[7] Her grandfather was conductor David Braham,[8] and one of her brothers was actor William Harrigan[9] As a child, she sometimes appeared on stage with her father.
[10] Her first experiences in acting came at the National Park Seminary in Washington, D.C.[11] In 1918, Harrigan was the leading lady in a production of Common Cause in San Francisco.
[12] Decades later, Harrigan reflected on the education that she gained from working in stock theater.
[13] In 1934, Harrigan left New York's stages and went to Hollywood to act in the Columbia Pictures film I'll Fix It.
[8] During World War II, Harrigan was a leading force in establishing the Stage Door Canteen, which produced plays for servicemen, and she led tours of plays to Europe to entertain troops.