Marietta Marich
1930-2017
Pioneer of Houston Theatre and television legend and beauty Marietta Marich passed away on September 28 at Memorial Hermann Hospital. After surviving four surgeries in five days and after a valiant fight, she succumbed to complications stemming from an aortic dissection.
She is well known for her hit show on KPRC "Midnight With Marietta" lasting years, presenting music by Paul Schmitt and his band with Marietta's vocals and a sophisticated group of guests each evening conversing on many current subjects. An avid reader she could cover most subjects with great intelligence and incomparable wit. She and her husband Bob were some of the first people to help KPRC on the air.
She sang with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, had success in Los Angeles and came to Houston where she met husband Bob. She was a mainstay on Houston stages in numerous plays and musicals.
She and Bob created the Houston Theatre Center and produced and played in many productions giving many young actors a boost up not only by directing them but also mentoring. Some of the actors she gave a start to are JoBeth Williams, Dennis Quaid, Tracy Shayne, K.T. Oslin and Brett Cullen.
Cast as Miss Mona in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas at the Tower Theatre in 1979 directed by Peter Masterson and Tommy Tune, her last performance on stage was six-and-a-half months ago in Outside Mullingar with her daughter Allison at the Queensbury Theatre.
Film audiences know her from performances in Clint Eastwood's Stars Fell on Henrietta/Leap of Faith with Steve Martin/ Full Moon In Blue Water/Texas Chainsaw Massacre/Courtship/A Perfect World with Kevin Costner/Faith/Rushmore/Picnic with Mary Steenbergen and Josh Brolin as well as co-starring roles with Jennifer Aniston, Bill Murray and Sally Field.
The entire Marich family are actors, a Houston Royal Family of the Theatre. She was predeceased by her husband of many years Bob (Robert) and son Michael. She is survived by daughter Allison Marich and grandchildren Skyler and Spencer Marich and many relatives.
A memorial service will be held at Grace Presbyterian Church of Houston in the Founder's Room, 10221 Ella Lee Lane, Houston, Texas 77042 on Saturday, October 7 at 10 AM
A celebration memorial will be announced in the near future.
Marietta loved flowers and with her dry wit often said, "in lieu of donations, please send flowers." She would of course also request that any contributions in her memory be sent to the Alley Theatre Recovery effort.
Alley Theatre Development Department * 615 Texas Avenue * Houston, Texas 77002 or to support the Queensbury Theater *12777 Queensbury Ln, * Houston, TX 77024.