Brook Ashley, beloved wife, mother and grandmother passed away January 10, 2026 at her Santa Barbara home at age 78.

Born into a theatrical family in New York City on March 31, 1947, Brook made her Broadway debut at the age of 7 and starred in many television dramas during that medium’s “Golden Age” while also hawking a variety of products from mouthwash to muffins in regional and national commercials. It was a balancing act encumbered by 12 years attendance at a NYC girls’ school called The Brearley, which Brook described as “Dickensian.”

Two extraordinary godmothers—the incomparable actress Tallulah Bankhead and the photographer/children’s author Dare Wright—anchored Brook’s chaotic childhood with invisible filaments of security. Tallulah taught Brook the elements of voodoo by showing her how to stick dressmaker pins into a magazine cover of Senator Joe McCarthy. With her other godmother, Brook helped set up scenes with a doll and two teddy bears that Dare Wright photographed for her 1957 best-selling children’s book “The Lonely Doll.”

Brook’s first marriage during her sophomore year in college produced the love of her life, a beautiful, brilliant red-haired daughter named Brett.

Moving to Montecito with Brett in 1988, Brook found her niche as a Realtor on Coast Village Road. She also served as a US Board member of the international animal advocacy charity Born Free and on the Regional Advisory Board of the Anti-Defamation League. Brook was President of The Santa Barbara International Film Festival as its reputation rose from local to international recognition and taught tae kwon do karate in Carpinteria. Her biography “Dare Wright and The Lonely Doll” was published in 2019.

She is survived by her loving husband John Ogilvie, her adored daughter Brett Wilbur of Carmel and Brett’s three children--granddaughter Isabelle and grandsons Emerson and Caden--along with John’s children Brandon, Daryn and Alix and their families.

Donations in Brook’s memory may be made to SPARK Rescue Santa Barbara and The Jewish Federation of Santa Barbara.

Arrangements entrusted to McDermott-Crockett Mortuary