Zasu Pitts
Zasu Pittsย was an American actress who starred in many silentย dramasย and comedies, transitioning successfully to mostly comedy films with the advent of sound films. She may be best known for her performance in Erich von Stroheim's epic silent film Greed. Based on her performance, von Stroheim labeled Pitts "the greatest dramatic actress". He also featured her in his films The Honeymoon (1928), The Wedding March (1928), War Nurse (1930) and Walking Down Broadway, released as Hello, Sister! (1933). However, for the most part, with the advent of sound Pitts was mostly relegated to comedy parts. A bitter disappointment was when she was replaced in the classic war drama All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) by Beryl Mercer after her initial appearance in previews drew unintentional laughs, despite her intense performance. She had viewers rolling in the aisles in Finn and Hattie (1931), The Guardsman (1931), Blondie of the Follies (1932), Sing and Like It (1934) and Ruggles of Red Gap (1935). In 1936 and 1937 she portrayed Hildegarde Withers in two movies, succeeding Edna May Oliver as the spinster sleuth, but they were not well received. In the 1950s she started focusing on television. This culminated in her best known series role, playing second banana to Gale Storm on CBS's The Gale Storm Show (1956) (also known as Oh, Susannah) in the role of Elvira Nugent ("Nugie"), the shipboard beautician. In 1961, Pitts was cast opposite Earle Hodgins in the episode "Lonesome's Gal" on the ABC sitcom, Guestward, Ho!, set on a dude ranch in New Mexico. In 1962, Pitts appeared in an episode of CBS's Perry Mason, "The Case of the Absent Artist". Her final role was as Gertie, the switchboard operator in the Stanley Kramer comedy epic It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963).
Known For
Credits
- 1964 ยทThe Big Parade of Comedyas Mirabelle in 'The Gay Bride' (archive footage)
- 1963 ยทIt's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Worldas Gertie - Switchboard Operator
- 1963 ยทBurke's Lawas Mrs. Bowie
- 1963 ยทThe Thrill of It Allas Olivia
- 1961 ยทTeenage Millionaireas Aunt Theodora
- 1960 ยทGuestward, Ho!as
- 1959 ยทThe Dennis O'Keefe Showas
- 1959 ยทDisneyland '59as Self
- 1957 ยทPerry Masonas Daphne Whilom
- 1957 ยทThis Could Be the Nightas Mrs. Shea
- 1956 ยทThe Gale Storm Showas
- 1955 ยทThe Silent Partneras Selma
- 1955 ยทThe 20th Century Fox Houras
- 1955 ยทScreen Director's Playhouseas Selma
- 1954 ยทFrancis Joins the WACSas Valerie Humpert
- 1953 ยทPrivate Secretaryas
- 1953 ยทGeneral Electric Theateras Aunt Laura
- 1952 ยทDenver and Rio Grandeas Jane Dwyer
- 1950 ยทFrancisas Valerie Humpert
- 1950 ยทWhat's My Line?as Self - Mystery Guest
- 1949 ยทLum and Abneras
- 1948 ยทThe Philco Television Playhouseas Belinda Pryde
- 1947 ยทLife with Fatheras Cousin Cora Cartwright
- 1947 ยทThe Perfect Marriageas Rosa
- 1946 ยทBreakfast in Hollywoodas Elvira Spriggens
- 1946 ยทDear Miss Gloriaas Guest star
- 1943 ยทLet's Face Itas Cornelia Pigeon
- 1942 ยทTishas Aggie Pilkington (as ZaSu Pitts)
- 1942 ยทSo's Your Aunt Emma!as Aunt Emma Bates
- 1942 ยทThe Bashful Bacheloras Geraldine
- 1942 ยทMexican Spitfire at Seaas Miss Pepper
- 1941 ยทWeekend for Threeas Anna, Craig's Maid
- 1941 ยทThe Mexican Spitfire's Babyas Emily Pepper
- 1941 ยทMiss Pollyas Pandora Polly
- 1941 ยทUncle Joeas Julia Jordan
- 1941 ยทNiagara Fallsas Emmy Sawyer
- 1941 ยทBroadway Limitedas Myra Pottle
- 1940 ยทNo, No, Nanetteas Pauline Hastings
- 1940 ยทIt All Came Trueas Miss Flint
- 1939 ยทEternally Yoursas Cary Bingham
- 1939 ยทNurse Edith Cavellas Mme. Moulin
- 1939 ยทMickey the Kidas Lilly Handy
- 1939 ยทNaughty But Niceas Aunt Penelope Hardwick
- 1939 ยทThe Lady's from Kentuckyas Dulcey Lee
- 1937 ยท52nd Streetas Letitia Rondell
- 1937 ยทForty Naughty Girlsas Hildegarde Withers
- 1937 ยทWanted!as Winnie Oatfield
- 1936 ยทSing Me a Love Songas Gwen Logan
- 1936 ยทThe Plot Thickensas Hildegarde Withers
- 1936 ยทMad Holidayas Mrs. Fay Kinney
- 1936 ยท13 Hours by Airas Miss Harkins
- 1935 ยทThe Affair of Susanas Susan Todd
- 1935 ยทHot Tipas Belle McGill
- 1935 ยทShe Gets Her Manas Esmeralda
- 1935 ยทGoing Highbrowas Cora Upshaw
- 1935 ยทSpring Tonicas Maggie Conklin
- 1935 ยทRuggles of Red Gapas Mrs. Judson
- 1934 ยทThe Gay Brideas Mirabelle
- 1934 ยทMrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patchas Miss Hazy
- 1934 ยทDamesas Matilda Hemingway
- 1934 ยทTheir Big Momentas Tillie Whim
- 1934 ยทPrivate Scandalas Miss Coates
- 1934 ยทLove Birdsas Araminta Tootle
- 1934 ยทSing and Like itas Annie Snodgrass
- 1934 ยทAnd She Learned About Damesas Herself
- 1934 ยทThree on a Honeymoonas Alice Mudge
- 1934 ยทTwo Aloneas Esthey Roberts
- 1934 ยทThe Meanest Gal in Townas Tillie Prescott
- 1933 ยทMr. Skitchas Maddie Skitch
- 1933 ยทMeet the Baronas Zasu
- 1933 ยทAggie Appleby, Maker of Menas Sybby 'Sib'
- 1933 ยทLove, Honor and Oh, Baby!as Connie Clark
- 1933 ยทHer First Mateas Mary Horner
- 1933 ยทProfessional Sweetheartas Elmerada de Leon
- 1933 ยทOne Track Mindsas
- 1933 ยทHello, Sister!as Millie
- 1933 ยทOut All Nightas Bonny
- 1933 ยทThe Bargain of the Centuryas Zasu
- 1933 ยทThe Vanishing Frontieras Aunt Sylvia
- 1933 ยทMaids a la Modeas Miss Pitts
- 1933 ยทAsleep in the Feetas Zasu
- 1933 ยทThey Just Had to Get Marriedas Molly Hull
- 1933 ยทShe Whoops To Conqueras Beula
- 1932 ยทSneak Easilyas Miss Zasu Pitts - Woman of the Jury
- 1932 ยทMadison Square Gardenas Florrie
- 1932 ยทThe Soilersas Zasu
- 1932 ยทOnce in a Lifetimeas Miss Leyton
- 1932 ยทThe Crooked Circleas Nora Rafferty
- 1932 ยทAlum and Eveas Zasu
- 1932 ยทBlondie of the Folliesas Gertie
- 1932 ยทShow Businessas Zasu
- 1932 ยทBack Streetas Mrs. Dole
- 1932 ยทRoar of the Dragonas Gabby Woman
- 1932 ยทMake Me a Staras Mrs. Scudder
- 1932 ยทIs My Face Red?as Morning Gazette Telephone Operator
- 1932 ยทThe Old Bullas Zasu
- 1932 ยทWestward Passageas Mrs. Truesdale
- 1932 ยทStrangers of the Eveningas Sybil Smith
- 1932 ยทThe Trial of Vivienne Wareas Gladys Fairweather
- 1932 ยทStrictly Unreliableas Pitts
- 1932 ยทDestry Rides Againas Temperance Worker
- 1932 ยทShopwornas Aunt Dot
- 1932 ยทRed Nosesas Miss Pitts
- 1932 ยทSteady Companyas Dot
- 1932 ยทSealskinsas Zasu Pitts
- 1932 ยทBroken Lullabyas Anna, Holderlin's Maid
- 1932 ยทThe Unexpected Fatheras Polly Perkins
