Betty Garrett
Acting
Betty Garrett (May 23, 1919 - February 12, 2011) was an American actress, comedian, singer and dancer, who starred in several Hollywood musicals and stage roles. She was at the top of her game when the Communist scare in the 1950s brought her career to a screeching, ugly halt. She and her husband Larry Parks, an Oscar-nominated actor, were summoned by the House UnAmerican Activities Committee and questioned about their involvement. As the drama played out, a very pregnant Garrett was never called to testify, but her husband was. With his admission of Communist Party membership from 1941-1945 and refusal to name names, he made it to the Hollywood Blacklist. After the incident, Garrett and Parks worked up nightclub singing/comedy acts along with appearing in legit plays. Although Parks never quite shook off the blacklist incident, he did win a role in John Huston's film, Freud (1962). Garrett went on to appear in roles in many television series.
Known for
Acting43
movieHollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing
2009
(archive footage)
movieDark and Stormy Night
2009
Mrs. Hausenstout
movieTrail of the Screaming Forehead
2007
Mrs. Cuttle
tvGrey's Anatomy
2005
Eleanor
tvBoston Public
2000
Miriam Guber
tvBecker
1998
Mrs. Firth
movieThe Long Way Home
1998
Veronica
tvUnion Square
1997
Agnes
movieThat's Entertainment! III
1994
(archive footage)
tvThe Good Life
1994
Phyllis
movieThat's Dancing!
1985
Ruth Sherwood (archive footage)
tvMurder, She Wrote
1984
Kit Parkins / Martha Neilson
movieAll the Way Home
1981
Catherine
tvThe Love Boat
1977
Martha McCoy
tvLaverne & Shirley
1976
Edna Babish
tvDinah!
1974
Self
movieThat's Entertainment!
1974
(archive footage) (uncredited)
movieHollywood: The Dream Factory
1972
Self (archive footage)
tvGreat Performances
1971
Mary Hallen
tvAll in the Family
1971
Irene Lorenzo / Irene
tvThe Fugitive
1963
Margaret Ruskin
movieThe Shadow on the Window
1957
Linda Atlas
movieMy Sister Eileen
1955
Ruth Sherwood
movieThe Costume Designer
1950
Self (archive footage)
movieOn the Town
1949
Brunhilde Esterhazy
movieNeptune's Daughter
1949
Betty Barrett
movieTake Me Out to the Ball Game
1949
Shirley Delwyn
movieWords and Music
1948
Peggy Lorgan McNeil
movieBig City
1948
Shoo Shoo Grady