Virginia Christine, the stalwart character actress who appeared in more than 400 motion pictures and television shows but will always be remembered as “Mrs. Olson” pouring Folger’s coffee on couple’s woes, died on Wednesday. She was 76.
Mrs. Christine, who was the widow of actor Fritz Feld, died in her sleep at their Los Angeles home, her family said.
For 21 years, the wise, matronly Mrs. Olson with her braided blond hair and false Swedish accent slipped kindly into kitchens to patch up couple’s rifts over bad-tasting coffee. Just pour a cup of Folger’s, she advised, and the husband would always stay for a second cup.
Her persona was parodied by Bob Hope, Carol Burnett, Jackie Gleason, the Swedish-born Ann-Margret and Johnny Carson among others. She was recognized everywhere as the sage of fine coffee, and fans were genuinely surprised to learn that, despite her real Swedish descent, she had no accent.
Mrs. Christine was born in Stanton, Iowa, a small town that later converted its water tower to look like a coffee pot in honor of her Folger’s fame.
She made her motion picture debut in the 1943 film Edge of Darkness starring Errol Flynn and set in World War II Norway. She played a peasant girl named Miss Olson.
Mrs. Christine, one of Hollywood’s busiest performers, appeared in such films as Mission to Moscow, Cyrano de Bergerac, High Noon, Judgment in Nuremberg, The Prize, Four for Texas and A Rage to Live.
She also found parts in cult films including Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Mummy’s Curse.
Mrs. Christine, a favorite actress of director Stanley Kramer, worked in at least 10 of his films, including a memorable cameo as Katherine Hepburn’s racially bigoted business partner in Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.
Mrs. Christine’s personal favorite roles were as Hedda Gabler in the play Hedda that marked her stage debut, and as Mary, Queen of Scots, on the television series You Are There. She guest starred in several major television series.
