Biography
Zasu Pitts (January 3, 1894 – June 7, 1963) was an American actress known for her extensive work in silent dramas and comedies, successfully transitioning to primarily comedy roles with the introduction of sound films. She is perhaps best remembered for her role in Erich von Stroheim's silent epic Greed.
Von Stroheim praised her as "the greatest dramatic actress" based on her performance and cast her in his films The Honeymoon (1928), The Wedding March (1928), War Nurse (1930), and Walking Down Broadway, later released as Hello, Sister! (1933). However, with the arrival of sound films, Pitts was mainly cast in comedic parts. A notable setback occurred when she was replaced by Beryl Mercer in the war drama All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) after her initial preview screening unintentionally elicited laughter despite her serious portrayal. She delivered comedic performances in films like Finn and Hattie (1931), The Guardsman (1931), Blondie of the Follies (1932), Sing and Like It (1934), and Ruggles of Red Gap (1935). In 1936 and 1937, she played Hildegarde Withers, the spinster detective, in two films, succeeding Edna May Oliver, though these were not well received.
During the 1950s, Pitts shifted her focus to television, culminating in her most notable series role as Elvira Nugent ("Nugie"), the shipboard beautician and sidekick to Gale Storm on CBS's The Gale Storm Show (1956), also known as Oh, Susannah. In 1961, she guest-starred alongside Earle Hodgins in the ABC sitcom Guestward, Ho! episode "Lonesome's Gal," set on a New Mexico dude ranch. In 1962, she appeared in the CBS series Perry Mason in the episode "The Case of the Absent Artist." Her final film role was as Gertie, the switchboard operator, in Stanley Kramer's comedy epic It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963).
