Legendary Carole Cook is remembered well by those who knew her best
It seems that the only thing most of the celebrity newsfeed channels could say about the passing of comedian/actress Carole Cooke is that she was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service for a comment she made about Donald Trump when he was elected to the office of President.
Cook died on January 11 just three days before her 99th birthday. Her nephew Mark Cocanougher posted on Facebook that “my dear aunt Carole departed in peace…having lived a long and wonderful life doing the work that she loved.”
The work she loved according to those who knew Cook well such as, David Galligan was entertaining and charitable work.
He remembered the very first time he met Cook. “It was at a special party that was planned for Carole,” he said.
“She was returning home from Australia after playing the lead in the touring production of ‘Hello Dolly.’ Carole was the first to portray Dolly after Carol Channing. Australian audiences loved her,” said Galligan.
Galligan met Cook through actor Ray Stricklyn. Galligan surmised that Stricklyn and Cook became friends quickly because they were both from Texas. “I didn’t know anyone at the coming home party, said Galligan, but Carole made me feel right at home. She was so wonderful.”
Noting that Cook was larger than life in more ways than just show business, “I knew inwardly and instantly I loved this woman,” Galligan said.
Like his longtime friend Stricklyn, Galligan was an actor. “I enjoyed acting but it gave up on me and I then went into journalism,” said Galligan. His writing for mostly trade publications and theatrical news/critique, brought him into directing plays and various productions/awards ceremonies like Drama Critics Circle Awards.
Among shows he directed was benefit shows like, S.T.A.G.E. (Southland Theater Artists Goodwill Event) Gala. “S.T.A.G.E. is among the longest running AIDS benefit shows around,” said Galligan. “And, Carole was always eager to help.” He added.
While some celebrity news feeds like Facts Verse on YouTube did mention Cook’s longevity in television and movies, as Galligan pointed out. “She enjoyed being on stage.”
He remembers with much appreciation the stage production he directed of ‘Lion in Winter.’ “Carole was marvelous in it, to great success,” said Galligan.
Yet he laughed as he recalled, “I was always conscious of her natural Texas drawl,” he said. There were times when she would slip into it and I would say to Carol. Remember you are supposed to be Eleanor of Aquitaine, and not a Eleanor from Abilene!”
Cooks ability to remain current helped her to get roles in contemporary films such as “Sixteen Candles” with Molly Ringwald and “American Gigilo” with Richard Gere, in the 1980s. To some film critics, those are among the definitive classics of the era.
Yet some, attribute her longevity to Cook’s humor. Like Lawrence Helman observed. “There is nothing so funny and or irreverent than seeing a show biz professional over 80 telling hysterically funny, off-the-cuff jokes and slaying the crowd into fits of laughter.”
For more than 20 years Helman has been doing the PR for the Richmond / Ermet Aid Foundation (REAF).
Helman mentioned “There are two big events that REAF does, HELP IS ON THE WAY — a large benefit for REAF and Equity Fights AIDS.”
“Carole performed regularly at REAF’s annual summer “Help is on the Way” gala benefiting local AIDS, hunger and homeless youth services, said Ken Henderson. Executive Director of. The Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation (REAF). Her dedication was appreciated as Henderson added. “She was often referred to as REAF’s Grand Diva.”
As Henderson reminisced, “one year when Carole was having severe abdominal pains and could hardly stand up straight. We kept telling her she couldn’t go on and we should get her some medical attention,” said Henderson.
Yet as he pointed out. “Carole refused and when the music started for her entrance, she drew herself up tall, marched on stage and gave one of her best performances of her many years of doing our benefits.”
“Her pain, we found out later, said Henderson was from a kidney stone that she eventually passed. But she was so dedicated and committed to the cause, even that kidney stone could not keep her off the stage.”
In 2018, Carole was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her dedicated service & commitment to REAF and for the S.T.A.G.E AIDS benefits in Los Angeles.
To understand the extent of the charity work Helman said. “Help Is On The Way, they do a Summer show and a Holiday show in December.”
“For all those years I have worked with REAF, said Helman, Carole did the big Summer show in August. She always went on stage last to close the show — with a bang,” he said. Adding, “Carole always was irreverent and she delivered.”
Which might be why the Secret Service were on the alert when Cook allegedly commented something politically outspoken and outlandish to the effect of “Where’s a John Wilkes Booth when you need him!”
Facts Verse, and other celebrity news reports noted, Cook was a longtime advocate of the LGBTQ community. All relationships were important to Cook as Helman said. “Carole’s long-standing marriage to her devoted husband (actor) Tom Troupe set the bar for a great partnership. They adored each other.”
As a stage and production director for over 33 years Galligan was quick to say. “Carole was always helping people, she almost never missed a charity event, he said. She was a ‘mother hen’ and I want people to know, Carole was one of the most unselfish people I have ever met. If there was a charity or benefit that needed help, Carole was there. I wouldn’t do the benefit show without my Carole,” he added.
Cooke spoke highly of many people and experiences when interviewed by HVY-Journalists in 2019. “It was Lucille Ball and ‘The Lucy Show’ that brought me to Hollywood and to television and the movies,” she said.
Cook reiterated some of these recollections of her life when she spoke to The Bay Area Reporter (The BAR)
The 1964 live-animated, “The Incredible Mr. Limpet” with Don Knotts was a hit and her very first movie.
“But the stage was my first love,” said Cooke who spoke highly of her theatrical training in Texas at Baylor University. This gave her the skills and confidence to make her way from doing regional theater to go off to New York City and be in major productions like ‘Annie Get Your Gun.’
It’s is there in that musical that she caught the attention of Lucy Ball. And her career then took off.
Even though she was in contracts with Desilu Productions. and Warner Brothers her love of the stage kept beckoning. So much so, “I took a risk, and gambled on going on tour to Australia to do Hello Dolly,” she told HVY.
Of course, some of that gamble had a “sure bet” spin of the wheel of fortune assurance as Galligan explained. “It was (producer/choreographer) Gower Champion that encouraged Carole to go on tour to Australia.” And the fact, that her husband Tom was willing to pull up roots and go on that venture with Cook, no doubt helped.
Working with the material of composer Jerry Herman was a delight as not only did Cook get to play Dolly, she also appeared on stage in the lead as Mame. Of which she described as a “rare and fun opportunity.” Because not only are the characters of Dolly and Mame optimistic amid life’s challenges, “they are survivors,” she said.
“Carole was truly magnificent,” said Galligan. Helman agreed as he sees Cook as someone who was more than just a survivor. “We shall not see the likes of her again, said Helman. “And I might add, “Whatta Broad!”
