Mews Small (born March 20, 1942 in Pasadena, California) is an American actress and singer. Born Mary Edith Willard Small, she was known professionally as Marya Small during the 1970s and has also been credited as Merrya Small, Mary Small Rusk and Mary Small.Summer theater watchers in Stowe Vermont will remember her as Maria Von Trapp in "The Sound of Music" at the Stowe Playhouse.She began her career as a stage actress in New York City. She has since acted in several feature films and various television shows. She has worked with such names as Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, Henry Fonda, Susan Sarandon and Elizabeth Taylor.Small originated the role of Frenchy in the original Broadway production of the musical Grease. Small later performed in Grease alongside John Travolta.She is known for her roles as Candy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and Dr. Nero in Sleeper. She also portrayed the Janis Joplin inspired role of Frankie in the animated rotoscope film American Pop.On January 12, 2014 at The Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, California, there was a special screening of American Pop with Small and lead actor Ron Thompson in attendance, it was the first time Ron Thompson had ever introduced the film before a live audience.
Her great-grandparents were abolitionists, suffragettes and worked for human rights and union organization.
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Her father was a doctor and her mother an artist.
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1996 ran for the State Assembly and again in 2000 for the House of Representatives 25th District in California. Mews a long time peace activist, Co-Produced the "Freedom Behind Bars", benefit to aid rehabilitation programs for California prisons. Twenty-five years participation in world peace assemblies to dissolve stress in the environment.
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Singer of "Lili Marlene" In USA and Canada.
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She played Frenchy in the original Broadway production of "Grease".
$17 Million
