Myra De Groot
| Myra De Groot | |
|---|---|
| Born |
4 July 1937 Westminster, London, United Kingdom |
| Died |
4 April 1988 (aged 50) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1955–1988 |
Myra Tania De Groot (4 July 1937 – 4 April 1988) was a British-born theatre and television actress and agent. She performed in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia.
Television
De Groot was born in London, England, and performed as a child, from everything from a magician's assistant to a dancer, eventually appearing in West End comedy before emigrating to Australia in 1980. A prominent on Australian television series as The Sullivans, Prisoner and Neighbours. In Neighbours, De Groot played the meddling street gossip and original cast member Eileen Clarke. She also acted in the Australian theatre circuit, and appeared as Norman's mother in the 1982 film Norman Loves Rose.
Arriving in America from Britain in 1958 she appeared in roles for most of the 1960s there including, appearing on TV series including Bewitched, The Monkees, Perry Mason, and Here Come the Brides. She performed at the noted New York cabaret "Upstairs at The Downstairs" in Ben Bagley's last review (Seven Come Eleven) in 1962 with Hal Buckley, Nancy Preiser and Cy Young. She left American and resided in New Zealand from 1972, where she appeared in many theatre roles as well as directing stage plays.
Theatre
De Groot acted in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia in a variety of roles on stage:
- Frome Here and There - Royal Court Theatre, London (1955)
- Mister Venus - Prince of Wales Theatre, London (1958) - as "Married woman"
- Ulysses in Nighttown - Arts Theatre, London (May 1959) - as Kitty
- Pieces of Eight - Apollo Theatre, London (September 1959)
- Seven Come Eleven - Upstairs at The Downstairs, New York (August 1962)
- Riverwind - Westport Country Playhouse, Wesport, CT (July 1966)
- Mame - Honolulu Concert Hall, HI (June 1968) - as Agnes Gooch
- Mame - San Bernardino, CA (November 1970) - as Agnes Gooch
- There's a Leek in your Hat - Mercury Theatre, Auckland (October 1972)
- Tarantara! taranatara! - Mercury Theatre, Auckland (February 1976)
- Viva Mexico - North Shore Operatic Society, Auckland (March 1977)
- Noel & Cole - The Blue Cockatoo, Sydney (1982)
- Torch Song Trilogy - Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney (1984) - as Mrs Beckoff
- Nunsense - Comedy Theatre, Melbourne (1987) - as Sister Hubert
Personal life
Five times married, De Groot died from cancer, aged 50 on 4 April 1988. She is survived by 3 children and 9 grandchildren. There are references in newspaper articles of 2 more children who have not yet been identified.