Renie Riano

As the daughter of British stage actress Irene Riano (1871-1940), character player Renie Riano had all the earmarks of a show biz career. She loved an audience, she loved singing, and she loved to make people laugh. She began things off toplining in vaudeville shows and music halls as "Baby Irene" in a mother/daughter act. A spirited performer in Broadway musicals, she entered films in 1937 and was immediately typed into playing shrill, viper-tongued wives, domestics, and other similar matrons, making patented use of her indomitable, rubbery, sharp-faced features. Many of her appearances, however, were not billed and she for the most part was fixed into "B" films. She appeared in two sets of movie series during her long career -- she played the cynical maid Effie in the 'Nancy Drew' series, and brought the comic strip series 'Bringing Up Father' to life as the domineering, outspoken Maggie alongside Joe Yule, Sr.'s beleaguered Jiggs. The series was cut short by Yule's unexpected death. Riano later was featured on TV, mostly in 50s and 60s situation comedy, still playing haranguing types but in smaller amounts. She died in 1971. Show less «