Symona Ferner Boniface (March 5, 1894 – September 2, 1950) was an American film actress, most frequently seen in bit parts in comedy shorts, mostly at Columbia Pictures, particularly those of '' The Three Stooges''. She appeared in 120 films between 1925 and 1950.

Early life

Boniface was born in New York City, the daughter of

George C. Boniface George C. Boniface (November 3, 1832 – January 3, 1912) was an American actor. He made his professional debut in Baltimore in 1851, and remained in the profession for sixty years.(4 January 1912)George C. Boniface Dead; Veteran Actor Who Appea ...

, an actor, and his wife Norma ( Ferner) Boniface, an inventor. Symona's father was of English extraction and her mother of German heritage, though both were New York natives.

Career

Boniface is probably best known as a society matron foil for slapstick comedy trio the Three Stooges, intercepting many a flying pie. Thanks to the daily television broadcast of the wildly popular Stooge films, Boniface is widely seen on a regular basis. Boniface employed her comic timing in several of her appearances. She dealt with a shrinking or torn skirt in '' No Census, No Feeling'' and ''

Crash Goes the Hash ''Crash Goes the Hash'' is a 1944 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 77th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starri ...

'', squirmed uncontrollably thanks to a mouse crawling down her back in ''

Loco Boy Makes Good ''Loco Boy Makes Good'' is a 1942 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 60th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starr ...

'', and was flooded in both ''

Spook Louder ''Spook Louder'' is a 1943 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 69th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the come ...

'' and her final appearance, ''

Vagabond Loafers ''Vagabond Loafers'' is a 1949 short subject directed by Edward Bernds starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges ( Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard). It is the 118th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures sta ...

''. Conversely, she maintained her composure in '' Micro-Phonies'' and even dealt Curly Howard several painful face slaps in '' An Ache in Every Stake''.

''Half-Wits' Holiday''

Boniface's ''tour de force'' performance came in ''

Half-Wits Holiday ''Half-Wits Holiday'' is a 1947 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard in his final starring role). It is the 97th entry in the series released by C ...

'' opposite Moe Howard. Mischievous

Curly Curly is a surname, given name, nickname or stage name. It may refer to: First name, nickname or stage name * Crazy Horse (1840–1877), Oglala Sioux war chief nicknamed "Curly" * Curly (scout), nickname of Ashishishe (c. 1856–1923), Crow In ...

grabs a cream pie from a pastry table, and tries to eat it whole. Moe sees this, swipes the pie, and pushes Larry out of the way. Seeing the approaching Mrs. Smythe-Smythe (Boniface), Moe tosses the pie straight up, resulting in it sticking to the ceiling. Noticing his nervousness and frequent upward glances, Smythe-Smythe sympathetically comments, "Young man, you act as if the

Sword of Damocles A sword is an edged, bladed weapon intended for manual cutting or thrusting. Its blade, longer than a knife or dagger, is attached to a hilt and can be straight or curved. A thrusting sword tends to have a straighter blade with a pointed tip ...

is hanging over your head." Moe tells her she must be psychic and leaves. Bewildered, Mrs. Smythe-Smythe says "I wonder what's wrong with that young man?" and looks up to see what had him so concerned. At that moment, the pie comes crashing down in the society matron's face. The footage would be recycled four more times over the next 13 years in the films ''

Pest Man Wins ''Pest Man Wins'' is a 1951 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Shemp Howard). It is the 136th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring th ...

'', ''

Scheming Schemers ''Scheming Schemers'' is a 1956 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick Slapstick is a style of humor involving exaggerated physical activity that exceeds the boundaries of normal physical comedy. Slapstick may invo ...

'', ''

Pies and Guys ''Pies and Guys'' is a 1958 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Joe Besser). It is the 185th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the ...

'' and '' Stop! Look! and Laugh!''. Boniface also appeared in the Stooges' 1949 television pilot ''

Jerks of All Trades ''Jerks of All Trades'' (identified on the title card only as ''“The Three Stooges”'') is the title of an American television pilot released on October 12, 1949. It was The Three Stooges' first and only pilot made with Shemp Howard in the r ...

