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 (1949). 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.

Alice Pearce
As Gladys Kravitz in a 1966 publicity still for the Bewitched episode "Samantha, the Dressmaker"
Born(1917-10-16)October 16, 1917
New York City, U.S.
DiedMarch 3, 1966(1966-03-03) (aged 48)
Hollywood, California, U.S.
Alma materSarah Lawrence College
OccupationActress
Years active1943–1966
Spouses
John Rox
​
​
(m. 1948; died 1957)​
    Paul Davis
    ​
    (m. 1964)​
    2 children John and Richard
    AwardsPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

    Early life and career

    Pearce was born in New York City, the only child of Margaret Clark and Robert E. Pearce.[1] Her father was a foreign banking specialist, and her family moved to Europe when she was 18 months old.[2] They lived in Brussels, Antwerp, Rome, and Paris.[3] At age nine, she fell off a swing after losing her grip and landed on her chin. This left her with an undeveloped chin. She returned to the United States as a teenager, and boarded at the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York.[4] She graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1940, with a degree in drama.[1][5]

    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.[2][6] Her comedic performance was well received by critics and public alike. She was given her own television variety show, The Alice Pearce Show.[7] More movie roles followed, and she made appearances on Broadway, where she met her husband, director Paul Davis, during a production of Bells Are Ringing.[2]

    During the 1953–1954 television season, Pearce was seen regularly on ABC's Jamie, which starred Brandon deWilde.[7] In 1964, Pearce was originally approached to play the part of Grandmama in the ABC television comedy series The Addams Family. She turned down the part, which went to veteran actress Blossom Rock. In 1964, Pearce joined the cast of Bewitched as the nagging and nosy neighbor Gladys Kravitz. Pearce's scenes were almost entirely reactions to the witchcraft she had witnessed at the house across the street. Her hysterical accusations against Samantha, played by Elizabeth Montgomery, and the disbelief of her husband Abner (George Tobias), provided a common thread through many of the series' early episodes. She played the role until her death in 1966, and was replaced by Sandra Gould.[8] Pearce was posthumously awarded an Emmy Award for this role. Her husband accepted the award on her behalf.[9]

    Personal life

    Pearce was married twice. Her 1948 marriage to composer John Rox lasted until his death in 1957.[4] In 1964, she married stage manager Paul Davis, with whom she remained until her death.[3] Pearce had 2 children.

    Death

    Pearce was diagnosed with terminal cancer before Bewitched began. She kept her illness a secret,[10] although her rapid weight loss was quite evident during the second season of the sitcom. She died from ovarian cancer toward the end of the second year of Bewitched at the age of 48. The last episode Pearce appeared in was titled "Prodigy." It was completed many months before Pearce died, but it aired after her death as the last episode of Season 2. Pearce was cremated and her ashes were scattered at sea.[11]

    Filmography
    Year Title Role Notes
    1949 On the Town Lucy Schmeeler
    The Alice Pearce Show Host Unknown episodes
    1951 Lux Video Theatre Nina Episode: "Dames Are Poison"
    1952 The Belle of New York Elsie Wilkins
    1953 The Motorola Television Hour Hagga Episode: "The Thirteen Clocks"
    Broadway Television Theater Miss Dale Ogden
    Lady Emily Lyons    		 Episode: The Bat by Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood
    Episode: The Bishop Misbehaves by Frederick J. Jackson
    1953–1954 Jamie Annie Moakum 3 episodes
    Take It from Me Neighbor Also known as The Jean Carroll Show[12]
    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 Episode: "Work No More, My Lady"
    1961 The Twilight Zone Mrs. Nielsen Episode: "Static"
    The Ann Sothern Show Lahona St. Cyr Episode: "The Beginning"
    1962 Lad: A Dog Hilda, the Nurse
    Dennis the Menace Lucy Tarbell[7] 2 episodes
    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 Episode: "A Touch of Glamour"
    The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Haila French Episode: "Good-Bye George"
    1964 Hazel Miss Elsie Episode: "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 episodes
    1965 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
    1967 Vacation Playhouse Music Teacher Episode: "My Boy Googie"
    Aired posthumously (final appearance)

    Awards
    Year Award Category Title of work Result
    1966 Emmy Award Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Comedy Bewitched Won
    2003 TV Land Awards Nosiest Neighbor

    References
    1. "Alice Pearce". TV Land. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
    2. Misurell, Ed (May 29, 1965). "Her Life Is Filled with Sorcery". Daily American. p. 13. Retrieved July 6, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. icon of an open green padlock
    3. "Finally the Center of Attention". TV Guide. 13 (52): 13–14. December 25–31, 1965. ISSN 0039-8543.
    4. Shearer, Lloyd (October 11, 1964). "Alice Pearce: The Chinless Wonder". Reading Eagle. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
    5. "Alice Pearce". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Associated Press. March 4, 1966. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
    6. Green, Stanley (1999). Hollywood Musicals Year by Year. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 156. ISBN 978-0-634-00765-1. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
    7. Terrace, Vincent (November 6, 2008). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2 ed.). McFarland & Company. pp. 25, 252, 525. ISBN 978-0-7864-8641-0. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
    8. "Sandra Gould Played Gladys Kravitz". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. July 28, 1999. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
    9. Handsaker, Gene (May 23, 1966). "Miss Stanwyck, Cosby Are Top Performers". Nashua Telegraph. Associated Press. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
    10. "Terminal Illness". The Gettysburg Times. March 19, 1966. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
    11. Manners, Dorothy (March 9, 1966). "Alice Pearce Chose Happiness". The Indianapolis Star. p. 23. Retrieved June 21, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. icon of an open green padlock
    12. Leszczak, Bob (November 2, 2012). Single Season Sitcoms, 1948–1979: A Complete Guide. McFarland & Company. p. 179. ISBN 978-0-7864-9305-0. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
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