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Zasu Pitts
Parsons, Labette County, Kansas, USA
Zasu Pitts (January 3, 1894 – June 7, 1963) was an American actress who starred in many silent dramas and comedies, transitioning successfully to mostly comedy films with the adve…
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Zasu Pitts (January 3, 1894 – June 7, 1963) was an American actress who starred in many silent dramas 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).
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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1964
The Big Parade of Comedy
Movie Mirabelle in 'The Gay Bride' (archive footage)
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1963
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Movie Gertie - Switchboard Operator
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1963
Burke's Law
TV show Mrs. Bowie
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1963
The Thrill of It All
Movie Olivia
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1961
Teenage Millionaire
Movie Aunt Theodora
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1960
Guestward, Ho!
TV show
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1959
The Dennis O'Keefe Show
TV show
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1959
Disneyland '59
Movie Self
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1957
Perry Mason
TV show Daphne Whilom
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1957
This Could Be the Night
Movie Mrs. Shea
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1956
The Gale Storm Show
TV show
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1955
The 20th Century Fox Hour
TV show
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1955
Screen Director's Playhouse
TV show Selma
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1954
Francis Joins the WACS
Movie Valerie Humpert
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1953
Private Secretary
TV show
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1953
General Electric Theater
TV show Aunt Laura
More credits
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1952
Denver and Rio Grande
Movie Jane Dwyer
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1950
Francis
Movie Valerie Humpert
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1950
What's My Line?
TV show Self
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1949
Lum and Abner
Movie
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1948
The Philco Television Playhouse
TV show Belinda Pryde
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1947
Life with Father
Movie Cousin Cora Cartwright
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1947
The Perfect Marriage
Movie Rosa
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1946
Breakfast in Hollywood
Movie Elvira Spriggens
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1946
Dear Miss Gloria
Movie Guest star
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1943
Let's Face It
Movie Cornelia Pigeon
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1942
Tish
Movie Aggie Pilkington (as ZaSu Pitts)
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1942
So's Your Aunt Emma!
Movie Aunt Emma Bates
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1942
The Bashful Bachelor
Movie Geraldine
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1942
Mexican Spitfire at Sea
Movie Miss Pepper
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1941
Weekend for Three
Movie Anna, Craig's Maid
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1941
The Mexican Spitfire's Baby
Movie Emily Pepper
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1941
Miss Polly
Movie Pandora Polly
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1941
Uncle Joe
Movie Julia Jordan
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1941
Niagara Falls
Movie Emmy Sawyer
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1941
Broadway Limited
Movie Myra Pottle
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1940
No, No, Nanette
Movie Pauline Hastings
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1940
It All Came True
Movie Miss Flint
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1939
Eternally Yours
Movie Mrs. Bingham
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1939
Nurse Edith Cavell
Movie Mme. Moulin