'', which would be the last project she ever appeared in. Stock footage of her would appear in six ensuing Stooges shorts following her death.

Personal life and death

Boniface married Frank Pharr Simms, a salesman and real-estate broker from

Decatur, Georgia Decatur is a city in, and the county seat of, DeKalb County, Georgia, which is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. With a population of 24,928 in the 2020 census, the municipality is sometimes assumed to be larger since multiple ZIP Codes in ...

.United States, Selective Service System. ''World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918''. Registration Location: Buckingham County, Virginia; Roll: 1984264; Draft Board: 0. Boniface was 56 years of age when she died of

pancreatic cancer Pancreatic cancer arises when cell (biology), cells in the pancreas, a glandular organ behind the stomach, begin to multiply out of control and form a Neoplasm, mass. These cancerous cells have the malignant, ability to invade other parts of t ...

on September 2, 1950.

Selected filmography

* ''

Baby Brother ''Baby Brother'' is a 1927 American ''Our Gang'' short film. It marks the first appearance of long-term member Bobby "Wheezer" Hutchins. Cast The Gang * Joe Cobb as Joe * Jackie Condon as Jackie * Jean Darling as Jean * Allen "Farina" Hoskins ...

'' (1927, Short) - Party guest * ''

The Mysterious Lady ''The Mysterious Lady'' (1928) is a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer silent film romantic drama, starring Greta Garbo, Conrad Nagel, and Gustav von Seyffertitz, directed by Fred Niblo, and based on the novel ''War in the Dark'' by Ludwig Wolff. The film g ...

'' (1928) - Party Guest (uncredited) * '' Forgotten Faces'' (1928) - Roulette Player (uncredited) * ''

Show Girl A showgirl is a female dancer or performer in a stage entertainment show intended to showcase the performer's physical attributes, typically by way of revealing clothing, toplessness, or nudity. History Showgirls date back to the late 180 ...

'' (1928) - Show Girl (uncredited) * '' Show People'' (1928) - Guest (uncredited) * '' The Fatal Warning'' (1929) - Marie Jordan * '' The Kiss'' (1929) - Gossip in Museum (uncredited) * '' The Vagabond Lover'' (1929) - Musicale Guest (uncredited) * '' Sunny Side Up'' (1929) - Woman in hallucination montage (uncredited) * '' Daybreak'' (1931) - Bystander at Baccarat Table (uncredited) * ''

The Public Defender ''The Public Defender'' is a 1931 American pre-Code crime film directed by J. Walter Ruben, starring Richard Dix and featuring Boris Karloff. Rich playboy Pike Winslow dons the mantle of 'The Reckoner', a mysterious avenger, when he learns that ...

'' (1931) - Auction Attendee (uncredited) * '' Dragnet Patrol'' (1931) - Ethel Bainbrick * '' The Man Who Played God'' (1932) - Woman in Audience (uncredited) * '' Arsène Lupin'' (1932) - Party Guest (uncredited) * ''

It's Tough to Be Famous ''It's Tough to Be Famous'' is a 1932 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Alfred E. Green and written by Robert Lord. The film stars Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Mary Brian, Emma Dunn, Walter Catlett and David Landau. The film was released ...

'' (1932) - Autograph Seeker (uncredited) * '' Back Street'' (1932) - Lady at Casino (uncredited) * '' Pack Up Your Troubles'' (1932) - Wedding Guest (uncredited) * ''

Call Her Savage ''Call Her Savage'' is a 1932 pre-Code drama film directed by John Francis Dillon and starring Clara Bow. The film was Bow's second-to-last film role. It is also one of the first portrayals of homosexuals on screen, including a scene in a gay ba ...

'' (1932) - Gambling Lady (uncredited) * '' The Mind Reader'' (1933) - Gossip in Phone Montage (uncredited) * ''

Reunion in Vienna ''Reunion in Vienna'' is a 1933 American pre-Code romantic drama produced and distributed by MGM. Sidney Franklin served as director. The film stars John Barrymore in a story taken from the 1931 stage play of the same name by Robert Emmet Sherw ...

