Elisabeth Fraser (born Elisabeth Fraser Jonker, January 8, 1920 – May 5, 2005) was an American actress, best known for playing brassy blondes.

Elisabeth Fraser
Born
Elisabeth Fraser Jonker

(1920-01-08)January 8, 1920
DiedMay 5, 2005(2005-05-05) (aged 85)
Years active1941–1980
Spouse(s)Ray McDonald (1944–1952; divorced)
Charles K. Peck Jr. (19??–19??; divorced)
Children3

Life and career

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Born Elisabeth Fraser Jonker on January 8, 1920, in Brooklyn, New York, she was educated in Haiti, France and New York.[1]

Fraser began her acting career six weeks after graduating from high school; she was cast as the ingenue in the Broadway production of There Shall Be No Night, which won the Pulitzer Prize for the 1940-1941 season. Fraser obtained a contract with Warner Brothers studios. She appeared in dozens of films.

One of her first roles was in The Man Who Came to Dinner as June Stanley, the young daughter of the Ohio couple forced to put up with Monty Woolley, who tells her to follow her heart to the man she loves, a trade unionist in her father's company, regardless of her father's feelings. She also appeared in All My Sons, Roseanna McCoy, and So Big.

Her most notable role was as Shelley Winters' character's friend in the 1965 hit film A Patch of Blue. She also played in the movie Ask Any Girl as Jeannie with Shirley MacLaine. Fraser's stage career spanned over three decades and included Broadway productions of The Best Man, The Family, and Tunnel of Love[2] (she also appeared in the 1958 film version).[3]

Television

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She played Hazel Norris on the television version of Fibber McGee and Molly,[4] Frances Warner in McKeever and the Colonel,[4]: 673  Josie Ryan in Off We Go,[4]: 781  Mildred Hogan in One Happy Family,[4]: 789  and Sgt. Bilko's longtime girlfriend, Joan, on The Phil Silvers Show.[4]: 830  She also guest-starred on many popular television series, including three guest appearances on Perry Mason, such as the role of Estelle Paige in the 1966 episode, "The Case of the Sausalito Sunrise." She also made four appearances on Maude.

In 1966, she appeared in James Arness’s TV Western series Gunsmoke, playing “Daisy Lou” in S11E26’s “”Which Doctor?”.

Book

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Fraser wrote a book, Once Upon a Dime. Newspaper columnist Terry Vernon described the book as "a humorous account of what happens to a divorced actress with three children who arrives in Hollywood."[5]

Death

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On May 5, 2005, Fraser died of congestive heart failure in Woodland Hills, California, at the age of 85. She was cremated and her ashes scattered at sea.[citation needed]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1941 One Foot in Heaven Eileen Spence
1942 The Man Who Came to Dinner June Stanley
Busses Roar Betty
The Hidden Hand Mary Winfield
Commandos Strike at Dawn Anna Korstad
1948 All My Sons Lydia Lubey
1949 Roseanna McCoy Bess McCoy
Dear Wife Kate Collins
1950 Hills of Oklahoma Sharon Forbes
1951 When I Grow Up Mother Reed (modern)
Callaway Went Thataway Marie
Death of a Salesman Miss Forsythe Uncredited
1953 So Big Julie Hempel
1954 The Steel Cage Marie, Louie's Girl (segment "The Chef")
Young at Heart Amy Tuttle
1958 The Tunnel of Love Alice Pepper
1959 Ask Any Girl Jennie Boyden
1962 Two for the Seesaw Sophie
1963 Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed? Dora Ashley
1965 A Patch of Blue Sadie
1966 Seconds Plump Blonde
The Glass Bottom Boat Nina Bailey
1967 The Way West Mrs. Fairman
Tony Rome Irma
The Graduate Party Guest Uncredited
The Ballad of Josie Widow Renfrew
1980 9 to 5 Uncredited, (final film role)

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1959 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Dorothy Forbes Season 4 Episode 23: "I'll Take Care of You"
1964 The Addams Family Madelyn Smith Season 1 Episode 31: "Uncle Fester's Toupee"
1967 The Monkees Judge S2:E2, "The Picture Frame"

References

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  1. ^ "Elisabeth Fraser Wandered In and Lunts Gave Her Job". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. New York, Brooklyn. December 27, 1942. p. 29. Retrieved June 22, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ "(Elisabeth Fraser search)". Playbill Vault. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  3. ^ "New Comedy Set At Manos Soon". The Evening Standard. Pennsylvania, Uniontown. The Evening Standard. December 6, 1958. p. 5. Retrieved June 22, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
  4. ^ a b c d e Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010. McFarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7. P. 340.
  5. ^ Vernon, Terry (January 13, 1961). "Tele-Vues". Independent. California, Long Beach. p. 27. Retrieved June 22, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.  
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