About
"If you just sit around and wait for the phone to ring, you'll get nowhere."
In her two-and-a-half-hour interview, Betty Garrett (1919-2011) talks about her early years training as an actress and dancer at the Neighborhood Playhouse and with Martha Graham in New York City in the 1930s. She describes her stage debut in 1938 in Orson Welles' and John Houseman's Mercury Theatre production of Danton's Death. She discusses her other stage roles, such as Something for the Boys with Ethel Merman and Laffing Room Only with Olsen and Johnson. She speaks about her movie career at MGM and the dark days of the Hollywood Blacklist that greatly affected her and her husband, Larry Parks. Garrett talks about her first work in early television in Chicago and on such New York shows as All Star Revue and Texaco Command Appearance. She recalls her television work in the 1960s on The Art Carney Specials, The Chevy Show, The Lloyd Bridges Show, and The Fugitive. She describes in great detail her most well-known television roles, "Irene Lorenzo" on All in the Family and "Edna Babbish" on Laverne & Shirley. Finally, she talks about later guest appearances on such series as Murder, She Wrote; The Golden Girls; and Becker. Karen Herman conducted the interview on May 21, 2003 in Studio City, CA.
Highlights

Betty Garrett on being cast by Norman Lear as "Irene Lorenzo" on All in the Family

Betty Garrett on how the Hollywood Blacklist impacted her and her husband, Larry Parks

