Alice Pearce

Alice Pearce (October 16, 1917 – March 3, 1966) was an American actress. She was brought to Hollywood by Gene Kelly to reprise her Broadway performance in the film version of On the Town. Pearce played comedic supporting roles in several films before being cast as nosy neighbor Gladys Kravitz in the television sitcom Bewitched in 1964. She won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series posthumously after the second season of the series. She died from ovarian cancer in 1966.

Early life and career Pearce was born in New York City, the only child of Margaret Clark and Robert E. Pearce. Her father was a foreign banking specialist, and her family moved to Europe when she was 18 months old. They lived in Brussels, Antwerp, Rome, and Paris. At age nine, she fell off a swing after losing her grip and landed on her chin; this incident left her with an underdeveloped chin. She returned to the United States as a teenager and boarded at the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York.

She began working in nightclubs as a comedienne and was cast in the original Broadway production of On the Town (1944–1946). Gene Kelly was so impressed by her that she became the only cast member to be included in the film version in 1949. Her comedic performance was well received by critics and public alike. She was given her own television variety show, The Alice Pearce Show. More movie roles followed, and she made appearances on Broadway where she met her second husband, director Paul Davis, during a production of Bells Are Ringing. Pearce was posthumously awarded an Emmy Award for this role. Her husband accepted the award on her behalf.

Personal life Pearce was married twice. Her 1948 marriage to composer John Rox lasted until his death in 1957. Davis died in February 1984.

Death Pearce was diagnosed with terminal cancer before Bewitched began. She kept her illness a secret, although her rapid weight loss was quite evident during the second season of the sitcom. She filmed her last episode, "Baby's First Paragraph," on January 21, 1966. Pearce died from ovarian cancer less than two months later on March 3, 1966, at age 48. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered at sea.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes1949 On the Town Lucy Schmeeler The Alice Pearce Show Host Unknown episodes 1951 Lux Video Theatre Nina Season 2 Episode 14: "Dames Are Poison" 1952 The Belle of New York Elsie Wilkins1953 The Motorola Television Hour Hagga Season 1 Episode 5: "The Thirteen Clocks" Broadway Television Theater Miss Dale OgdenLady Emily Lyons Episode: The Bat by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery HopwoodEpisode: The Bishop Misbehaves by Frederick J. Jackson1953–1954 Jamie Annie Moakum 6 episodes Take It from Me Neighbor Also known as The Jean Carroll Show 1955 How to Be Very, Very Popular Miss "Syl" Sylvester Alice in Wonderland Dormouse TV movie 1956 The Opposite Sex Olga 1959 The Real McCoys Emmy Season 3 Episode 4: "Work No More, My Lady"1961 The Twilight Zone Mrs. Nielsen Season 2 Episode 20: "Static" The Ann Sothern Show Ethel Season 3 Episode 14: "Operation Pudney" The Ann Sothern Show Lahona St. Cyr Season 3 Episode 25: "The Beginning"1962 Lad: A Dog Hilda, the NurseDennis the Menace Lucy Tarbell Season 4 Episode 2: "You Go Your Way"Dennis the Menace Lucy Tarbell Season 4 Episode 12: "Jane Butterfield Says"1963 My Six Loves Bus Driver Tammy and the Doctor Millie Baxter, Nurse The Thrill of It All Irving's wife The Donna Reed Show Adele Collins Season 6 Episode 12: "A Touch of Glamour" Alfred Hitchcock Presents Haila French Season 2 Episode 10: "Good-Bye, George"1964 Hazel Miss Elsie Season 3 Episode 17: "Hot Potato a la Hazel" Dear Heart Miss Moore The Disorderly Orderly Mrs. Fuzzibee, Talkative Patient Kiss Me, Stupid Mrs. Mulligan 1964–1966 Bewitched Gladys Kravitz 27 episodes1965 Dear Brigitte Unemployment Office Clerk Bus Riley's Back in Town Woman Customer / Housewife 1966 The Glass Bottom Boat Mabel Fenimore Alternative title: The Spy in Lace Panties; released posthumously 1967 Vacation Playhouse Music Teacher Season 5 Episode 2: "My Boy Googie"Aired posthumously (final appearance)

Awards