{{Short description|American actress (1904–1979)}} {{Use American English|date=July 2020}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = Doris Packer | image = Doris Packer in The Beverly Hillbillies (Doris Packer).jpg | caption = Packer in the TV series ''The Beverly Hillbillies'', episode ''The Clampett Look'', 1963 | birth_date = {{Birth date|1904|05|30|mf=yes}} | birth_place = Menominee, Michigan, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|1979|03|31|1904|05|30|mf=yes}} | death_place = Glendale, California, U.S. | resting_place = Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale | known_for = {{hlist|Leave It to Beaver|The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show|The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis|Paradise, Hawaiian Style}} | occupation = Actress | years_active = 1953–1975 | alma_mater = University of California, Los Angeles | spouse = {{marriage|Rowland G. Edwards|1928|1953|reason=his death}} }} '''Doris Packer''' (May 30, 1904 – March 31, 1979) was an American actress, possibly best known for her recurring role as Mrs. Cornelia Rayburn, Theodore Cleaver's elementary school principal in the television series, ''Leave It to Beaver''.

Packer portrayed the mother of millionaire playboy Chatsworth Osborne, Jr. on CBS's ''The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis''. Before that, she played Clarice Armitage, mother of Milton Armitage, whose character on the series Osborne replaced. She also portrayed an unfavorite teacher, who was retiring after 30 years, on "My Favorite Martian". In most of her screen roles, she was known for her aristocratic and intellectual bearing and precise use of the English language.

==Background== [[File:Doris Packer and Irene Ryan in The Beverly Hillbillies (The Clampett Look).jpg|thumb|Doris Packer and Irene Ryan in the TV series ''The Beverly Hillbillies'', episode ''The Clampett Look'', 1963]] Packer was born in Menominee, Michigan. Her family moved to southern California when she was quite young. She became interested in acting while in high school. After attending the University of California at Los Angeles, she moved to New York City to study under noted drama and dance teacher Evelyn Thomas. Packer also appeared in Broadway shows.<ref>{{cite news| title=LYTELL TO STAR IN PLAY: "Reunion In Vienna" Starts Stock Season at Newark Monday| date=April 15, 1933| newspaper=The New York Times| quote=The Broad Street Theatre will open a stock season on Monday night...Doris Packer will have the Lynn Fontaine role| page=16 Amusements| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1933/04/15/archives/lytell-to-star-in-play-reunion-in-vienna-starts-stock-season-at.html| url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=NEW STOCK COMPANY.: The Broome Stagers to Open With "Back Fire" June 13.| date=June 6, 1932| newspaper=The New York Times| page=18 Amusements| quote=The Broome Stagers announce the opening of their first offering "Back on Fire" at the Vanderbilt Theatre...and will have in its cast...Doris Packer| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1932/06/06/archives/new-stock-company-the-broome-stagers-to-open-with-back-fire-june-13.html| url-access=subscription}}</ref>

During World War II, Packer enlisted in the U.S. Army Women's Army Corps (WACs), joining in 1943 as a Private<ref>{{cite web| title=Doris Packer: World War II U.S. Army Enlistments U.S. Army Enlistment Record| url=http://www.ww2enlistment.org/index.php?page=directory&rec=13894| accessdate=November 11, 2013}}</ref> and eventually reaching the rank of Technical Sergeant.{{Citation needed |date=April 2024}} Her discharge records were likely lost in the 1973 fire at the Military Personnel Records Center.<ref>{{cite web| title=The 1973 Fire, National Personnel Records Center| url=https://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel/fire-1973.html| accessdate=November 11, 2013}}</ref>

Packer appeared in an episode of ''Colgate Theatre'' in 1958 and played wealthy society matrons on ''The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show'' and ''I Love Lucy'' and Mrs. Wiley on ''The Andy Griffith Show''. She had a recurring role as Clara Mason in the 1960-61 sitcom ''Happy''. Packer played Mrs. McGillicuddy in the 1961 episode "Gladys' Political Campaign" on the CBS sitcom ''Pete and Gladys''.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

She played Grandmother Nedra in S3 E35 (1962) of ''The Twilight Zone'' entitled "I Sing the Body Electric". She played the wealthy Mrs Huntingdon in a 1963 episode "I'm No Henry Walden!" on CBS's ''The Dick Van Dyke Show''. She appeared on three episodes of ''The Beverly Hillbillies'' as wealthy matron Mrs. Fenwick. She made a guest appearance on ''Perry Mason'' in 1962 as Mrs. Campion in "The Case of the Polka Dot Pony".{{citation needed|date=January 2018}} She also played Mrs. Rayburn in "Leave it to Beaver".

During the first season of ''Petticoat Junction'' in 1964, Packer appeared in the thirtieth episode, titled "Kate and the Dowager". She portrayed a hotel guest whom Kate Bradley was trying to impress. She played retiring high school teacher Miss Hortense Pringle in a season two episode of ''My Favorite Martian'' entitled ''"We Love You, Miss Pringle"'' in 1965.

==Family== Packer was married to stage director Rowland G. Edwards for 25 years &mdash; from September 29, 1928 until his death on August 10, 1953. The couple had no children.{{Citation needed |date=June 2020}}

==Death== Packer died, aged 74, in 1979 in Glendale, California, of natural causes. Her body is interred in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California, with her grave marker noting her military service.<ref>Wilson, Scott. ''Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons'', 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 25047-25048). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.</ref>

==Filmography== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- |1953|| ''Meet Me at the Fair'' || Mrs. Swaile || |- |1954|| ''About Mrs. Leslie'' || Boutique customer || Uncredited |- |1955|| ''Teen-Age Crime Wave'' || Juvenile Court Judge || Uncredited |- |1956|| ''Anything Goes'' || English Woman in Audience || Uncredited |- |1962|| ''Bon Voyage!'' || Mrs. Henderson || Uncredited |- |1962|| ''Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation'' || Hostess || Uncredited |- |1966|| ''Paradise, Hawaiian Style'' || Mrs. Barrington || |- |1967|| ''The Perils of Pauline'' || Mrs. Carruthers || |- |1975|| ''Shampoo'' || Rozalind || (final film role) |}

{{Portal|Biography|Michigan|New York City|California|Los Angeles|Theatre|Film|Television}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{IMDb name|0655481}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Packer, Doris}} Category:1904 births Category:1979 deaths Category:Actresses from Greater Los Angeles Category:Actresses from Michigan Category:People from Menominee, Michigan Category:Military personnel from Michigan Category:American film actresses Category:American stage actresses Category:American television actresses Category:Women's Army Corps soldiers Category:University of California, Los Angeles alumni Category:20th-century American actresses