Carol Bruce (born Shirley Levy; November 15, 1919 – October 9, 2007) was an American band singer, Broadway star, and film and television actress. She had the recurring part of Mama Lillian Carlson on TV's WKRP in Cincinnati.

Early years Bruce was born Shirley Levy into a Jewish family, in Great Neck, New York, to Beatrice and Harry Levy. She had a sister, Marilyn. Because of her family's moving, she attended Jamaica High School, Girls' High School, and New Utrecht High School before graduating from Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn, New York. Although she studied violin for eight years, she never took singing lessons.

Singing Bruce began her career as a singer in the late 1930s with Larry Clinton and his band. She sang with Ben Bernie's orchestra in 1940–1941. She recorded several tracks, including "I'll Be Around", "Embraceable You" and "Abraham", with Red Norvo's Oversea Spotlight Band in 1943 for the war effort V-Disc program.

Stage Bruce made her Broadway debut in Louisiana Purchase, with songs by Irving Berlin, who discovered her at a nightclub in Newark, New Jersey. She was the first actress to play the role of Julie in a Broadway production of Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II's Show Boat since the 1932 Broadway revival. Bruce played the role onstage in 1946 and garnered favorable comparisons to Helen Morgan, who had originated the role onstage in 1927 and repeated it in both the 1932 revival and the 1936 film.

Her other Broadway credits include New Priorities of 1943, Along Fifth Avenue (1949), Do I Hear a Waltz?, Henry, Sweet Henry, and A Family Affair.

Radio Bruce's radio debut came on The Horn and Hardart Children's Hour. She sang on Carton of Pleasure and The Henny Youngman Show.

Television Carol Bruce played the part of Lillian Carlson in WKRP in Cincinnati, appearing in 10 of the 90 episodes. She was also in 5 of the 47 episodes of the sequel The New WKRP in Cincinnati.

Personal life Bruce's only marriage to Milton Nathanson, which ended in divorce, produced a daughter, Julie, an actress, singer and playwright who married jazz guitarist Larry Coryell. Bruce's grandchildren, Murali and Julian Coryell, are both musicians. Bruce was Jewish.

Death Bruce died from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California, aged 87. She was survived by her sister and two grandsons. Upon her death, she was cremated and her ashes given to her cousin.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1941 This Woman Is Mine Julie Morgan Keep 'Em Flying Linda Joyce 1942 Behind the Eight Ball Joan Barry 1969 The Girl Who Returned A voice role 1980 American Gigolo Mrs. Solan 1987 Planes, Trains & Automobiles Joy 1996 The Land Before Time IV: Journey Through the Mists Old One (Voice)

Television Year Title Role Notes1949 Jazz ConcertSelf Episode: #1.3 The Lamb's Gambol Episode: #1.5 The Fifty-Fourth Street Revue Episode: #1.1 & #1.2 Cavalcade of Stars Episode: Carol Bruce, Josh White, Alice Pearce 1949–1951 The Ed Sullivan Show Episode: Tony Martin, Carol Bruce, #4.5 & The Oscar Hammerstein Story featuring Lena Horne, Wally Cox, Mimi Benzell, Robert Merrill, Charles Winninger 1950 The Silver Theatre Episode: Happy Marriage 1950–1951 Showtime, U.S.A. Self Episode: #1.5 & #1.381951 Musical Comedy Time Maisie Doll Episode: Miss Liberty Studio One Episode: The King in Yellow The Sam Levenson ShowSelf Episode: Carol Bruce and daughter This Is Show Business Episode: Binnie Barnes, Carol Bruce, Jackie Miles, Teddy Hale Wonderful Town, U.S.A. Episode: Brooklyn1952 The Milton Berle Show Episode: #4.35 The Eyes Have It Episode: Carol Bruce, Rudy Vallee Curtain Call Episode: The Promise 1953 Chance of a Lifetime Self Episode: Carol Bruce 1954–1957 Armstrong Circle Theatre Hurricane Diane Episode: Hit a Blue Note, Lost $2 Billion: The Story of Hurricane Diane & Thief of Diamonds 1959 One Night Stand Self Episode: Lou Holtz 1960 Sounds of Home Vidalia TV Special 1961 The Witness Mildred Hall Episode: Dillinger1963 General Hospital Jennifer Talbot TV series Girl TalkSelf Episode: Carol Bruce, Marilyn Cantor Baker, Helene Hanff 1965 The Merv Griffin Show Episode: Buddy Hackett, Carol Bruce, Jay Kennedy, Dr. Cleo Dawson 1970 Love of Life Amanda Randolph Episode: Episode dated 13 August 1970 1979–1982 WKRP in Cincinnati Lillian Carlson 10 episodes 1980 Charlie's Angels Mrs. Pattison Episode: Three for the Money 1981 Knots Landing Annette Cunningham Episode: Squeezeplay, Moving In & The Surprise1984 Diff'rent Strokes Miss Gilbert Episode: The Wedding Too Close for Comfort Sally Ruth Episode: Home Is Where the Bart Is 1985 The Twilight Zone Mrs. Whitford Episode: Dead Woman's Shoes/Wong's Lost and Found Emporium 1986 Our House Mrs. Findley Episode: Home Again 1987 Rags to Riches Episode: Pilot 1987–1988 Perfect Strangers Mrs. 'Muffy' Endicott& Margaret Episode: Tux for Two & High Society 1988 Marblehead Manor Margaret Stonehill Episode: Pilot 1989 Hooperman Episode: In the Still of My Pants 1990 Doogie Howser, M.D. Mrs. Beatrice Portmeyer Episode: Academia Nuts1991 The Golden Girls Lucille Episode: Older and Wiser Jake and the Fatman Mrs. Clark Episode: It Never Entered My Mind Equal Justice Mrs. Thomason Episode: What Color Are My Eyes? 1991–1992The New WKRP in CincinnatiLillian 'Mama' Carlson 5 episodes 1992 Archive footage, episode: Donovan, Don't Leave Us1995 Live Shot Shirley Episode: What Price Episode? Party of Five Sarah's Grandmother Episode: Grand Delusions1997 Diagnosis Murder Constance Lockwood Episode: The Murder of Mark Sloan Pacific Palisades Mrs. Fitzpatrick Episode: Desperate Measure Profiler Petra Strauss Episode: Three Carat Crisis

Short film Year Title Role Notes 1937 Koo Koo Korrespondance Skool Singer 1938 Larry Clinton and His OrchestraSelf 1942 Swing's the Thing 1946 Headline Bands Archive footage

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