"If you just sit around and wait for the phone to ring, you'll get nowhere."

    About This Interview

    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.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Betty Garrett

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

    02:59
    Thumbnail of Betty Garrett

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

    12:40
    Thumbnail of Betty Garrett

    Betty Garrett on working with Laverne & Shirley producer Garry Marshall

    00:46
    Thumbnail of Betty Garrett

    Betty Garrett on her early nightclub act and work on Broadway

    04:03
    Thumbnail of Betty Garrett

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

    01:23
    Thumbnail of Betty Garrett

    Betty Garrett on how she'd like to be remembered

    01:22
    Play 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

    09:33

    On being part of Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre Group, and on working with Welles; on studying acting with Sanford Meisner

    09:41

    On working at the 1939 World's Fair, and on the television exhibition; on her early nightclub act and work on Broadway

    09:06

    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

    12:49

    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

    17:01

    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

    13:25

    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"

    14:58

    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

    06:26

    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

    14:37

    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

    08:17

    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

    07:01

    On advice to aspiring performers; on various people she's worked with in her career; on how she'd like to be remembered

    11:16

    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

    03:49

    All in the Family

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

    02:59

    Betty Garrett on her All in the Family character "Irene Lorenzo"

    04:58

    Betty Garrett on the All in the Family episode "Edith's Christmas Story," and on working with Jean Stapleton as "Edith Bunker"

    03:27

    Betty Garrett on working with Carroll O'Connor as "Archie Bunker" on All in the Family

    01:49

    Betty Garrett on working with Sally Struthers as "Gloria Stivic" on All in the Family

    01:44

    Betty Garrett on working with Rob Reiner as "Mike Stivic" on All in the Family

    01:31

    Betty Garrett on working with Vincent Gardenia as "Frank Lorenzo" on All in the Family, and on his unhappiness with the show

    02:29

    Betty Garrett on favorite All in the Family episodes, how viewers reacted to her on the show, and why she left

    02:26

    Art Carney Specials

    Betty Garrett on appearing on the Art Carney Specials

    02:57

    Becker

    Betty Garrett on guest-starring on Becker with Ted Danson

    02:44

    Boston Public

    Betty Garrett on guest-starring on Boston Public and on Becker with Ted Danson

    00:35

    Colgate Comedy Hour, The

    Betty Garrett on appearing on The Colgate Comedy Hour

    01:29

    Fugitive, The

    Betty Garrett on appearing on The Fugitive, starring David Janssen

    02:22

    Golden Girls, The

    Betty Garrett on guest-starring on The Golden Girls

    01:04

    Good Life, The (1971-72)

    Betty Garrett on guest-starring on The Good Life

    03:10

    Harts of the West

    Betty Garrett on guest-starring on Harts of the West with Beau Bridges

    01:52

    Laverne & Shirley

    Betty Garrett on playing "Edna Babish" on Laverne & Shirley

    03:15

    Betty Garrett on working with Penny Marshall as "Laverne DeFazio" and Cindy Williams as "Shirley Feeney" on Laverne & Shirley

    02:46

    Betty Garrett on working with the directors of Laverne & Shirley

    03:19

    Betty Garrett on working with Laverne & Shirley producer Garry Marshall

    00:46

    Betty Garrett on the Laverne & Shirley episode "Slow Child," and on her favorite episodes

    03:18

    Betty Garrett on leaving Laverne & Shirley

    01:14

    Lloyd Bridges Show, The

    Betty Garrett on appearing on The Chevy Show and The Lloyd Bridges Show

    01:47

    Love Boat, The

    Betty Garrett on guest-starring on The Love Boat

    00:31

    Murder, She Wrote

    Betty Garrett on guest-starring on Murder, She Wrote, and on working with Angela Lansbury

    02:41

    1939-40 World's Fair

    Betty Garrett on working at the 1939 World's Fair, and on the television exhibition

    05:03

    Advice

    Betty Garrett on advice to aspiring performers

    01:21

    Historic Events and Social Change

    Betty Garrett on working at the 1939 World's Fair, and on the television exhibition

    05:03

    Hollywood Blacklist

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

    12:40

    Betty Garrett on finally being removed from the Blacklist, and on meeting Senator Joseph McCarthy

    04:20

    Industry Crossroads

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

    12:40

    Betty Garrett on finally being removed from the Blacklist, and on meeting Senator Joseph McCarthy

    04:20

    Television Industry

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

    12:40

    Betty Garrett on finally being removed from the Blacklist, and on meeting Senator Joseph McCarthy

