an interview with her in one of the women's magazines. She's currently on "Boston Legal" fending off the attentions of Denny Crane (William Shatner) and Alan Shore (James Spader).

[Radio_Lady]

12. Right you are! (No pun intended.) Thanks for posting!

We missed the episode last night. How was it?

[stanwyck]

13. OK. But not up to previous standards

so far, this season has been a little flat. Missing the wackiness. They've introduced some new lawyers and the shows still feel too unfocused and jittery. Lots of noise but not much controversy or fun.
And no wonderful Alan Shore rants, yet.
Plus, last night had that tiresome Tom Selleck character back with his annoying wife.
You haven't missed much. But I haven't given up.

[Radio_Lady]

14. Thanks, Stanwyck. Hmmm -- no profile -- have we met before?

Related to or admirer or Barbara Stanwyck, or ????

Just curious...

Nice to meet you at the DU!

In peace,

Radio_Lady in Oregon