Betty Furness
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- January 3, 1916
- Died
- April 2, 1994
- Birthplace
- New York City, New York, USA
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Elizabeth Mary Furness (January 3, 1916 – April 2, 1994) was an American actress, consumer advocate, and current affairs commentator. She began her professional career as a model before being noticed by a talent scout and being signed to a film contract in 1932 by RKO Studios. Her first film role was as the "Thirteenth Woman" in the film Thirteen Women (1932) but her scenes were deleted before the film's release. Over the next few years, she appeared in several RKO films, and became a popular actress. Among her film successes were Magnificent Obsession (1935) and the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers film Swing Time (1936). By the end of the decade, she had appeared in over forty films, but during the 1940s, she found it difficult to secure acting roles. In 1948, Furness was performing in the television series Studio One, which was broadcast live. She filled in for an actor to promote Westinghouse products during the advertisement break, and impressed the company with her easy and professional manner. They offered her a contract to promote their products and she thus became closely associated with them.
Filmography
Westinghouse Total Electric Home 1959
as Narrator
The Defender (Studio One) 1957
as Self / Commercial Spokeswoman
Twelve Angry Men 1954
as Herself / Commercial Spokeswoman
The Play of the Nativity of the Child Jesus 1952
as Self
The Kill 1952
as Self - Commercial Spokeswoman
Ellis in Freedomland 1952
as Spokeswoman for Westinghouse
Pontius Pilate 1952
Actor
A Bolt of Lightning 1951
as Self - Commercial Spokeswoman
Studio One: Wuthering Heights 1950
as Announcer
The Rockingham Tea Set 1950
as Self - Commercial Spokeswoman
North of Shanghai 1939
as Helen Warner
It Can't Last Forever 1937
as Carol Wilson
The Good Old Soak 1937
as Lucy Hawley
Fair Warning 1937
as Kate Farnham
They Wanted to Marry 1937
as Sheila Hunter
Mama Steps Out 1937
as Leila Cuppy
Mister Cinderella 1936
as Patricia 'Pat' Randolph
All American Chump 1936
as Kitty Crane
The President's Mystery 1936
as Charlotte Brown
Swing Time 1936
as Margaret Watson
The Three Wise Guys 1936
as Clarabelle Brooks
Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs 1936
Actor
Magnificent Obsession 1935
as Joyce Hudson
Here Comes Cookie 1935
as Phyllis Allen
The Keeper of the Bees 1935
as Molly
Calm Yourself 1935
as Mary Elizabeth Allenby
McFadden´s Flats 1935
as Molly McFadden
Shadow of Doubt 1935
as Lisa
The Band Plays On 1934
as Kitty O'Brien
A Wicked Woman 1934
as Yancey Stroud, aka Yancey Trice
Dangerous Corner 1934
as Mrs. Betty Whitehouse
Gridiron Flash 1934
as Jane Thurston
The Life of Vergie Winters 1934
as Joan Shadwell
Beggars in Ermine 1934
as Joyce Dawson
Let's Fall in Love 1933
as Linda
Flying Down to Rio 1933
as Belinha's Friend (uncredited)
Ace of Aces 1933
as Card Playing Party Guest (uncredited)
Aggie Appleby, Maker of Men 1933
as Evangeline
Midshipman Jack 1933
as Ruth Rogers
Headline Shooter 1933
as Miss Saunders
Emergency Call 1933
as Alice Averill
Cross Fire 1933
as Pat "Mike" Plummer
Scarlet River 1933
as Babe Jewel
The Great Jasper 1933
as Sylvia Bradfield
Lucky Devils 1933
as Ginger
Renegades of the West 1932
as Mary Fawcett
Credits from TMDB.