Wednesday's Child: Patty McCormack

Born Patricia Ellen Russo in Brooklyn August 21, 1945

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Way better than the movie.

What'll You Give Me for a Basket of Kisses?

A basket of "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaggghhhh!!"

I didn't really know anything about Patty McCormack's post-Bad Seed work until just this morning, and I suppose that's how her life has been since she appeared as the junior sociopath, Rhoda Penmark, in that weird, creepy movie. And it's not that I haven't seen her in anything since, it's just that I didn't recognize her without the Heidi braids and the sinister glare.

But we've all seen her. Look:

• She played Pat Nixon in Frost/Nixon 
• She had a recurring role as Adriana's mom in The Sopranos
• She was Jeffrey Tambor's character's wife in The Ropers, a sad, sad spin off of Three's Company.
• She guest starred on just about every popular television show since its invention, from Playhouse 90 to Route 66 to Emergency! to Dallas to Murder, She Wrote, and then some.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, to former professional roller skater, Elizabeth, and fireman, Frank Russo, Patty started out as a child model. She first appeared on television at age seven and soon found roles on Broadway, including the original production of The Bad Seed. She worked steadily throughout her childhood -- in spite of being so closely associated with the character that made her famous -- and transitioned relatively smoothly into teenage and adult roles.

Hers is a solid success story, and more power to her. Patty McCormack has been working for more than five decades; I guess I just have to check the credits more closely!