Naomi Stevens
Naomi Ruth Stevens[1] (November 29, 1925 – January 13, 2018[2]) was an American character actress of film and television from the 1950s through the 1980s. She appeared in almost 100 roles over the years, usually depicting mothers, landladies, gossips, or neighbors.
Naomi Stevens | |
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Stevens as Rose Montefusco, 1975 | |
Born | Naomi Ruth Stevens November 29, 1925 Trenton, New Jersey, U.S. |
Died | January 13, 2018 92) Reseda, Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1956-1988 |
Spouse(s) | Robert Burns Jr.
(m. 1948; died 2012) |
Children | 1 |
Stevens began entertaining in vaudeville at age 2. She had expanded into radio, film, and theater by age 5.[3] She appeared on a radio program on KNX in Los Angeles and was featured in Paramount Pictorials.[4] Stevens attended the Grace Waugh Bowman School of Theatricals.[1]
Her most frequent characterizations were Italian, Jewish, Latin, or East European, and usually with a comic touch. She appeared in many television series and in such feature films as Valley of the Dolls, Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell, and, most notably, in The Apartment as Mrs. Dreyfuss, the supportive "Jewish mother" type to Shirley MacLaine's character, Fran Kubelik. She portrayed Sgt. Bella Archer in the ABC crime drama Vegas (1978).[5]:1138
On old-time radio, Stevens portrayed Daphne Royce on Brenthouse[6]:51-52 and Irene Barbour on One Man's Family.[6]
Stevens died in January 2018 at the age of 92.
Partial filmography
- Have Gun-Will Travel (1957, TV Series) as Marga / Ma Kafka / Maria
- The Black Orchid (1958) as Guilia Gallo
- Rescue 8 (1959, TV Series) as Angela
- The Apartment (1960) as Mrs. Mildred Dreyfuss
- The Lawless Years (1961, TV Series) as Rose
- Perry Mason (1961–1964, TV Series) as Agnes / Fanny Werbler / Mrs. Kransdorf
- Dr. Kildare (1961–1965, TV Series) as Mrs. Gast / Aunt Kasia / Mrs. Mendoza / Mrs. Gitlin
- Convicts 4 (1962) as Resko's Mother
- McHale's Navy (1963, TV Series) as Mrs. Gruber
- The Farmer's Daughter (1964, TV series) as Mrs. Golden
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1964, Episode: "The Gentleman Caller") as Mrs. Goldy the Building Superintendent
- Honeymoon Hotel (1964) as Woman at Garbage Dump (uncredited)
- Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1964, TV Series) as Aunt Clara / Maria Pia
- Joy in the Morning (1965) as Mrs. Ridinski (uncredited)
- The Art of Love (1965) as Mrs. Sarah Fromkis
- Frankie and Johnny (1966) as Princess Zolita (uncredited)
- Hogan's Heroes (1967, Episode: "The Crittendon Plan") as Nadya
- Valley of the Dolls (1967) as Miss Steinberg
- The Flying Nun (1967–1970, TV Series) as Sister Teresa / Mrs. Emanuel / Señora Rosales
- The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968) as Squaw (uncredited)
- To Die in Paris (1968, TV Movie) as Mama Dendier
- Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell (1968) as Rosa
- The Doris Day Show (1968–1969, TV Series) as Juanita (housekeeper)[5]
- My Three Sons (1969–1970, TV Series) as Mama Rossini
- Love, American Style (1969–1973, TV Series) as Hazel / Mildred / Rosa / Mrs. Straub aka Mother / Annie Ellsworth
- The Hawaiians (1970) as Queen Liliuokalani
- Room 222 (1970, TV Series) as Rose
- Fly Me (1973) as Toby's Mother
- Superdad (1973) as Mrs. Levin (neighbor)
- Hard Times (1975) as Madam
- The Montefuscos (1975, TV Series) as Rose Montefusco[5]:713
- Hustle (1975) as Woman Hostage
- The Practice (1976, TV Series) as Mrs. Friedman
- Opening Night (1977) as Crying Mourner (uncredited)
- Vega$ (1978–1979, TV Series) as Sgt. Bella Archer
- The Triangle Factory Fire Scandal (1979, TV Movie) as Mrs. Goldstein
- Hotel (1982, TV Series) as Mrs. Tomasino
- Taxi (1983, TV Series) as Aunt Lucia
References
- "Youthful Actress Wins Leading Role". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. April 10, 1932. p. 44. Retrieved May 28, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Naomi Stevens Burns - View Obituary & Service Information". Naomi Stevens Burns Obituary. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
- "A Family on and off the Screen". The San Bernardino County Sun. California, San Bernardino. September 28, 1975. p. TV Week - 16. Retrieved May 27, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Young Singer Brought West for Pictures". The Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. April 5, 1931. p. 38. Retrieved May 27, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. pp. 278–279. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
- Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 260. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4.
External links
- Naomi Stevens at IMDb
- Naomi Stevens at AllMovie
- Naomi Stevens at the TCM Movie Database
- Naomi Stevens at Find a Grave