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
Westinghouse Total Electric Home
as Narrator
Westinghouse Total Electric Home
as Narrator
The Defender (Studio One)
as Self / Commercial Spokeswoman
The Defender (Studio One)
as Self / Commercial Spokeswoman
Twelve Angry Men
as Herself / Commercial Spokeswoman
Twelve Angry Men
as Herself / Commercial Spokeswoman
The Play of the Nativity of the Child Jesus
as Self
The Play of the Nativity of the Child Jesus
as Self
The Kill
as Self - Commercial Spokeswoman
The Kill
as Self - Commercial Spokeswoman
Ellis in Freedomland
as Spokeswoman for Westinghouse
Ellis in Freedomland
as Spokeswoman for Westinghouse
Pontius Pilate
Pontius Pilate
A Bolt of Lightning
as Self - Commercial Spokeswoman
A Bolt of Lightning
as Self - Commercial Spokeswoman
Studio One: Wuthering Heights
as Announcer
Studio One: Wuthering Heights
as Announcer
The Rockingham Tea Set
as Self - Commercial Spokeswoman
The Rockingham Tea Set
as Self - Commercial Spokeswoman
North of Shanghai
as Helen Warner
North of Shanghai
as Helen Warner
It Can't Last Forever
as Carol Wilson
It Can't Last Forever
as Carol Wilson
The Good Old Soak
as Lucy Hawley
The Good Old Soak
as Lucy Hawley
Fair Warning
as Kate Farnham
Fair Warning
as Kate Farnham
Mama Steps Out
as Leila Cuppy
Mama Steps Out
as Leila Cuppy
They Wanted to Marry
as Sheila Hunter
They Wanted to Marry
as Sheila Hunter
Mister Cinderella
as Patricia 'Pat' Randolph
Mister Cinderella
as Patricia 'Pat' Randolph
All American Chump
as Kitty Crane
All American Chump
as Kitty Crane
The President's Mystery
as Charlotte Brown
The President's Mystery
as Charlotte Brown
Swing Time
as Margaret Watson
Swing Time
as Margaret Watson
The Three Wise Guys
as Clarabelle Brooks
The Three Wise Guys
as Clarabelle Brooks
Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs
Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs
Magnificent Obsession
as Joyce Hudson
Magnificent Obsession
as Joyce Hudson
Here Comes Cookie
as Phyllis Allen
Here Comes Cookie
as Phyllis Allen
The Keeper of the Bees
as Molly
The Keeper of the Bees
as Molly
Calm Yourself
as Mary Elizabeth Allenby
Calm Yourself
as Mary Elizabeth Allenby
McFadden´s Flats
as Molly McFadden
McFadden´s Flats
as Molly McFadden
Shadow of Doubt
as Lisa
Shadow of Doubt
as Lisa
The Band Plays On
as Kitty O'Brien
The Band Plays On
as Kitty O'Brien
A Wicked Woman
as Yancey Stroud, aka Yancey Trice
A Wicked Woman
as Yancey Stroud, aka Yancey Trice
Dangerous Corner
as Mrs. Betty Whitehouse
Dangerous Corner
as Mrs. Betty Whitehouse
Gridiron Flash
as Jane Thurston
Gridiron Flash
as Jane Thurston
The Life of Vergie Winters
as Joan Shadwell
The Life of Vergie Winters
as Joan Shadwell
Beggars in Ermine
as Joyce Dawson
Beggars in Ermine
as Joyce Dawson
Let's Fall in Love
as Linda
Let's Fall in Love
as Linda
Flying Down to Rio
as Belinha's Friend (uncredited)
Flying Down to Rio
as Belinha's Friend (uncredited)
Ace of Aces
as Card Playing Party Guest (uncredited)
Ace of Aces
as Card Playing Party Guest (uncredited)
Aggie Appleby, Maker of Men
as Evangeline
Aggie Appleby, Maker of Men
as Evangeline
Midshipman Jack
as Ruth Rogers
Midshipman Jack
as Ruth Rogers
Headline Shooter
as Miss Saunders
Headline Shooter
as Miss Saunders
Emergency Call
as Alice Averill
Emergency Call
as Alice Averill
Cross Fire
as Pat "Mike" Plummer
Cross Fire
as Pat "Mike" Plummer
Scarlet River
as Babe Jewel
Scarlet River
as Babe Jewel
The Great Jasper
as Sylvia Bradfield
The Great Jasper
as Sylvia Bradfield
Lucky Devils
as Ginger
Lucky Devils
as Ginger
Renegades of the West
as Mary Fawcett
Renegades of the West
as Mary Fawcett