- 1931 ยทOn the Looseas Zasu
- 1931 ยทThe Secret Witnessas Bella
- 1931 ยทWar Mamasas Zasu
- 1931 ยทThe Guardsmanas Liesl
- 1931 ยทThe Pajama Partyas Zasu
- 1931 ยทPenrod and Samas Mrs. Bassett
- 1931 ยทThe Big Gambleas Nora Dugan
- 1931 ยทCatch-As Catch-Canas ZaSu
- 1931 ยทTheir Mad Momentas Miss Dibbs
- 1931 ยทA Woman of Experienceas Katie
- 1931 ยทLet's Do Thingsas Zasu Pitts
- 1931 ยทSeedas Jennie
- 1931 ยทBeyond Victoryas Fritzi Mobley
- 1931 ยทThe Bad Sisteras Minnie
- 1931 ยทFinn and Hattieas Mrs. Hattie Haddock
- 1930 ยทPassion Floweras Mrs. Harney
- 1930 ยทFree Loveas Ada, the Maid
- 1930 ยทWar Nurseas Cushie
- 1930 ยทSin Takes a Holidayas Annie
- 1930 ยทRiver's Endas Louise
- 1930 ยทThe Lottery Brideas Hilda
- 1930 ยทMonte Carloas Bertha
- 1930 ยทThe Squealeras Bella
- 1930 ยทLittle Accidentas Monica
- 1930 ยทThe Devil's Holidayas Ethel
- 1930 ยทHoneyas Mayme
- 1930 ยทNo, No, Nanetteas Pauline Hastings
- 1929 ยทThe Honeymoonas Caecilia
- 1929 ยทThis Thing Called Loveas Clara Bertrand
- 1929 ยทThe Locked Dooras Telephone Girl
- 1929 ยทParisas Harriet
- 1929 ยทOh, Yeah!as The Elk
- 1929 ยทHer Private Lifeas Timmins
- 1929 ยทThe Argyle Caseas Mrs. Wyatt
- 1929 ยทTwin Bedsas Tillie
- 1929 ยทThe Squallas Lena
- 1929 ยทThe Dummyas Rose Gleason
- 1928 ยทSins of the Fathersas Mother Spengler
- 1928 ยทThe Wedding Marchas Cecelia Schweisser
- 1928 ยทBuck Privatesas Hulda
- 1928 ยท13 Washington Squareas The Maid
- 1928 ยทWife Saversas Germaine
- 1927 ยทCasey at the Batas Camille
- 1926 ยทRisky Businessas Agnes Wheaton
- 1926 ยทSunny Side Upas Evelyn
- 1926 ยทThe Great Loveas Nancy
- 1926 ยทEarly to Wedas Mrs. Dugan
- 1926 ยทMonte Carloas Hope Durant
- 1926 ยทWhat Happened to Jonesas Hilda (as Zazu Pitts)
- 1926 ยทMannequinas Annie Pogani
- 1925 ยทWages for Wivesas Luella Logan
- 1925 ยทLazybonesas Ruth Fanning
- 1925 ยทThunder Mountainas Mandy Coulter
- 1925 ยทPretty Ladiesas Maggie Keenan
- 1925 ยท1925 Studio Touras Self
- 1925 ยทOld Shoesas
- 1925 ยทThe Great Divideas Polly Jordan
- 1924 ยทGreedas Trina
- 1924 ยทSecrets of the Nightas Celia Stebbins
- 1924 ยทThe Fast Setas Mona
- 1924 ยทChanging Husbandsas Delia
- 1924 ยทThe Goldfishas Amelia Pugsley
- 1923 ยทTea- With a Kick!as 'Brainy' Jones
- 1923 ยทHollywoodas Zasu Pitts
- 1923 ยทThree Wise Foolsas Mickey
- 1923 ยทMary of the Moviesas Zasu Pitts (uncredited)
- 1923 ยทSouls for Saleas Self - Celebrity Actress in Commissary
- 1923 ยทPoor Men's Wivesas Apple Annie
- 1922 ยทFor the Defenseas Jennie Dunn
- 1922 ยทA Daughter of Luxuryas Mary Cosgrove
- 1921 ยทPatsyas Patsy
- 1920 ยทHeart of Twentyas Katie Abbott
- 1920 ยทSeeing It Throughas Betty Lawrence
- 1919 ยทThe Other Halfas Jennie Jones, The Jazz Kid
- 1919 ยทBetter Timesas Nancy Scroggs
- 1918 ยทA Lady's Nameas Emily
- 1918 ยทThe Talk of the Townas
- 1918 ยทA Society Sensationas Mary
- 1918 ยทHow Could You, Jean?as Oscar's Sweetheart
- 1917 ยทA Modern Musketeeras A Kansas Belle (uncredited)
- 1917 ยทA Little Princessas Becky
- 1917 ยท'49โ'17as Party Guest (uncredited)
- 1917 ยทRebecca of Sunnybrook Farmas Undetermined Role (uncredited)
- 1917 ยทTillie of the Nine Livesas
- 1917 ยทUneasy Moneyas Suza - the Editor's Assistant