'' (1933) - Noblewoman (uncredited) * ''

Tarzan the Fearless ''Tarzan the Fearless'' is a 12 chapter American Pre-Code film serial starring Buster Crabbe in his only appearance as Tarzan. It was also released as a 61-minute feature film which consisted of the first four chapters edited together, and whi ...

'' (1933) - Sara (uncredited) * '' Skyway'' (1933) - Baker's Girlfriend (uncredited) * '' Beauty for Sale'' (1933) - Mrs. Fletcher (uncredited) * '' Christopher Bean'' (1933) - Auction Participant (uncredited) * ''

The House on 56th Street ''The House on 56th Street'' is a 1933 American Pre-Code Hollywood, pre-Code drama film. The film's plot involves a miscarriage of justice, wrongful conviction and imprisonment, and alienation of a prisoner from her only living relative. Plot ...

'' (1933) - Blackjack Player (uncredited) * '' Girl Without a Room'' (1933) - Woman (uncredited) * '' Easy to Love'' (1934) - Roulette Table Player (uncredited) * '' The Black Cat'' (1934) - Cultist (uncredited) * ''

The Murder in the Museum ''The Murder in the Museum'' is a 1934 American film directed by Melville Shyer. The film is also known as ''The Five Deadly Vices'' (American reissue title). Plot summary A city councilman is murdered while investigating allegations of drug ...

'' (1934) - Katura the Seeress * ''

The Count of Monte Cristo ''The Count of Monte Cristo'' (french: Le Comte de Monte-Cristo) is an adventure novel written by French author Alexandre Dumas (''père'') completed in 1844. It is one of the author's more popular works, along with ''The Three Musketeers''. Li ...

'' (1934) - Party Guest (uncredited) * '' One Night of Love'' (1934) - Minor Role (uncredited) * ''

British Agent ''British Agent'' is a 1934 American romantic espionage film directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Leslie Howard and Kay Francis. It is based on ''Memoirs of a British Agent'', the 1932 autobiography of R. H. Bruce Lockhart, who worked for th ...

'' (1934) - Ball Guest at British Embassy (uncredited) * ''Among the Missing'' (1934) - Prisoner (uncredited) * ''

Broadway Bill ''Broadway Bill'' is a 1934 American comedy-drama film directed by Frank Capra and starring Warner Baxter and Myrna Loy. Screenplay by Robert Riskin and based on the short story "Strictly Confidential" by Mark Hellinger, the film is about a man' ...

'' (1934) - (uncredited) * '' Shanghai'' (1935) - Night Club Patron (uncredited) * '' Pardon My Scotch'' (1935, Short) - Party Guest (uncredited) * '' The Last Days of Pompeii'' (1935) - Slave Auction Observer (uncredited) * '' The Golden Arrow'' (1936) - (uncredited) * '' Marihuana'' (1936) - Helen - Burma's Customer (uncredited) * ''

Girls' Dormitory ''Girls' Dormitory'' is a 1936 American romance film directed by Irving Cummings based upon the 1934 play ''Mature'' by Ladislas Fodor, and adapted for the screen by Gene Markey. Plot Set in the fictional Montreaux School for Girls in Switzerlan ...

'' (1936) - Professor Clotilde Federa * '' Slippery Silks'' (1936, Short) - Mrs. Morgan Morgan (uncredited) * '' That Girl from Paris'' (1936) - Wedding Guest (uncredited) * '' Confession'' (1937) - Actress (uncredited) * ''

Termites of 1938 ''Termites of 1938'' is a 1938 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 28th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring the ...

'' (1938, Short) - Guest (uncredited) * '' Tassels in the Air'' (1938, Short) - One of Mrs. Smirch's card-playing friends (uncredited) * ''

Women Are Like That ''Women Are Like That'' is a 1938 American drama film directed by Stanley Logan and written by Horace Jackson. The film stars Kay Francis, Pat O'Brien, Ralph Forbes, Melville Cooper, Thurston Hall and Grant Mitchell. The film was released by ...

