Bonnie Baken(1931-2020)

By age 3, Bonnie Ruth Baken was a model at L. Bamberger Department Store in Newark. She appeared in American Jubilee at the 1939 World's Fair in New York. Later, she was in commercial films, television, and on radio. Bonnie appeared with Gertrude Lawrence in Lady In The Dark on Broadway and on its National Tour. In 1949 she married Joseph Riker, Jr. and moved to Rhode Island, where on WPRI-TV, she was Miss Bonnie on the Providence area Romper Room (1953) for several years. Her husband was a long time actor in The Players, a Providence community theatre, where he also served as its President. He became successful in real estate and was a benefactor of the theatre. Baken appeared in Guys & Dolls, Bus Stop, and Luv, and also was a stage manager, tech chair, and producer. She divorced Riker and in her last acting role in Love Letters, she played opposite part-time Pawtucket actor John Mutter, Associate Justice of the Rhode Island Family Court. They married soon after. Mutter was also President of the Providence County Kennel Club, and with Bonnie as VP, the two raised several purebred dogs, many of whom became champions. They remained married until Judge Mutter passed away on December 22, 2015.