Elisabeth Fraser (born Elisabeth Fraser Jonker, January 8, 1920 – May 5, 2005) was an American actress, best known for playing brassy blondes.
Life and career Born Elisabeth Fraser Jonker on January 8, 1920 in Brooklyn, New York, she was educated in Haiti, France and New York.
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 early 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 (she also appeared in the 1958 film version).
Television She played Hazel Norris on the television version of Fibber McGee and Molly,Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. 340. Frances Warner in McKeever and the Colonel, Josie Ryan in Off We Go, Mildred Hogan in One Happy Family, and Sgt. Bilko's longtime girlfriend Joan on The Phil Silvers Show. 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 the TV series Gunsmoke, playing Daisy Lou” in the episode “”Which Doctor?”.
Book Fraser wrote the 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."
Death On May 5, 2005, Fraser died of congestive heart failure in Woodland Hills, California at age 85. She was cremated, and her ashes scattered at sea.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1941 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 uncredited1953 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
Television Year Title Role Notes1959 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 season 2, episode 2: "The Picture Frame"
References
External links
Elisabeth Fraser papers, 1920-1999, held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts