Betty Furness
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.
Filmography (53 titles)
MovieWestinghouse Total Electric Home
Narrator · 1959
6.3ShowWestinghouse Desilu Playhouse
Self - Commercial Spokeswoman · 1958
6.1MovieThe Defender (Studio One)
Self / Commercial Spokeswoman · 1957
3.8ShowClimax!
Beth Jaynes · 1954
7.9MovieTwelve Angry Men
Herself / Commercial Spokeswoman · 1954
4.0MovieThe Play of the Nativity of the Child Jesus
Self · 1952
8.0MovieThe Kill
Self - Commercial Spokeswoman · 1952
MovieEllis in Freedomland
Spokeswoman for Westinghouse · 1952
MoviePontius Pilate
1952
7.0MovieA Bolt of Lightning
Self - Commercial Spokeswoman · 1951
9.0MovieStudio One: Wuthering Heights
Announcer · 1950
6.9ShowThe Colgate Comedy Hour
Maggie Watson · 1950
7.3ShowYour Show of Shows
Herself · 1950
7.0ShowWhat's My Line?
Self · 1950
10.0MovieThe Rockingham Tea Set
Self - Commercial Spokeswoman · 1950
5.4ShowStudio One
Coral, Princess Livitski · 1948
6.6ShowThe Philco Television Playhouse
1948
8.0MovieNorth of Shanghai
Helen Warner · 1939
6.5MovieIt Can't Last Forever
Carol Wilson · 1937
9.0MovieThe Good Old Soak
Lucy Hawley · 1937
7.3MovieFair Warning
Kate Farnham · 1937
7.3MovieMama Steps Out
Leila Cuppy · 1937
5.8MovieThey Wanted to Marry
Sheila Hunter · 1937
7.0MovieMister Cinderella
Patricia 'Pat' Randolph · 1936
6.2MovieAll American Chump
Kitty Crane · 1936
5.8MovieThe President's Mystery
Charlotte Brown · 1936
6.8MovieSwing Time
Margaret Watson · 1936
9.0MovieThe Three Wise Guys
Clarabelle Brooks · 1936
4.7MovieSunkist Stars at Palm Springs
1936
7.4MovieMagnificent Obsession
Joyce Hudson · 1935