Wikipedia

Alice Ghostley

Alice Margaret Ghostley(August 14, 1923 – September 21, 2007) was an American actress and singer on stage, film and television.

Alice Ghostley
Ghostley inMayberry R.F.D.(1970)
Born
Alice Margaret Ghostley

(1923-08-14)August 14, 1923
Eve,Missouri,U.S.
DiedSeptember 21, 2007(2007-09-21)(aged 84)
Studio City,California,U.S.
Occupation(s)Actress, singer[1]
Years active1953–2007
Spouse
​
​
(m.1953; died 2003)​

Ghostley was best known for her roles as bumbling witch Esmeralda (1969–72) onBewitched,as Cousin Alice (1970–71) onMayberry R.F.D.,and as Bernice Clifton (1986–93) onDesigning Women,for which she received anEmmynomination forBest Supporting Actress in a Comedy Seriesin 1992.

Ghostley was regular onNichols(1971–72) andThe Julie Andrews Hour(1972–73).[2]

Early life

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Ghostley was born on August 14, 1923 at atrain stationinEve,Missouri, to Edna Muriel (née Rooney) and Harry Francis Ghostley, who worked as a telegraph operator.[3]Ghostley grew up inHenryetta, Oklahoma.She attended theUniversity of Oklahoma,but dropped out to pursue a career in theater.[4]

Career

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Stage

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Ghostley first came toBroadwayinLeonard Sillman'sNew Faces of 1952and in the film version released in 1954.[1]

Television

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A veteran ofearly television,Ghostley appeared as Joy, one of the ugly stepsisters in the 1957 musical television production ofRichard RodgersandOscar Hammerstein'sCinderella,which starredJulie Andrewsin the title role. The other stepsister was played by actressKaye Ballard.Twelve years later, Ghostley guest-starred as a harried maternity nurse on Ballard's comedy series,The Mothers-in-Law.[5] Ghostley guest-starred on theNBCpolice comedy,Car 54, Where Are You?,withJoe E. RossandFred Gwynneand in two 1961 episodes ofThe Tom Ewell ShowstarringTom Ewell.She was also a favorite ofJackie Gleason,[citation needed]who featured her in his "American Scene Magazine" variety hours of the 1960s. In the recurring sketch "Arthur and Agnes", Gleason played a loudmouthed, inconsiderate braggart talking to Ghostley on her front stoop. Gleason's character treated her thoughtlessly for several minutes before walking away, leaving Ghostley alone to confide to the audience, "I'm the luckiest girl in the world!"

She portrayedrecurring characterson several situation comedies, beginning withBewitchedin 1966 in "Maid To Order", in which Ghostley played an inept maid named Naomi, who was hired by Darrin Stephens (played byDick York) to assist his wife Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery) during her pregnancy. Towards the end of the 1965–66 season, actress-comedianAlice Pearce,who was featured as nosy neighbor Gladys Kravitz onBewitched,died. The producers of the series immediately offered the role of Gladys to Ghostley, who refused it. As a result, in the fall of 1966, character actressSandra Gouldassumed the role of Gladys. In September 1969, after the death of actressMarion Lorne,who played Aunt Clara, Ghostley joinedBewitchedas a semiregular in the role of Esmeralda, a shy witch who served as a maid and babysitter to the Stephens' household.[2]Ghostley's character of Esmeralda was created to replace Aunt Clara's role as a bumbler of magic.[6][dead link‍]

Ghostley's Esmeralda appeared in 15 episodes ofBewitchedbetween 1969 and 1972.[7]During her two years onBewitched,Ghostley also joined the cast ofMayberry R.F.D.,playing Cousin Alice afterFrances Bavier's character,Aunt Bee,was written out of the series. She appeared in 14 episodes.[6]

On February 22, 1969, she appeared as Aggie onThe Ghost & Mrs Muir(starringEdward MulhareandHope Lange). The episode was entitled "Make Me A Match". The captain and Mrs. Muir matched her with Claymore Gregg (Charles Nelson Reilly). On March 6, 1970, she appeared on another episode ofThe Ghost & Mrs Muir,"Curious Cousin". She played nosey Cousin Harriet. She interferes with Mrs Muir's private life. To divert her excessive attention, Claymore, posing as Captain Gregg, comes to court her.[6]

