Madge Miller

Madge "Laura" Miller, born on May 6, 1940, passed away peacefully at the age of 85 on September 29, 2025, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Her life was a testament to quiet strength and grace, and she will be remembered fondly by all who knew her. Madge's memory will remain in the hearts of those she touched throughout her journey.

Laura Miller's career, as a blossoming show business talent, began with her discovery by the superstar of the era: Bob Hope.

She'd met Mr. Hope, within a week of her arrival in Hollywood from Manhattan, having arrived with the hard-won credentials of a University of North Carolina diploma in stage performance, acting study at Studio 54 (Marlon Brando had studied there), and numerous credits from Manhattan's top dance venues such as the "Coca Cabana."

Laura, with only a few days of rehearsal, danced before millions of live TV viewers, with the era's "leading man!"

Other opportunities saw comedic appearances with Johnny Carson - the "leading man" of the "Tonight Show," and as a nurse on the still popular M.A.S.H. television series.

Such a talent for humour saw live comedic performances follow, such as a cross-Canada tour portraying Marilyn Monroe's role in "The Seven Year Itch." The "leading man" had been film star Van Heflin.

She'd performed in live theatre, with "Mr Television," Milton Berl - another of the top "leading men."

Laura's parents, Madge and John Miller, were blessed with her birth on May 6, 1940. Her precocious gifts and talents not only saw their wisdom in providing her a future college education, but also in wisely attending to her spiritual side in Sunday school studies at their church, in whose cemetery, Laura's ashes will be interred alongside their remains.

And it might have been for this reason that, despite the glamour and material rewards of her career, she knew that a more spiritual reward might be better sought. Sure, she'd done well, and though nearing her fifties, the future was still bright in modelling and dramatic parts in more mature roles.

Still, after much study and exploration, the spiritual bottom line remained: Critics and the SAG-AFTRA actors union do not deliver "EMMIES" and royalty checks to graveyards.

Leaving Manhattan, she took a few personal items, an expensive mink coat, and a loving cocker spaniel, moving all to Virginia Beach, VA. She found her spirituality as a student at the late Edgar Cayce's small but long-established Atlantic University, as a graduate student.

Her path became deeply rewarding. However, along with what she brought with her was the cruel presence of the COPD lung disorder, probably resulting from the cigarette-smoke-filled venues in Las Vegas and New York.

The progression was subtle and long in duration; Laura never performed professionally again, though she continued to brighten the lives of all who were lucky enough to have met her biting humour and pranks.

Ending as a terminal resident in a nursing home, on September 29, 2025, following a long illness, she utilised her wiley wit in encouraging all there, both patients and staff, to walk ever in the way of the ways of God's - "leading man" - a smiling Jesus the Christ.

Altmeyer Funeral Home, Southside Chapel, 5033 Rouse Drive, Virginia Beach, Virginia is in charge of arrangements.