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Betty GarrettAmerican actress, comedian and dancer
Date of Birth: 23.05.1919
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Betty Garrett: A Versatile Performer
- Hollywood Blacklist and Career Decline
- Comeback and Sitcom Success
- Later Years and Legacy
Betty Garrett: A Versatile Performer
Early Career and the Golden Age of MusicalsBetty Garrett (born May 23, 1919) was an American actress, comedian, and dancer. She made a name for herself during the Golden Age of Musicals, starring in a number of Broadway shows, including "Something for the Boys" (1943), "Jackpot" (1944), and "Call Me Mister" (1948). Her performance of "South America, Take It Away" in the latter earned her the Donaldson Award, a forerunner of the Tony Award.
Hollywood Blacklist and Career Decline
Garrett's career took a turn in 1951 when her husband, Larry Parks, was blacklisted as one of the "Hollywood Nineteen" by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). While Garrett herself was not officially blacklisted, her Hollywood career suffered as a result of her husband's involvement.
Comeback and Sitcom Success
Undeterred, Garrett and Parks formed a cabaret act and toured nightclubs and theaters in England and the United States, where the blacklist did not apply. They remained married until Parks' death in 1975. After the blacklist era ended, Garrett returned to the stage and screen, appearing in musicals such as "Girl Could Get Lucky" and "Plaza Suite." She also transitioned to comedic sitcoms, most notably as the liberal neighbor Irene Lorenzo in "All in the Family" and the landlord (and later adoptive mother) Edna Babish in "Laverne and Shirley."
Later Years and Legacy
In her later years, Garrett continued to perform on stage and screen. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1981. Garrett passed away on February 12, 2011, at the age of 91. She left behind a legacy as a versatile performer who made a significant contribution to the entertainment industry.
