Florida Friebus (October 10, 1909 [note 1][1] – May 27, 1988) was an American writer and actress of stage, film, and television. Friebus's best-known roles were Winifred "Winnie" Gillis, the sympathetic mother of Dwayne Hickman's character Dobie Gillis on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis,[2]: 267 and Mrs. Lillian Bakerman on The Bob Newhart Show.[2]
Florida Friebus | |
|---|---|
 Friebus in 1968 | |
| Born | October 10, 1909 |
| Died | May 27, 1988 (aged 78) |
| Other names | Florida Freebus Florida Freibus |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1929–1978 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
Early years
editFlorida Friebus was born in Auburndale, Massachusetts, to Theodore Friebus and Beatrice Flagg Mosier Friebus.[note 2][1] She was known to make it clear to curious people that she was named after her mother's favorite aunt—not after the state of Florida. Her paternal grandmother was named Florida as well.[3]
Personal life
editFriebus married actor Richard Waring, in 1934. They had one child who died in infancy. The couple divorced in 1952. Friebus never remarried.[4]
Career
editFriebus first acted professionally in 1929 in New York City, appearing in The Cradle Song with the Civic Repertory Theater.[1]
She appeared on television in such programs as The Ford Theatre Hour, Perry Mason, Bachelor Father, Father Knows Best, The Rookies, Peyton Place, Ironside, Gunsmoke, Sanford and Son, Ben Casey, The Doris Day Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Room 222, The Partridge Family, Chico and the Man, Barnaby Jones, Alice, and Rhoda.
She also read stories to children on Look and Listen on KNXT in Los Angeles, California.[1]
As a writer, Friebus collaborated with Eva Le Gallienne to dramatize Alice in Wonderland. The play was presented on Broadway and later on the Hallmark Hall of Fame on television.[1]
Actors' Equity
editFriebus spent more than 16 years on the board of Actors' Equity Association. She was presented the Phil Loeb Award "for extraordinary service to her profession."[1]
Papers
editFriebus's papers are housed at the New York Public Library.[4]
Filmography
edit| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1958 | High School Confidential! | Mrs. Staples | Uncredited |
| 1978 | Jennifer | Miss Tooker | |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1950 | Lights Out | 1 episode | |
| Escape | 1 episode | ||
| Pulitzer Prize Playhouse | 1 episode | ||
| 1950–1951 | The Philco Television Playhouse | 2 episodes | |
| 1950–1953 | Kraft Television Theatre | 3 episodes | |
| 1953 | Goodyear Television Playhouse | 1 episode | |
| 1954 | Lamp Unto My Feet | 1 episode | |
| 1956 | Hallmark Hall of Fame | Karoline | 1 episode |
| The Alcoa Hour | Mrs. Franklin | 1 episode | |
| 1957 | The Joseph Cotten Show | Helen Fogarty | 1 episode |
| 1957–1958 | Bachelor Father | Mrs. Banks Mrs. Marquand |
3 episodes |
| 1958 | Father Knows Best | 1 episode | |
| Gunsmoke | Mrs. Meggs | 1 episode | |
| 1959 | Playhouse 90 | 1 episode | |
| The Donna Reed Show | Helen Brooks | 1 episode | |
| 1959–1963 | The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis | Winifred Gillis | 87 episodes |
| 1960 | The Chevy Mystery Show | Lois Halsey | 1 episode |
| 1963 | Perry Mason | Marian Lamont | 1 episode |
| 1964 | The New Phil Silvers Show | Mrs. Bradshaw | 1 episode |
| Peyton Place | Maggie Riggs | Unknown episodes | |
| 1965 | My Mother the Car | Miss McFee | 1 episode |
| 1966 | This Is the Life | 1 episode | |
| Ben Casey | 1 episode | ||
| 1968 | Ironside | Middle-Aged Woman | 1 episode |
| 1971–1972 | The Mary Tyler Moore Show | Mrs. Marshall Nun |
2 episodes |
| 1972 | Sanford and Son | Woman | 1 episode |
| Ghost Story | Mrs. Prescott | 1 episode | |
| The Doris Day Show | Miss Peabody | 1 episode | |
| Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law | 1 episode | ||
| 1972–1978 | The Bob Newhart Show | Mrs. Lillian Bakerman | 17 episodes |
| 1973 | Room 222 | 1 episode | |
| Cannon | Julie McElroy | 1 episode | |
| Gunsmoke | Mrs. Tavers | 1 episode | |
| The Partridge Family | Mrs. Hendleman | 1 episode | |
| The Rookies | Sister Elizabeth | 1 episode | |
| 1973–1977 | Barnaby Jones | Molly McMurty Connie Graham |
2 episodes |
| 1974–1978 | Rhoda | Harriet Strongen Edna Brundidge Mrs. Swensen |
3 episodes |
| 1975 | Chico and the Man | Althea Nelson | 1 episode |
| Miles to Go Before I Sleep | Ruth | Television movie | |
| Love Nest | Jenny | 1 episode | |
| Kate McShane | 1 episode | ||
| 1976 | Amelia Earhart | Miss Perkins | Television movie |
| Switch | Fiona | 2 episodes | |
| 1978 | Kaz | 1 episode | |
| ABC Weekend Special | Miss Kelly | 1 episode | |
Notes
edit- ^ Her obituary in the Los Angeles Times gives her birth year as 1908.
- ^ Her obituary in the Los Angeles Times gives her place of birth as Nantucket Island, Massachusetts.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f McGraw, Carol (June 2, 1988). "Florida Friebus; Played Mother of Dobie Gillis". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 6, 2017. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
- ^ a b Terrace, Vincent (January 10, 2014). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. pp. 119–120. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
- ^ "A Question for You, Mr. Shakespeare". Jefferson City Post-Tribune. May 18, 1962. p. 16. Retrieved June 6, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Florida Friebus papers, 1926-1988, Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts; accessed July 9, 2015.