    04:20

    Betty Garrett on advice to aspiring performers

    01:21

    Actress

    Betty Garrett on advice to aspiring performers

    01:21

    Performers

    Betty Garrett on advice to aspiring performers

    01:21

    Comedy Series

    Betty Garrett on playing "Irene Lorenzo" on All in the Family

    14:58

    Betty Garrett on playing "Irene Lorenzo" on All in the Family

    06:26

    Betty Garrett on playing "Edna Babish" on Laverne & Shirley

    14:38

    Betty Garrett on guest-starring on The Love Boat

    00:31

    Betty Garrett on guest-starring on Murder, She Wrote, and on working with Angela Lansbury

    02:40

    Betty Garrett on guest-starring on The Golden Girls

    01:04

    Betty Garrett on guest-starring on The Good Life

    03:10

    Betty Garrett on guest-starring on Becker with Ted Danson

    02:44

    Drama Series

    Betty Garrett on appearing on The Chevy Show and The Lloyd Bridges Show

    01:47

    Betty Garrett on appearing on The Fugitive

    02:22

    Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

    Betty Garrett on appearing on The Colgate Comedy Hour

    01:29

    Betty Garrett on appearing on the Art Carney Specials

    02:57

    Betty Garrett on appearing on The Chevy Show and The Lloyd Bridges Show

    01:47

    Western Series

    Betty Garrett on guest-starring on Harts of the West with Beau Bridges

    01:52

    Lucille Ball

    Betty Garrett on various people she's worked with in her career: Lucille Ball

    01:06

    Humphrey Bogart

    Betty Garrett on various people she's worked with in her career: Humphrey Bogart

    00:24

    Lloyd Bridges

    Betty Garrett on appearing on The Chevy Show and The Lloyd Bridges Show

    01:47

    Art Carney

    Betty Garrett on appearing on the Art Carney Specials

    02:57

    Carol Channing

    Betty Garrett on various people she's worked with in her career: Carol Channing

    00:44

    Imogene Coca

    Betty Garrett on various people she's worked with in her career: Imogene Coca

    00:20

    Ted Danson

    Betty Garrett on guest-starring on Becker with Ted Danson

    02:44

    Jimmy Durante

    Betty Garrett on various people she's worked with in her career: Jimmy Durante

    00:29

    Vincent Gardenia

    Betty Garrett on working with Vincent Gardenia as "Frank Lorenzo" on All in the Family, and on his unhappiness with the show

    02:29

    David Janssen

    Betty Garrett on appearing on The Fugitive, starring David Janssen

    02:22

    Angela Lansbury

    Betty Garrett on guest-starring on Murder, She Wrote, and on working with Angela Lansbury

    02:40

    Norman Lear

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

    02:59

    Jack Lemmon

    Betty Garrett on various people she's worked with in her career: Jack Lemmon

    00:29

    Max Liebman

    Betty Garrett on various people she's worked with in her career: Max Liebman

    00:53

    Garry Marshall

    Betty Garrett on working with Laverne & Shirley producer Garry Marshall

    00:46

    Penny Marshall

    Betty Garrett on working with Penny Marshall as "Laverne DeFazio" and Cindy Williams as "Shirley Feeney" on Laverne & Shirley

    02:46

    Joseph McCarthy

    Betty Garrett on finally being removed from the Hollywood Blacklist, and on meeting Senator Joseph McCarthy

    04:20

    Sanford Meisner

    Betty Garrett on studying acting with Sanford Meisner

    00:56

    Carroll O'Connor

    Betty Garrett on working with Carroll O'Connor as "Archie Bunker" on All in the Family

    01:49

    Larry Parks

    Betty Garrett on meeting her husband, Larry Parks

    04:42

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

    12:40

    Betty Garrett on working with her husband, Larry Parks, on various television and stage projects, and on the types of characters she played

    06:19

    Betty Garrett on her husband, Larry Parks

    00:59

    Rob Reiner

    Betty Garrett on working with Rob Reiner as "Mike Stivic" on All in the Family

    01:31

    Red Skelton

    Betty Garrett on various people she's worked with in her career: Red Skelton, and on her manager Lou Mandell

    02:22

    Jean Stapleton

    Betty Garrett on the All in the Family episode "Edith's Christmas Story," and on working with Jean Stapleton as "Edith Bunker"

    03:27

    Sally Struthers

    Betty Garrett on working with Sally Struthers as "Gloria Stivic" on All in the Family

    01:44

    Ed Sullivan

    Betty Garrett on various people she's worked with in her career: Ed Sullivan

    00:39

    Orson Welles

    Betty Garrett on being part of Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre Group, and on working with Welles

    08:44

    Cindy Williams

    Betty Garrett on working with Penny Marshall as "Laverne DeFazio" and Cindy Williams as "Shirley Feeney" on Laverne & Shirley

    02:46

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