
Person
Betty Furness
Acting · 1916–1994 · New York City, New York, USA
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Elizabeth Mary Furness (January 3, 1916 – April 2, 1994) was an American actress, consumer advocate, and current affairs commentator. She began her professional career as a model before being noticed by a talent scout and being signed to a film contract in 1932 by RKO Studios. Her first film role was as the "Thirteenth Woman" in the film Thirteen Women (1932) but her scenes were deleted before the film's release. Over the next few years, she appeared in several RKO films, and became a popular actress. Among her film successes were Magnificent Obsession (1935) and the Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers film Swing Time (1936). By the end of the decade, she had appeared in over forty films, but during the 1940s, she found it difficult to secure acting roles. In 1948, Furness was performing in the television series Studio One, which was broadcast live. She filled in for an actor to promote Westinghouse products during the advertisement break, and impressed the company with her easy and professional manner. They offered her a contract to promote their products and she thus became closely associated with them.
Known for

Climax!
Beth Jaynes

What's My Line?
Self

Studio One
Coral, Princess Livitski

The Philco Television Playhouse
1948

The Colgate Comedy Hour
Maggie Watson

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
Self - Commercial Spokeswoman

Your Show of Shows
Herself

Swing Time
Margaret Watson

The Kill
Self - Commercial Spokeswoman

The Defender (Studio One)
Self / Commercial Spokeswoman
Filmography
- 1959Westinghouse Total Electric HomeNarrator
- 1958Westinghouse Desilu PlayhouseSelf - Commercial Spokeswoman
- 1957The Defender (Studio One)Self / Commercial Spokeswoman
- 1954Climax!Beth Jaynes
- 1954Twelve Angry MenHerself / Commercial Spokeswoman
- 1952The Play of the Nativity of the Child JesusSelf
- 1952The KillSelf - Commercial Spokeswoman
- 1952Ellis in FreedomlandSpokeswoman for Westinghouse
- 1952Pontius Pilate
- 1951A Bolt of LightningSelf - Commercial Spokeswoman
- 1950Studio One: Wuthering HeightsAnnouncer
- 1950The Colgate Comedy HourMaggie Watson
- 1950Your Show of ShowsHerself
- 1950What's My Line?Self
- 1950The Rockingham Tea SetSelf - Commercial Spokeswoman
- 1948Studio OneCoral, Princess Livitski
- 1948The Philco Television Playhouse
- 1939North of ShanghaiHelen Warner
- 1937It Can't Last ForeverCarol Wilson
- 1937The Good Old SoakLucy Hawley
- 1937Fair WarningKate Farnham
- 1937Mama Steps OutLeila Cuppy
- 1937They Wanted to MarrySheila Hunter
- 1936Mister CinderellaPatricia 'Pat' Randolph
- 1936All American ChumpKitty Crane
- 1936The President's MysteryCharlotte Brown
- 1936Swing TimeMargaret Watson
- 1936The Three Wise GuysClarabelle Brooks
- 1936Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs
- 1935Magnificent ObsessionJoyce Hudson
- 1935Here Comes CookiePhyllis Allen
- 1935The Keeper of the BeesMolly
- 1935Calm YourselfMary Elizabeth Allenby
- 1935McFadden´s FlatsMolly McFadden
- 1935Shadow of DoubtLisa
- 1934The Band Plays OnKitty O'Brien
- 1934A Wicked WomanYancey Stroud, aka Yancey Trice
- 1934Dangerous CornerMrs. Betty Whitehouse
- 1934Gridiron FlashJane Thurston
- 1934The Life of Vergie WintersJoan Shadwell
- 1934Beggars in ErmineJoyce Dawson
- 1933Let's Fall in LoveLinda
- 1933Flying Down to RioBelinha's Friend (uncredited)
- 1933Ace of AcesCard Playing Party Guest (uncredited)
- 1933Aggie Appleby, Maker of MenEvangeline
- 1933Midshipman JackRuth Rogers
- 1933Headline ShooterMiss Saunders
- 1933Emergency CallAlice Averill
- 1933Cross FirePat "Mike" Plummer
- 1933Scarlet RiverBabe Jewel
- 1933The Great JasperSylvia Bradfield
- 1933Lucky DevilsGinger
- 1932Renegades of the WestMary Fawcett
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