"Ma Kettle" was a fictional character played by Marjorie Main. She was the endearingly clueless but well-meaning mother in the "Ma and Pa Kettle" film series. The films were centered around the often comical misadventures of the Kettle family, especially Ma, who was known for her simple, folksy wisdom and her tendency to get herself into humorous situations.
Pa Kettle was played by Percy Kilbride.
The "Ma and Pa Kettle" movies were popular with audiences at the time, and are now considered cult classics. Marjorie Main's portrayal of Ma Kettle is particularly memorable.