Mimi Gibson was one of the most sought-after child actresses of the 1950s and 1960s.  Over the course of her career, Mimi modeled in countless product ads, calendars, and magazines.  She was a familiar face and voice in commercials.  

mimi gibson
Mimi Gibson in Houseboat (1958).

Perhaps most impressively, Mimi was in 34 movies and about 200 TV shows, including My Three Sons, Leave it to Beaver, The Red Skelton Show, and One Step Beyond.  You probably know Mimi best as the voice of Lucky in 101 Dalmatians (1961), and as the impossibly adorable daughter of Cary Grant in Houseboat (1958).  

mimi gibson houseboat 1958
L-R: Charlie Herbert, Cary Grant, Sophia Loren, Mimi Gibson, and Paul Petersen in Houseboat (1958).

Meeting Mimi Gibson

My husband, daughter, and I met Mimi Gibson at a tour of the Oakridge Estate, the dream home built for Barbara Stanwyck in 1937. 

(Can you think of a more perfect place to meet a Classic Hollywood actress?  And of course, The Barbara Stanwyck Show is among Mimi’s 200 television credits.)  

Oakridge Estate
Meeting Mimi at the Oakridge Estate. The necklace Mimi is wearing was a gift from Sophia Loren after filming of Houseboat (1958).

I still can’t believe our luck in meeting Mimi that day.  In our house, 101 Dalmatians and Houseboat are on the weekly play rotation.  To meet Mimi in person after nearly a lifetime of enjoying her work on screen was, quite literally, a dream come true.  I can confirm that in person, Mimi Gibson is as kind, generous, and friendly as you could hope. 

And yes, she’s still gorgeous.  

Mimi generously agreed to an interview, and shared with me some of the amazing experiences of her film career.  But if you ask Mimi Gibson what she’s most proud of from her years in Hollywood, her answer would not be her impressive film and television credits.  Mimi would say she’s most proud of her post-acting work, when she returned to tinsel town decades after her last film credit not to act, but to better the lives and conditions of today’s working kids in Hollywood. 

The fact that this is Mimi’s proudest Hollywood achievement is indicative of the person she is.

mimi gibson grown up 1966
Mimi Gibson in 1966.

Listen to Mimi’s Interview and Read Her Book!

Listen to episode 74 of Vanguard of Hollywood to hear all about Mimi’s inspiring work and incredible career.  And be sure to read her page-turning book, Working Kid: A Memoir of a Child Actor of the 1950s and 1960s [aff. link].

You’ll come away feeling like a Classic Hollywood insider, and loving the remarkable Mimi Gibson even more.

mimi gibson