Betty Lou Gerson

Betty Lou Gerson (April 20, 1914 - January 12, 1999) was an American actress, predominately in radio, but also in film and television, and as a voice actor.

Related Topics:
April 20 - 1914 - January 12 - 1999 - American - Actress - Radio - Film - Television - Voice actor

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Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Gerson grew up in Birmingham, Alabama and later migrated to Chicago, beginning her career in radio drama in 1935, while still in her 20s. She was a mainstay of soap operas during this period, appearing on Arnold Grimm's Daughter (as the titular daughter, Constance, in 1938), Road of Life (as Nurse Helen Gowan), and the radio version of The Guiding Light as Charlotte Wilson in the mid-1940s. She was the resident romantic lead on such romantic anthologies The First Nighter Program, Curtain Time, and Grand Hotel.

Related Topics:
Chattanooga - Tennessee - Birmingham, Alabama - Chicago - Radio drama - 1935 - Soap operas - 1938 - Road of Life - The Guiding Light - 1940s - The First Nighter Program

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Moving to Los Angeles with first husband Joe Ainley (who had also directed The Guiding Light) in the 1940s, she soon established herself on such series as I Love Adventure, the historical drama Mr. President (as the presidential secretary), The Whistler, Crime Classics, Escape, and Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar. She was heard in several episodes of Lux Radio Theater, notably as Glinda the Good Witch in a 1950 dramatization of Judy Garland's The Wizard of Oz.

Related Topics:
Los Angeles - 1940s - I Love Adventure - Mr. President - The Whistler - Crime Classics - Escape - Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar - Lux Radio Theater - Glinda the Good Witch - 1950 - Judy Garland - The Wizard of Oz

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During this period, she was cast as the narrator in Walt Disney's version of Cinderella. This may have led to her best known role, several years later, when she provided the voice of the villainous, selfish socialite Cruella De Vil in the 1961 Walt Disney animated feature One Hundred and One Dalmatians. Her few film roles include appearances in The Fly, The Miracle on the Hills, and Mary Poppins (a small cameo as a crone). In television, she guest starred on Perry Mason, The Twilight Zone, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and The Rifleman.

Related Topics:
Walt Disney - Cinderella - Cruella De Vil - One Hundred and One Dalmatians - The Fly - The Miracle on the Hills - Mary Poppins - Perry Mason - The Twilight Zone - The Dick Van Dyke Show - The Rifleman

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Gerson retired in 1966, though still using her voice, working at the telephone answering service of her second husband, Lou Lauria. She was honored as a Disney Legend in 1996. She returned to films one last time in 1997, providing the voice of Frances the fish in Cats Don't Dance. She died of a massive stroke at the age of 84.

Related Topics:
1966 - Disney Legend - 1996 - 1997 - Cats Don't Dance - Stroke

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