Betty Garrett Biography

Fast Facts

• Won two Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, one for "Spoon River Anthology" and another for "Betty Garrett and Other Songs․"
• Was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2003 for Live Performance
• Won the Donaldson Award for her performance in the play "Call Me Mister․"
• Organized musical productions and plays for special occasions at the Annie Wright School in Tacoma
• Quote: "[on being blacklisted] "It's not in my nature to be bitter․ What I feel is deep sorrow․ We both, I think, were just on the verge of becoming really big stars, particularly Larry [Parks]․ And it just went crashing down․""
• Became famous for her roles in a series of MGM musicals, including "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" alongside Frank Sinatra and "On the Town․"
• After she and husband Larry Parks had their Hollywood careers stalled during the McCarthy Era, they formed a traveling musical act that found success in Las Vegas and London
• Her career rebounded on television in such sitcoms as "All in the Family" and "Laverne & Shirley․"
• Taught acting classes at Workshop West until her death in 2011
• Helped found the Workshop West theater in the late 1950s