Shirley Booth

Hazel

In 1961, Booth was cast in the title role on the sitcom Hazel, based on Ted Key's popular single-panel cartoon from the Saturday Evening Post about the domineering yet endearing housemaid named Hazel Burke who works for the Baxter family. The series also starred Don DeFore as George Baxter, Whitney Blake as Dorothy "Missy" Baxter, and Bobby Buntrock as the Baxters' young son Harold. Upon its premiere, Hazel was an immediate hit with audiences and drew high ratings.

In 1963, Booth told the Associated Press at the height of Hazel'''s popularity,

I liked playing Hazel the first time I read one of the scripts, and I could see all the possibilities of the character—the comedy would take care of itself. My job was to give her heart. Hazel never bores me. Besides, she's my insurance policy. Booth is one of the few performers to win all three major entertainment awards (Oscar, Tony, Emmy).

In 1965, NBC canceled the series. CBS picked up and retooled the series; Don DeFore (George Baxter) and Whitney Blake (Dorothy Baxter) were written out of the series, while Bobby Buntrock (Harold "Sport" Baxter) remained a cast member. Ray Fulmer was cast as Steve Baxter, the brother of DeFore's character George. Booth, who owned the rights to the series, hired Lynn Borden, a former Miss Arizona, as Steve's wife Barbara. Julia Benjamin was cast as Barbara and Steve's daughter Susie. In the retooled version, George and Dorothy Baxter have moved to Baghdad, leaving Harold to live with Steve and Barbara. Hazel remains on as the new Baxters' housekeeper.

Later career and retirement Shortly after the end of Hazel, Booth appeared in the television production of The Glass Menagerie that aired on the anthology series CBS Playhouse. She won critical acclaim for her performance and was nominated for another Primetime Emmy Award. In the summer of 1968 she appeared at the historic Elitch Theatre in a production of Desk Set with her Hazel co-star, Ray Fulmer.

Booth's final Broadway appearances were in a revival of Noël Coward's play Hay Fever and the musical Look to the Lilies, both in 1970. In 1971, she returned to Chicago to star with Gig Young in a revival of Harvey at the Blackstone Theater. In 1973, Booth returned to episodic television in the ABC series A Touch of Grace. The series was based on the British sitcom For the Love of Ada. A Touch of Grace was canceled after one season.

In 1974, Booth provided the voice for the character of Mrs. Claus in the animated television special The Year Without a Santa Claus. It was Booth's final acting role after which she retired to her home in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

After retiring from acting in 1974, Booth moved to North Chatham, Massachusetts, where she lived with her pet poodle and two cats. Booth did not attend the ceremony, and the award was accepted on her behalf by Celeste Holm. After a private memorial service, Booth was interred in the Baker family plot in Mount Hebron Cemetery in Montclair, New Jersey. November 7–19, 1949 Love Me Long|Abby Quinn February 15 – July 29, 1950 Come Back, Little Sheba|Lola Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play 1953

1954 About Mrs. Leslie|

1953 Cannes Film Festival Special Mention Award

1952

Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama

1963 Best Television Star – Female Hazel| 1954 Hasty Pudding Theatricals Woman of the Year

1954 Jussi Awards Best Foreign Actress

1952 National Board of Review Awards Best Actress

1952

1958 Hot Spell and The Matchmaker| 1962

1963 1964 1967 Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Drama CBS Playhouse 1949

Best Supporting or Featured Actress in a Play Goodbye, My Fancy|

1950 Best Actress in a Play Come Back, Little Sheba|

1953 Distinguished Dramatic Actress The Time of the Cuckoo''