After eight years,Bewitchedwas cancelled by ABC in the spring of 1972. Later that year in September, Ghostley was hired as a semiregular for the ABC-TV variety series,The Julie Andrews Hour;in addition to participating in songs and sketches, Andrews and Ghostley were featured in a recurring segment as roommates sharing a small apartment.The Julie Andrews Hourwas cancelled by ABC in the spring of 1973 after 24 episodes. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Ghostley appeared in episodes of situation comedies such asHogan's Heroes(alternating withKathleen Freemanplaying Gertrude Linkmaier, General Burkhalter's sister) and Mrs. Field Marshal Manheim,Good Times,Maude,One Day at a Time,The Odd Couple,andWhat's Happening!!.[6]

Between 1986 and 1993, Ghostley portrayed Bernice Clifton, the slightly off-kilter, eccentric friend of Julia and Suzanne Sugarbaker's mother, Perky, onDesigning Women.[8]She later played Irna Wallingsford in six episodes ofEvening Shade.She also had a recurring role of Ida Mae Brindle in the sitcomSmall Wonder,which ran from 1985 to 1989. Among many other guest roles, she appeared in a flashback episode as the crazed mother-in-law of Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur) onThe Golden Girls.She made a one-time appearance as Great-Grandma inSabrina the Teenage Witch.Ghostley also made a few guest appearances on thedaytime dramaPassionsin 2000, playing the ghost ofMatilda Matthews.[6]

Film

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Among her roles in motion pictures, Ghostley appeared inTo Kill a Mockingbird(1962),[2]playing Stephanie Crawford, the neighborhood gossip. She starred inGatoras Gator's partner in crime who brings her cats along on a burglary. She appeared in the film version ofGreaseas shop teacher Mrs. Murdock. In 1985, she had a supporting role in theNancy AllencomedyNot for Publication.[6]Alice played Grandmama in the direct-to-video movieAddams Family Reunion.[citation needed]

Awards

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Ghostley received aTonynomination in 1963 for different roles she played in the Broadway comedyThe Beauty Part.She also received a Tony Award forBest Featured Actressfor her role inThe Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window.[4] In1992,she earnedan Emmy nominationfor her role inDesigning Women.[4]

Personal life

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Ghostley was married toFelice Orlandi,an Italian-American actor, from 1953 until his death in 2003.[4]

Ghostley died at her home inStudio City, California,on September 21, 2007, of colon cancer and a series of strokes.[9][10]

Selected filmography

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Select television credits

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References

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  1. ^abArnold, Gary (October 18, 2007)."Familiar New Faces: Spoofs Endure For Cast, Films".The Washington Times.RetrievedNovember 27,2012.
  2. ^abcLavietes, Stuart (September 22, 2007)."Alice Ghostley, Comic TV and Stage Actress, Is Dead".The New York Times.RetrievedNovember 27,2012.
  3. ^"Honoring Alice Ghostley's life, career for what would have been her 100th birthday".Tulsa World.August 14, 2023.
  4. ^abcd"Bewitched Actress Alice Ghostley Dies".Sunday Gazette-Mail.September 23, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon September 24, 2015.RetrievedNovember 27,2012.
  5. ^Foster, Catherine (December 5, 2004)."Rodgers & Hammerstein's Musical Cinderella Story Returns".The Boston Globe.Archived fromthe originalon March 12, 2016.RetrievedNovember 27,2012.
  6. ^abcdef"Alice Ghostley".TVGuide.TV Guide.RetrievedAugust 25,2019.
  7. ^Paul."When Esmeralda Sneezed".Archivedfrom the original on June 10, 2007.RetrievedApril 27,2007.
  8. ^Bornfeld, Steve (July 3, 1990)."Quality-Television Group Picks Nominees For Its Own Awards".Albany Times.Archived fromthe originalon January 26, 2013.RetrievedNovember 27,2012.
  9. ^Stuart Lavietes (September 22, 2007)."Alice Ghostley, Comic TV and Stage Actress, Is Dead".The New York Times.RetrievedFebruary 15,2012.
  10. ^"Alice Ghostley obituary".The Advocate.November 6, 2007. Archived fromthe originalon February 28, 2011.RetrievedNovember 27,2012.
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