Betty Garrett on working with Laverne & Shirley producer Garry Marshall

Betty Garrett on her early nightclub act and work on Broadway

Betty Garrett on her first appearance on television on a local Chicago show

Betty Garrett on how she'd like to be remembered
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her early life and influences; on radio and movies she enjoyed while growing up; on deciding she wanted to be a performer
On being part of Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre Group, and on working with Welles; on studying acting with Sanford Meisner
On working at the 1939 World's Fair, and on the television exhibition; on her early nightclub act and work on Broadway
Chapter 2
On appearing in the Broadway show "Laughing Room Only," and on meeting her husband, Larry Parks; on moving to Los Angeles and becoming a contract player at MGM, and on her first appearance on television; on appearing on The Colgate Comedy Hour
On how the Hollywood Blacklist impacted her and her husband, Larry Parks; on finally being removed from the Blacklist, and on meeting Senator Joseph McCarthy
Chapter 3
On working with her husband, Larry Parks, on various television and stage projects, and on the types of characters she played; on appearing on the Art Carney Specials; on appearing on The Chevy Show, The Lloyd Bridges Show, and The Fugitive
On being cast by Norman Lear as "Irene Lorenzo" on All in the Family, and on that character; on the All in the Family episode "Edith's Christmas Story," and on working with Jean Stapleton as "Edith Bunker"; on working with Carroll O'Connor as "Archie Bunker" and Sally Struthers as "Gloria Stivic"
Chapter 4
On working with Rob Reiner as "Mike Stivic" on All in the Family; on working with Vincent Gardenia as "Frank Lorenzo" on All in the Family, and on his unhappiness with the show; on favorite All in the Family episodes, how viewers reacted to her on the show, and why she left
On playing "Edna Babish" on Laverne & Shirley; on working with the cast and crew of Laverne & Shirley; on her favorite episodes of the show, and on leaving after seven years
On guest-starring on The Love Boat and Murder, She Wrote; on guest-starring on The Golden Girls; on guest-starring on The Good Life
Chapter 5
On guest-starring on Harts of the West with Beau Bridges; on guest-starring on Boston Public and on Becker with Ted Danson; on continuing to work, and her proudest achievement
On advice to aspiring performers; on various people she's worked with in her career; on how she'd like to be remembered
On b-roll pictures from her career- with her father; the Wintergarden Theater; on stage in "Laughing Room Only"; on stage in "Call Me Mister"; with Mickey Rooney; with Frank Sinatra; with Danny Thomas; with Jack Lemmon and Janet Leigh; at the Palladium in London; with Larry Parks; with Carroll O'Connor on the set of All in the Family; with the cast of Laverne & Shirley; with her family
Shows
All in the Family
Betty Garrett on being cast by Norman Lear as "Irene Lorenzo" on All in the Family
Betty Garrett on her All in the Family character "Irene Lorenzo"
Betty Garrett on the All in the Family episode "Edith's Christmas Story," and on working with Jean Stapleton as "Edith Bunker"
Betty Garrett on working with Carroll O'Connor as "Archie Bunker" on All in the Family
Betty Garrett on working with Sally Struthers as "Gloria Stivic" on All in the Family
Betty Garrett on working with Rob Reiner as "Mike Stivic" on All in the Family
Betty Garrett on working with Vincent Gardenia as "Frank Lorenzo" on All in the Family, and on his unhappiness with the show
Betty Garrett on favorite All in the Family episodes, how viewers reacted to her on the show, and why she left
Art Carney Specials
Betty Garrett on appearing on the Art Carney Specials
Becker
Betty Garrett on guest-starring on Becker with Ted Danson
Boston Public
Betty Garrett on guest-starring on Boston Public and on Becker with Ted Danson
Colgate Comedy Hour, The
Betty Garrett on appearing on The Colgate Comedy Hour
Fugitive, The
Betty Garrett on appearing on The Fugitive, starring David Janssen
Golden Girls, The
Betty Garrett on guest-starring on The Golden Girls
Good Life, The (1971-72)
Betty Garrett on guest-starring on The Good Life
Harts of the West
Betty Garrett on guest-starring on Harts of the West with Beau Bridges
Laverne & Shirley
Betty Garrett on playing "Edna Babish" on Laverne & Shirley
Betty Garrett on working with Penny Marshall as "Laverne DeFazio" and Cindy Williams as "Shirley Feeney" on Laverne & Shirley
Betty Garrett on working with the directors of Laverne & Shirley
Betty Garrett on working with Laverne & Shirley producer Garry Marshall
Betty Garrett on the Laverne & Shirley episode "Slow Child," and on her favorite episodes
Betty Garrett on leaving Laverne & Shirley
Lloyd Bridges Show, The
Betty Garrett on appearing on The Chevy Show and The Lloyd Bridges Show
Love Boat, The
Betty Garrett on guest-starring on The Love Boat
Murder, She Wrote
Betty Garrett on guest-starring on Murder, She Wrote, and on working with Angela Lansbury
Topics
1939-40 World's Fair
Betty Garrett on working at the 1939 World's Fair, and on the television exhibition
Advice
Betty Garrett on advice to aspiring performers
Historic Events and Social Change
Betty Garrett on working at the 1939 World's Fair, and on the television exhibition
Hollywood Blacklist
Betty Garrett on how the Hollywood Blacklist impacted her and her husband Larry Parks
Betty Garrett on finally being removed from the Blacklist, and on meeting Senator Joseph McCarthy
Industry Crossroads
Betty Garrett on how the Hollywood Blacklist impacted her and her husband, Larry Parks
Betty Garrett on finally being removed from the Blacklist, and on meeting Senator Joseph McCarthy
Television Industry
Betty Garrett on how the Hollywood Blacklist impacted her and her husband, Larry Parks
Betty Garrett on finally being removed from the Blacklist, and on meeting Senator Joseph McCarthy
Betty Garrett on advice to aspiring performers
Professions
Actress
Betty Garrett on advice to aspiring performers
Performers
Betty Garrett on advice to aspiring performers
Genres
Comedy Series
Betty Garrett on playing "Irene Lorenzo" on All in the Family
Betty Garrett on playing "Irene Lorenzo" on All in the Family
Betty Garrett on playing "Edna Babish" on Laverne & Shirley
Betty Garrett on guest-starring on The Love Boat
Betty Garrett on guest-starring on Murder, She Wrote, and on working with Angela Lansbury
Betty Garrett on guest-starring on The Golden Girls
Betty Garrett on guest-starring on The Good Life
Betty Garrett on guest-starring on Becker with Ted Danson
Drama Series
Betty Garrett on appearing on The Chevy Show and The Lloyd Bridges Show
Betty Garrett on appearing on The Fugitive
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Betty Garrett on appearing on The Colgate Comedy Hour
Betty Garrett on appearing on the Art Carney Specials
Betty Garrett on appearing on The Chevy Show and The Lloyd Bridges Show
Western Series
Betty Garrett on guest-starring on Harts of the West with Beau Bridges
People
Lucille Ball
Betty Garrett on various people she's worked with in her career: Lucille Ball
Humphrey Bogart
Betty Garrett on various people she's worked with in her career: Humphrey Bogart
Lloyd Bridges
Betty Garrett on appearing on The Chevy Show and The Lloyd Bridges Show
Art Carney
Betty Garrett on appearing on the Art Carney Specials
Carol Channing
Betty Garrett on various people she's worked with in her career: Carol Channing
Imogene Coca
Betty Garrett on various people she's worked with in her career: Imogene Coca
Ted Danson
Betty Garrett on guest-starring on Becker with Ted Danson
Jimmy Durante
Betty Garrett on various people she's worked with in her career: Jimmy Durante
Vincent Gardenia
Betty Garrett on working with Vincent Gardenia as "Frank Lorenzo" on All in the Family, and on his unhappiness with the show
David Janssen
Betty Garrett on appearing on The Fugitive, starring David Janssen
Angela Lansbury
Betty Garrett on guest-starring on Murder, She Wrote, and on working with Angela Lansbury
Norman Lear
Betty Garrett on being cast by Norman Lear as "Irene Lorenzo" on All in the Family
Jack Lemmon
Betty Garrett on various people she's worked with in her career: Jack Lemmon
Max Liebman
Betty Garrett on various people she's worked with in her career: Max Liebman
Garry Marshall
Betty Garrett on working with Laverne & Shirley producer Garry Marshall
Penny Marshall
Betty Garrett on working with Penny Marshall as "Laverne DeFazio" and Cindy Williams as "Shirley Feeney" on Laverne & Shirley
Joseph McCarthy
Betty Garrett on finally being removed from the Hollywood Blacklist, and on meeting Senator Joseph McCarthy
Sanford Meisner
Betty Garrett on studying acting with Sanford Meisner
Carroll O'Connor
Betty Garrett on working with Carroll O'Connor as "Archie Bunker" on All in the Family
Larry Parks
Betty Garrett on meeting her husband, Larry Parks
Betty Garrett on how the Hollywood Blacklist impacted her and her husband, Larry Parks
Betty Garrett on working with her husband, Larry Parks, on various television and stage projects, and on the types of characters she played
Betty Garrett on her husband, Larry Parks
Rob Reiner
Betty Garrett on working with Rob Reiner as "Mike Stivic" on All in the Family
Red Skelton
Betty Garrett on various people she's worked with in her career: Red Skelton, and on her manager Lou Mandell
Jean Stapleton
Betty Garrett on the All in the Family episode "Edith's Christmas Story," and on working with Jean Stapleton as "Edith Bunker"
Sally Struthers
Betty Garrett on working with Sally Struthers as "Gloria Stivic" on All in the Family
Ed Sullivan
Betty Garrett on various people she's worked with in her career: Ed Sullivan
Orson Welles
Betty Garrett on being part of Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre Group, and on working with Welles
Cindy Williams
Betty Garrett on working with Penny Marshall as "Laverne DeFazio" and Cindy Williams as "Shirley Feeney" on Laverne & Shirley