Actress Barbara Perry, known for her roles on "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "The Andy Griffith Show," and most recently "Baskets," died on Sunday, May 5, in Los Angeles of natural causes. She was 97.
In a career spanning eight decades, Perry had memorable roles in film, television, and was also a veteran Broadway performer.
Born on June 22, 1921, in Norfolk, Virginia, Perry grew up in a household filled with the arts. Both her parents worked at the Metropolitan Opera in New York—her father as a keyboardist and conductor, and her mother as a choral singer, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Perry started her stage career at a young age. When she was 4 years old, Perry made her debut in the Metropolitan Opera of New York's "Madame Butterfly" production.
Following her Met premiere, she went on to study dancing and perform at the Hollywood Bowl in the 1930s.
"She just loved people, and she loved life. It was like love overload with her," Lee told the New York Daily News.
However, Perry is best known for her roles in various TV series.
She appeared in "The Dick Van Dyke Show" as Buddy Sorrell's wife Pickles. She also made appearances in "The Donna Reed Show," The Hathaways," "My Three Sons," "St. Elsewhere," "Bewitched" and "The Andy Griffith Show."
She also appeared in CBS show "How I Met Your Mother," where she played the neighbor who gives love advice to Ted for two episodes, and most recently, she played a gift shop employee in FX's "Baskets" (2017).
"It was her final job. It was just the most charming show. The performances were so touching," Lee told the New York Daily News.
She is survived by her daughter, Laurel Lee, granddaughter Audrey Lee and stepdaughters Karin and Michele. Perry was the widow of Disney Animation pioneer Art Babbitt, who was known for such films "Dumbo," "Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs," and "Pinnochio." They were married from 1967 to his death in 1992.