Zasu Pitts

Early Life

- January 3, 1894 - Born Eliza Susan Pitts in Parsons, Kansas. Her father, Rulandus Pitts, was a Civil War veteran, and her mother was Nelly Shay Pitts.

- 1903 - The Pitts family moved to Santa Cruz, California.

- Attended Santa Cruz High School and participated in school theatrical productions.

Name

- Pitts' mother combined the last two letters of “Eliza” with the first two of “Susan” to form the name “ZaSu”.

- The correct pronunciation of her first name is Say Zoo.

Career

- 1910s - Began her acting career and worked consistently through the early 1960s.

- 1914-1915 - Made her stage debut in school and local community theater in Santa Cruz.

- 1916 - Moved to Los Angeles at 22 years old to pursue a career in film.

- Was discovered for film roles by screenwriter Frances Marion.

- 1917 - Cast as an orphaned slavey in the silent film A Little Princess, starring Mary Pickford.

- Starred in many silent film dramas and comedies.

- 1919 - Landed her first feature-length lead role in King Vidor's Better Times.

- Successfully transitioned to mostly comedy roles with the advent of sound films.

- Often typecast in comedic roles as a maid, spinster, or busybody.

- 1924 - Demonstrated her talent for dramatic acting in Erich von Stroheim's Greed.

- 1930s - Began working in radio, appearing on shows like Fibber McGee and Molly.

- 1944 - Made her Broadway debut in the mystery Ramshackle Inn, written specifically for her.

- 1950s - Began focusing on television roles.

- 1956 - Landed her best-known role as Elvira Nugent Nugie in ABC's The Gale Storm Show.

- 1963 - Appeared in her final role as Gertie, the switchboard operator, in the Stanley Kramer comedy It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.

Notable Works

- Greed 1924

- Ruggles of Red Gap 1935

- Life with Father 1947

- It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World 1963

Personal Life

- July 23, 1920 - Married her first husband, actor Tom Gallery.

- Had one daughter, Zasu Ann, and adopted a son, Donald.

- May 2, 1933 - Divorced Tom Gallery.

- October 8, 1933 - Married her second husband, John Eddie Woodall, a former tennis player.

Death and Legacy

- June 7, 1963 - Died in Los Angeles, California, at age 69 from cancer.

- Buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.

- A popular supporting actress with over 500 acting credits in movies, on stage, and on TV.

- 1960 - Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

- 1963 - Her book of candy recipes, Candy Hits, was published posthumously. Was ZaSu Pitts The Keeper of Hollywood's DEEPEST SECRETS?

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