Renie Riano was born on August 7, 1899, in London, but grew up in the United States. She was the daughter of British stage actress Irene Riano and vaudeville acrobat Robert Riano, who were part of the Four Rianos acrobatic act.
Renie began her career as a child performer in vaudeville shows and music halls, eventually making her solo Broadway stage debut in 1905. She continued to work in theater, appearing in various shows throughout the 1920s and 1930s.
Renie married American John W. Neil in 1918 and became a U.S. citizen. The couple had a daughter, Jane, in 1919.
Renie's film career began late, at the age of 38, with minor appearances in lighter films such as Tovarich and You're a Sweetheart. She went on to appear in a number of films, often playing shrill, viper-tongued wives, relatives, and domestics.
Renie is perhaps best known for her roles in the "Nancy Drew" mystery series and the "Jiggs and Maggie" comedy offerings, in which she played the haranguing, indomitable Maggie Jiggs opposite Joe Yule's henpecked Jiggs.
In addition to her film work, Renie appeared in a number of television shows, including "The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok," "The Life of Riley," "The Abbott and Costello Show," and "Bewitched." She continued to work in television until her death in 1971.
Renie Riano died on July 3, 1971, in Woodland Hills, California.
