Charlotte Lawrence (April 22, 1921 – October 20, 1993) was an American actress. She appeared in numerous films and TV series from the 1940s to the 1960s.

Early life

Lawrence was born Charlotte Sorkin in Los Angeles, California in 1921. She attended Fairfax High School where she acted in theatre in Los Angeles before moving to New York to begin her show business career.

Career

Lawrence started her career during the 1940s, appearing in films such as

Half a Hero ''Half a Hero'' is a 1953 American comedy film starring Red Skelton and Jean Hagen. Directed by Don Weis, the film was written by Max Shulman and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Plot Freelance writer Ben Dobson (Skelton) lands his first full-ti ...

Phffft ''Phffft'' is a 1954 American comedy romance film starring Judy Holliday, Jack Lemmon, and Jack Carson and featuring Kim Novak in a supporting role. The picture was written by George Axelrod and directed by Mark Robson. It was the second film s ...

Three for the Show ''Three for the Show'' is a 1955 Technicolor and in CinemaScope musical comedy remake of ''Too Many Husbands''. It stars actress Betty Grable, in her last musical, opposite Jack Lemmon, Gower Champion and Marge Champion. It is based on the 1919 p ...

Trial In law, a trial is a coming together of Party (law), parties to a :wikt:dispute, dispute, to present information (in the form of evidence (law), evidence) in a tribunal, a formal setting with the authority to Adjudication, adjudicate claims or d ...

The Solid Gold Cadillac ''The Solid Gold Cadillac'' is a 1956 comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (blac ...

and

The Opposite Sex ''The Opposite Sex'' is a 1956 American musical romantic comedy film shot in Metrocolor and CinemaScope. The film was directed by David Miller and stars June Allyson, Joan Collins, Dolores Gray, Ann Sheridan, and Ann Miller, with Leslie Ni ...

among others during the 1950s and 1960s. On television, Lawrence played a variety of roles on ''

Life with Elizabeth ''Life with Elizabeth'' is an American television sitcom starring Betty White as Elizabeth and Del Moore as her husband Alvin; Jack Narz is the on-camera announcer and narrator. The series aired in syndication from October 7, 1953, to September 1 ...

''. She also appeared on Dragnet,

Climax! ''Climax!'' (later known as ''Climax Mystery Theater'') is an American television anthology series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. The series was hosted by William Lundigan and later co-hosted by Mary Costa. It was one of the few CBS programs ...

I Led 3 Lives ''I Led 3 Lives'' (also known as ''I Led Three Lives'') is an American drama series syndicated by Ziv Television Programs from October 1, 1953, to January 1, 1956. The series stars Richard Carlson. The show was a companion piece of sorts to th ...

I Married Joan ''I Married Joan'' is an American situation comedy that aired on NBC from 1952 to 1955. It starred actress Joan Davis as the manic, scatterbrained wife of a mild-mannered community judge (Jim Backus). Synopsis The show, whose syndicated open ...

Cavalcade of America ''Cavalcade of America'' is an anthology drama series that was sponsored by the DuPont Company, although it occasionally presented musicals, such as an adaptation of ''Show Boat'', and condensed biographies of popular composers. It was initially ...

Four Star Playhouse ''Four Star Playhouse'' is an American anthology series that ran from 1952 to 1956. Four Star Playhouse was owned by Four Star International. Its episodes ranged anywhere from surreal mysteries, such as "The Man on the Train", to light comedies ...

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars ''Schlitz Playhouse of Stars'' is an anthology series that was telecast from 1951 until 1959 on CBS. Offering both Television comedy, comedies and Dramatic programming, drama, the series was sponsored by the Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company. The ti ...

Highway Patrol A highway patrol, or state patrol is either a police unit created primarily for the purpose of overseeing and enforcing traffic safety compliance on roads and highways, or a detail within an existing local or regional police agency that is prima ...

and

Chevron Hall of Stars ''Chevron Hall of Stars'' is an American television anthology series which aired in 1956 in first-run syndication. It was produced by Four Star Productions, and was a half-hour series. Gene Roddenberry’s script ''The Secret Weapon of 117' ...

among others. On

old-time radio The Golden Age of Radio, also known as the old-time radio (OTR) era, was an era of radio in the United States where it was the dominant electronic home entertainment medium. It began with the birth of commercial radio broadcasting in the early ...

, Lawrence portrayed Stacy McGill on ''

The Adventures of Christopher Wells ''The Adventures of Christopher Wells'' is a 30-minute radio crime drama broadcast on CBS from September 28, 1947, to June 22, 1948.Terrace, Vincent (1999). ''Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows''. McFarland & Company, I ...

'' and Reba Britton on ''

Just Plain Bill ''Just Plain Bill'' was a 1932-1955 15-minute American radio drama program heard on CBS Radio and NBC Radio. It was "a story of people just like people we all know.” Originally called ''Bill the Barber'', the program began on CBS on September 19 ...

''. She was also a member of the cast of ''

This Is Nora Drake '' This Is Nora Drake '' is an American old-time radio soap opera. It was broadcast from October 27, 1947, to January 2, 1959, first on NBC and later on CBS. Beginning in May 1948, it was also carried on CFRB in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Format O ...

''. From the 1940s throughout the 1960s she appeared in several radio shows like

Lux Radio Theatre ''Lux Radio Theatre'', sometimes spelled ''Lux Radio Theater'', a classic radio anthology series, was broadcast on the NBC Blue Network (1934–35) (owned by the National Broadcasting Company, later predecessor of American Broadcasting Company ...

Suspense Suspense is a state of mental uncertainty, anxiety, being undecided, or being doubtful. In a dramatic work, suspense is the anticipation of the outcome of a plot or of the solution to an uncertainty, puzzle, or mystery, particularly as it aff ...

and

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central character ...

. During the 1960s she worked at Capital Records and Lorimar Television Productions, where she had a corporate position.

Death

Lawrence died on October 20, 1993, at the age of 72 in Van Nuys, California.

Filmography

Film

* ''

'' (1953) - Alice Faring (uncredited) * ''

'' (1954) - Cynthia (uncredited) * ''

'' (1955) - Miss Williams (uncredited) * ''

'' (1955) - Mrs. Eunice Webson (uncredited) * ''

'' (1956) - Girl (uncredited) * ''

'' (1956) - Manicurist (uncredited)

Television

Gang Busters ''Gang Busters'' is an American dramatic radio program heralded as "the only national program that brings you authentic police case histories." It premiered on January 15, 1936, and was broadcast over 21 years through November 27, 1957. Histo ...

- The Quirley Gang (1952) TV Episode .... Edith Newton *

- * Dragnet - The Big Blast (1952) TV Episode - The Big Trial (1952) TV Episode - The Big Betty (1953) TV Episode .... Helga *

- Sorry, Wrong Number (1954) TV Episode *

- Purloined Printing Press (1953) TV Episode .... Miss Berdoni - Gun Running (1953) TV Episode .... Carol - Philbrick's Secretary - Dope Photographic (1953) TV Episode .... Miss Berdoni - The Boss (1954) TV Episode .... Carol - Philbrick's Secretary - Narcotics (1954) TV Episode .... Carol - Philbrick's Secretary - Birthday (1954) TV Episode .... Carol - Philbrick's Secretary - Investments (1954) TV Episode .... Carol - Philbrick's Secretary *

- Home Movies (1954) TV Episode - How to Win Friends (1955) TV Episode .... Violet *

Stage 7 ''Stage 7'' is a 30-minute American TV drama anthology series that was broadcast on CBS from December 12, 1954, through September 25, 1955. This program premiered in December 1954 with the title ''Your Favorite Playhouse'' with all episodes being ...

- Emergency (1955) TV Episode .... Operator - Billy and the Bride (1955) TV Episode .... Mother *

I Love Lucy ''I Love Lucy'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired on CBS from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes, spanning six seasons. The show starred Lucille Ball, her husband, Desi Arnaz, along with ...

- No Children Allowed (1953) TV Episode .... Clubwoman - The Homecoming (1955) TV Episode .... Marge *

- One Day at a Time (1955) TV Episode *

- Looking Glass House (1955) TV Episode .... Miss Downs *

- Moment of Triumph (1955) TV Episode .... Nurse *

- Reformed Criminal (1955) TV Episode .... Police Dispatcher - Human Bomb (1955) TV Episode .... Police Dispatcher *

- Crisis in Kansas (1956) TV Episode *

Science Fiction Theatre ''Science Fiction Theatre'' was an American science fiction anthology television series that was produced by Ivan Tors and Maurice Ziv and originally aired in syndication. It premiered on April 9, 1955 and ended on April 6, 1957, with a total of ...

- Sound of Murder (1956) TV Episode .... Telephone Operator *

The DuPont Show with June Allyson ''The DuPont Show with June Allyson'' (also known as ''The June Allyson Show'') is an American anthology drama series which aired on CBS from September 21, 1959, to April 3, 1961, with rebroadcasts continuing until June 12, 1961. The series was ...

- Surprise Party (1960) TV Episode .... Manicurist *

This Man Dawson ''This Man Dawson'' is a syndicated drama television series that was broadcast during 1959-60, starring Keith Andes as a former United States Marine Corps colonel hired to clean up police corruption in an undisclosed American city. The series wa ...

- The Bomber (1960) TV Episode .... Janet Mason *

The Lucy Show ''The Lucy Show'' is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from 1962 to 1968. It was Lucille Ball's follow-up to ''I Love Lucy''. A significant change in cast and premise for the fourth season (1965–1966) divides the program into two distinct ...

- Lucy Is a Chaperone (1963) TV Episode .... Mrs. Wescott * Burke's Law - Who Killed the Eleventh Best Dressed Woman in the World? (1964) TV Episode .... Attendant

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Lawrence, Charlotte 1921 births 1993 deaths American film actresses American television actresses American stage actresses 20th-century American actresses 20th-century American people