Blossom Rock

Edith Marie Blossom MacDonald (August 21, 1895 – January 14, 1978), also known or credited as Blossom Rock, Blossom MacDonald or Marie Blake, was an American actress of stage and television. She was also elder sister to actress/singer Jeanette MacDonald.

Born in Philadelphia, as a youth she performed on the vaudeville stage with her younger sister, Jeanette, and later with her husband, Clarence Rock (died 1960). She and Rock married in 1926; they had no children.

She later performed in films, most notably as the hospital switchboard operator in the "Dr. Kildare" movies; in television; and on Broadway. She is best-known (if not by name) for playing "Grandmama" on The Addams Family.

Many times actors are asked to change their name whether they want to or not. In most cases a movie contract will change their mind. She was known in vaudeville, as well as at home, as Blossom, but agents and producers gave her the name Marie Blake, which she went by on screen from 1937 to 1952. When she was no longer under the thumb of an agent or any movie contract, she changed her professional name back to Blossom and used her married last name. Many friends in the business considered her name change as a career killer after making a name for herself for fifteen years. She felt that the bit parts she played on TV and movies in the late 40’s and early 50’s weren't going to be that memorable, and no one would remember her.