Hortense "Claudia" Bryar (née Rizley; May 18, 1918 – June 16, 2011) was an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

actress. She is best known for portraying Emma Spool in the film '' Psycho II'' (1983).

Early years

Bryar was one of seven children of Ruby Elaine (née Seal) and

Ross Rizley Ross Rizley (born Roscoe Rizley) (July 5, 1892March 4, 1969) was an American politician and United States Representative from Oklahoma and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. ...

, a congressman and federal judge.

Career

Active from the 1950s to the 1980s, she is perhaps best known for her role as Mrs. Emma Spool in '' Psycho II'' (1983). Bryar gained early acting experience with the Pasadena Playhouse. She played small parts in mostly Western television series such as '' Wanted Dead or Alive'', ''

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 chara ...

'', ''

Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 13, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 432 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running western, the second-longest-running western series on ...

'', and '' The Guns of Will Sonnett'', plus sitcoms like ''

The Real McCoys ''The Real McCoys'' is an American situation comedy starring Walter Brennan, Richard Crenna, and Kathleen Nolan. Co-produced by Danny Thomas's Marterto Productions in association with Walter Brennan and Irving Pincus's Westgate Compan ...

'', '' The Bob Newhart Show'', ''

The Andy Griffith Show ''The Andy Griffith Show '' is an American sitcom, situation comedy television series that aired on CBS from October 3, 1960, to April 1, 1968, with a total of 249 half-hour episodes spanning eight seasons—159 in black and white and 90 in colo ...

'', ''

Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. ''Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.''The show (and CBS) renders the title as ''Gomer Pyle – USMC''. is an American situation comedy that originally aired on CBS from September 25, 1964, to May 2, 1969. The series was a spin-off of ''The Andy Griffith Sho ...

'', and ''

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology television series created by Rod Serling. The episodes are in various genres, including fantasy, science fiction, absurdism, dystopian fiction, suspense, horror, sup ...

'' (Episode: "

Mute Muteness is a speech disorder in which a person lacks the ability to speak. Mute or the Mute may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Mute'' (2005 film), a short film by Melissa Joan Hart * ''Mute'' (2018 film), a scien ...

"). She had a small role in Leave It To Beaver episode “Community Chest” (5/13/1961). She had a small role in Dennis the Menace episode “Pythias Was a Piker” (1/29/1961).She appeared in small roles in such films as ''

I Was A Teenage Frankenstein ''I Was a Teenage Frankenstein'' (U.K. title: ''Teenage Frankenstein'') is a film starring Whit Bissell, Phyllis Coates and Gary Conway, released by American International Pictures (AIP) in November 1957 as a double feature with '' Blood of Drac ...

'' (1957) and ''

Bad Company Bad Company are an English rock supergroup that was formed in 1973 by singer Paul Rodgers, guitarist Mick Ralphs, drummer Simon Kirke and bassist Boz Burrell. Bad Company ''AllMusic'' Peter Grant, who managed the rock band Led Zeppelin, a ...

'' (1972). She appeared in made-for-TV movies such as '' The Family Nobody Wanted'' (1975) and '' Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn'' (1977). Her career ended with her role of Mrs. Prince in ''

Hill Street Blues ''Hill Street Blues'' is an American serial police procedural television series that aired on NBC in prime-time from January 15, 1981, to May 12, 1987, for 146 episodes. The show chronicles the lives of the staff of a single police station loca ...

''.

Personal life

Bryar was married to actor Paul Bryar (born Gabriel Paul Barrere) until his death in 1985. The couple had three children, including Paul Barrere, guitarist and singer with the rock band

Little Feat Little Feat is an American rock band formed by lead vocalist and guitarist Lowell George and keyboardist Bill Payne in 1969 in Los Angeles. George disbanded the group because of creative differences shortly before his death in 1979. Surviving m ...

. On June 16, 2011, Bryar died in Los Angeles at the age of 93.

Selected filmography

*'' The Houston Story'' (1956) as Clara Phelan (uncredited) *''

Giant In folklore, giants (from Ancient Greek: ''gigas'', cognate giga-) are beings of human-like appearance, but are at times prodigious in size and strength or bear an otherwise notable appearance. The word ''giant'' is first attested in 1297 fr ...

'' (1956) as Older Beauty Operator (uncredited) *'' The Wrong Man'' (1956) as Small Role (uncredited) *''

'' (1957) as Arlene's Mother *'' The True Story of Lynn Stuart'' (1958) as Nora Efron (uncredited) *''

Official Detective ''Official Detective'' is an American anthology television series which aired in syndication from 1957 to March 19, 1958. The series was hosted by veteran film actor Everett Sloane.McNeil, Alex (1996). ''Total Television'' (4th ed.). New York: P ...

'' (1958, Episode: "The Deserted House") as Melissa Falcon *'' A Big Hand for the Little Lady'' (1966) as Mrs. Price (uncredited) *''

The Ride to Hangman's Tree ''The Ride to Hangman's Tree'' is a 1967 American Western film directed by Alan Rafkin and written by Luci Ward, Jack Natteford and William Bowers. The film stars Jack Lord, Melodie Johnson, James Farentino, Don Galloway, Richard Anderson and E ...

'' (1967) as Mrs. Harmon *'' The Shakiest Gun in the West'' (1968) as Mrs. Remington (uncredited) *''

Angel in My Pocket ''Angel in My Pocket'' is a 1969 American comedy film directed by Alan Rafkin and starring Andy Griffith. One of three films originally planned by Universal Pictures to star Griffith, it also features Lee Meriwether, Jerry Van Dyke, Kay Medford, ...

'' (1969) as Mrs. Axel Gresham *''

Gaily, Gaily ''Gaily, Gaily'' (released in the United Kingdom as ''Chicago, Chicago'') is a 1969 American comedy film directed by Norman Jewison. It is a fictionalized adaptation of a 1963 memoir of the same name by Ben Hecht and stars Beau Bridges, Brian K ...

'' (1969) as Mother *''

'' (1972) as Mrs. Clum *'' Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies'' (1973) as Ann *''

Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid ''Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid'' is a 1973 American Revisionist Western film directed by Sam Peckinpah, written by Rudy Wurlitzer, and starring James Coburn, Kris Kristofferson, Richard Jaeckel, Katy Jurado, Chill Wills, Barry Sullivan, Jas ...

'' (1973) as Mrs. Horrell *'' Psycho II'' (1983) as Mrs. Emma Spool *''

Psycho III ''Psycho III'' is a 1986 American slasher film, and the third film in the ''Psycho'' franchise. It stars Anthony Perkins, who also directs the film, reprising the role of Norman Bates. It co-stars Diana Scarwid, Jeff Fahey, and Roberta Maxwell. ...

'' (1986) as Mrs. Emma Spool (flashback, uncredited)

References

External links

*
Pictures of Claudia Bryar as Mrs. Emma Spool
, Cinemorgue.com
Obituary
latimes.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Bryar, Claudia 1918 births 2011 deaths American film actresses American television actresses American soap opera actresses People from Guymon, Oklahoma Actresses from Oklahoma 21st-century American women