Marjorie Lord from The Danny Thomas Show wanted stronger women on TV

Marjorie Lord was an important part of The Danny Thomas Show. While the show wasn't named after her, she played the hardworking wife of Danny Thomas in the series and became a familiar face to viewers for 11 seasons. 

Her character, Kathy Williams, was introduced as a widow with a young daughter and eventually became Danny’s on-screen wife. Warm, supportive, and the anchor of the family, Kathy brought a quiet strength to the show that reminded viewers of their own mothers.

Although Lord loved being the partner to one of TV’s top stars, she never expected to find herself playing a wife on such a successful show.

In a 1963 interview with The Mercury, Lord said she began her career as a stage actress. The theater was her "first love," and when The Danny Thomas Show came to an end, she planned to return to the stage. 

"But I won’t play a wife," Lord said. "I feel that wives on television shows are not as strong as they should be. Let’s face it—in most American homes, the kids come in the door and they yell, 'Mommy!' not 'Daddy!'"

The show—also known as Make Room for Daddy—stood in contrast to her statement, but Lord believed that wives had a more important role off-screen, which led her to feel they should have a stronger role on-screen as well.

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"I get very angry about the weakness of women on television," Lord said. "I think there should be more series starring women—and in strong roles. Maybe even in adventure shows."

Lord believed that many television producers jumped to the conclusion that shows starring strong women wouldn’t succeed. But Lord was willing to try to prove them wrong.

She would go on to appear in a number of stage productions after The Danny Thomas Show ended. She also became a vocal supporter of women in the industry, advocating for stronger roles and more opportunities for women both in front of and behind the camera.

Today, she would be proud to see how much progress women have made on TV and how many strong female characters now lead the kinds of shows she once hoped for.