Mildred Marguerite Spence was the wife of American actor Edgar Buchanan. She was born on
September 23, 1907, in Algoma, Ontario, Canada, to her parents, James Spence and Julia Maud Brown.
After completing her high school education, Mildred Marguerite Spence joined North Pacific College, School of Dentistry, to pursue her degree in dentistry, graduating years later.
Personal Life and Career
She met her future husband in the school of dentistry while at North Pacific College they became friends and dated, and after graduating, they married on April 7, 1928. Their union was blessed with one child named Buck Buchanan, who was also an actor.
On completing her college degree, Mildred Marguerite Spence started working as a dentist in Oregon, but she relocated with her husband to Altadena, California. She had a successful career as a dentist, but she also ensured some time with his only child.
About Her Son
Mildred Spence’s son followed in his father’s footsteps and established himself as an actor. Some of his projects include Petticoat Junction which he appeared alongside his father, Shoot It Blue, Shoot it Black, Curse of the Blair, and Lemora: A Child’s Tale of the Supernatural. He also hosted a country music program, The Fifties at Five, on the radio. Besides, Mildred’s son acted as a music director in the 1980s in Los Angeles.
Buck, born in 1946, died on August 7, 2005, aged 59. He died at an Arcata, Calif hospital after battling colon cancer for some time.
Her Husband
Despite having studied dentistry in college, Mildred’s husband decided to try his luck in acting. He started his acting career in 1939, making his debut in the film My Son is Guilty as a bartender. After his debut, more acting roles emerged, and he featured in over 100 films and television shows, a career spanning over 40 years.
He portrayed a dentist in the 1941’s film Texas. His other film projects include Escape to Glory, The Talk of the Town, Destroyer, Bride By Mistake, The Wreck of the Hesperus, Best Man Wins, Human Desire, The Lonesome Trail, Day of the Bad Man, Welcome to Hard Times, Angel in My Pocket and The Man from Button Willow.
Mildred’s husband also made several appearances on television shows; his first television role came in 1953, where she portrayed Captain Harris in an episode of Make Room for Daddy. He also appeared for two years in Hopalong Cassidy as Red Connors. Edgar appeared as Bob Dawson in six episodes of Tales of Wells Cargo.
Edgar Buchanan’s other television roles include The Rifleman, The Twilight Zone, Gunsmoke, Green Acres, The Name of the Game, The Partridge Family, and Love, American Style.
Mildred Spence’s Husband’s Death
Edgar Buchanan died on April 4, 1979, aged 76, in Palm Desert, California. He died as a result of a stroke secondary to pneumonia. His remains were rested at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park, California.
Death
Mildred Marguerite Spence died on March 26, 1987, aged 79, in Los Angeles, California. Her body was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles.