Marie Rudisill is the Fruitcake Lady. She's a 94-year-old Floridian with a unique history. For starters, she's the aunt of famed American novelist Truman Capote. In fact, she lived with Truman during his childhood and helped raise him during his formative years in Alabama and New York City.
Marie was born and raised in Alabama. She married James Rudisill in 1939. She has a son and three grandchildren. She's also the owner of Chrissy, a pit bull terrier.
Marie Rudisill is the author of eight books including "Fruitcake, Memories of Truman Capote & Sook." It was her fruitcake book that led to her first appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" in December of 2000. Marie taught Jay and Mel Gibson how to make a fruitcake. The segment is considered a "Tonight Show" classic and earned Marie the title of "The Fruitcake Lady." She has since returned to NBC in Burbank to cook cherry pie with Cuba Gooding Jr., stuff a turkey with Hugh Grant and make another fruitcake with Tom Cruise. When asked which of her cooking partners she'd most like to end up with on a deserted island, Marie replied, "None of them. I prefer Arnold Schwarzenegger because he's so clean-cut, has a good sense of humor and would be a lot of fun to have around."
In 2002, Marie began giving millions of Americans her own special advice in her "Ask the Fruitcake Lady" segments on "The Tonight Show". Audience members, viewers and web surfers have the opportunity to ask the Fruitcake Lady questions. Her no-nonsense answers come straight from a place that is 94 years in the making.
All "Ask the Fruitcake Lady" segments can be found on the "Tonight Show" website here:
http://www.nbc.com/nbc/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno/fruitcake_lady/LawDog
