Beatrice Pons (née Posner; January 28, 1906 – June 17, 1991)[1][3][4] was an American stage, radio,[5] television and film character actress. She is best known for her recurring television roles on The Phil Silvers Show and Car 54, Where Are You? She appeared as "Mother" in the independent horror film Mother's Day under the name Rose Ross.
Beatrice Pons | |
|---|---|
 Beatrice Pons in Car 54, Where Are You 1961 | |
| Born | Beatrice Posner[1] January 28, 1906 Rhode Island, US[2] |
| Died | June 17, 1991 (aged 85) New York City, US |
| Resting place | Riverside Cemetery, Saddle Brook, New Jersey |
| Other names | Rose Ross |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1934–1987 |
| Spouse |
David Ross
(m. 1934; died 1975) |
| Children | 1 |
Life and career
editTrained as a teacher, Pons began working in chorus and minor roles on Broadway in 1934. She also had a nightclub act doing impressions of famous actresses, comedians and singers.[5] In the mid-1930s, she found work on radio, including the Dick Tracy series starting in January 1938.[6]
Pons' first television appearance was on the NBC anthology series Goodyear Television Playhouse. She may be best-remembered for her recurring roles as Mrs. Emma Ritzik on the television sitcom The Phil Silvers Show and as Lucille Toody on the sitcom Car 54, Where Are You?, with her husband in both series played by veteran comedic actor Joe E. Ross. She also made appearances on the long-running American radio-turned-television series The Goldbergs, The United States Steel Hour, and the CBS prime time drama The Nurses.
In her later years, Pons began appearing in films. In 1964 she made her film debut in the comedy Diary of a Bachelor. In 1980 she played the role of "Mother" in the cult horror film Mother's Day, in which she chose to be credited as Rose Ross (her real-life husband's surname was Ross).[7][8] Her later film credits include Rachel, Rachel and Forever, Lulu.
Personal life and death
editPons was married to radio personality David Ross (born David Rosenthal; July 7, 1891 – died November 12, 1975), by whom she had a son, Jonathan.[9]
Pons died on June 17, 1991, aged 85, in New York City. She was buried in Riverside Cemetery, Saddle Brook, New Jersey.
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Diary of a Bachelor | Bachelorette | Film debut |
| 1965 | Le gendarme à New York | La standardiste | Uncredited role |
| 1968 | Rachel, Rachel | Florence | |
| 1980 | Mother's Day | Mother | Credited as Rose Ross |
| 1984 | Rent Control | Leonard's Mother | |
| 1987 | Forever, Lulu | Fortune Teller |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Big Town | Unnamed/unknown role | Season 1 (guest role; 1 episode) |
| 1952 | Goodyear Television Playhouse | Unnamed/unknown role | Season 1 (guest role; 1 episode) |
| 1955 | Danger | Unnamed/unknown role | Season 1 (guest role; 1 episode) |
| 1954–56 | The Goldbergs | Bella/Head Nurse | Two separate guest roles (2 episodes) |
| 1958 | The United States Steel Hour | Danka | Season 5 (guest role; 1 episode) |
| 1956–59 | The Phil Silvers Show | Mrs. Emma Ritzik | Seasons 2–4 (recurring role; 14 episodes) |
| 1959 | Keep in Step | Mrs. Emma Ritzik | The Phil Silvers Pontiac Special |
| 1960 | Deadline | Nurse | Season 1 (guest role; 1 episode) |
| 1961–63 | Car 54, Where Are You? | Lucille Toody | Seasons 1–2 (main role; 32 episodes) |
| 1964 | The Nurses | Mrs. Radnitz | Season 3 (guest role; 1 episode) |
References
edit- ^ a b "Deaths – Frankel, Pearl P." The New York Times. 21 August 1964. p. 29. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
- ^ Grams, Martin Jr. (September 8, 2010). Car 54, Where Are You?. BearManor Media. p. PT22. ISBN 978-1593937232. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
- ^ "Death Notices – Ross, Beatrice Pons". The New York Times. June 19, 1991. p. D25. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
- ^ [1][permanent dead link]
- ^ a b Williams, John 'Willow' (2019). "Beatrice Pons, who are you?". A Tribute to Nat Hiken's 'Car 54 Where Are You?'. Retrieved 17 Jan 2020.
- ^ Cox, J. (2002). Radio Crime Fighters: More Than 300 Programs from the Golden Age. McFarland & Company Incorporated. p. 98. ISBN 9780786443246. Retrieved 2020-01-17.
- ^ "Trauma-Mommas: 10 Most Horrifying Movie Moms". Kindertrauma.com. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
- ^ "Interview With Mother's Day Actress Nancy Hendrickson" by John Klyza • August 12, 2009 Archived 2011-10-16 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "David Ross Dies; Poet-Announcer – Radio Personality, 84, Had Own Network Programs". The New York Times. November 14, 1975. p. 40. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
External links
edit- Beatrice Pons at IMDb
- Profile, fanpix.net
- Beatrice Pons at Find a Grave