'' (1938) - Lady Behind Claudius on Boat (uncredited) * '' In Early Arizona'' (1938) - Doc's Saloon Sweetheart (uncredited) * '' On Your Toes'' (1939) - Woman in Audience (uncredited) * '' Ninotchka'' (1939) - Gossip (uncredited) * ''

A Plumbing We Will Go ''A Plumbing We Will Go'' is a 1940 short subject directed by Del Lord starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 46th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring ...

'' (1940, Short) - Party Guest (uncredited) * '' No Census, No Feeling'' (1940, Short) - Bridge Party Hostess (uncredited) * '' Souls in Pawn'' (1940) - Nurse at 'The Manger' * '' All the World's a Stooge'' (1941, Short) - Party Guest (uncredited) * '' An Ache in Every Stake'' (1941, Short) - Party Guest (uncredited) * ''

In the Sweet Pie and Pie ''In the Sweet Pie and Pie'' is a 1941 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard). It is the 58th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures star ...

'' (1941, Short) - Mrs. Gottrocks (uncredited) * '' Some More of Samoa'' (1941, Short) - Mrs. Winthrop (uncredited) * ''

'' (1942, Short) - Nightclub Patron with Mouse Down Dress (uncredited) * ''

Woman of the Year ''Woman of the Year'' is a 1942 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by George Stevens and starring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. The film was written by Ring Lardner Jr. and Michael Kanin (with uncredited work on the rewritten e ...

'' (1942) - Tess' Party Guest (uncredited) * '' Born to Sing'' (1942) - Audience Member (uncredited) * ''

One Dangerous Night ''One Dangerous Night'' (1943) (also known as ''The Lone Wolf Goes to a Party'') is the tenth Lone Wolf film produced by Columbia Pictures. It features Warren William in his seventh and second-to-last performance as the protagonist jewel thief tu ...

'' (1943) - Woman (uncredited) * ''

Murder in Times Square ''Murder in Times Square'' is a 1943 American mystery film directed by Lew Landers and starring Edmund Lowe, Marguerite Chapman and John Litel.Morton & Adamson p.181-82 The film's sets were designed by the art director Lionel Banks. Plot A Broad ...

'' (1943) - Theatre Patron (uncredited) * ''

'' (1943, Short) - Well-Dressed Woman (uncredited) * '' Clancy Street Boys'' (1943) - Dress Saleslady (uncredited) * ''

The Fallen Sparrow ''The Fallen Sparrow'' is a 1943 American spy film starring John Garfield, Maureen O'Hara, Patricia Morison, and Walter Slezak. It is based on the novel of the same name by Dorothy B. Hughes. Nazi spies pursue an American, John "Kit" McKittrick, a ...

'' (1943) - Guest (uncredited) * ''

'' (1944, Short) - Mrs. Van Bustle (uncredited) * ''

Wilson Wilson may refer to: People * Wilson (name) ** List of people with given name Wilson ** List of people with surname Wilson * Wilson (footballer, 1927–1998), Brazilian manager and defender * Wilson (footballer, born 1984), full name Wilson Ro ...

'' (1944) - White House Reception Guest (uncredited) * ''

Mrs. Parkington ''Mrs. Parkington'' is a 1944 drama film. It tells the story of a woman's life, told via flashbacks, from boarding house maid to society matron. The movie was adapted by Polly James and Robert Thoeren from the novel by Louis Bromfield. It was ...

'' (1944) - Clothing Fitter (uncredited) * '' Lost in a Harem'' (1944) - Slave Girl (uncredited) * ''

Her Highness and the Bellboy ''Her Highness and the Bellboy'' is a 1945 American romantic comedy film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Hedy Lamarr, Robert Walker, and June Allyson. Written by Richard Connell and Gladys Lehman, the film is about a beautiful Europea ...

'' (1945) - Maid (uncredited) * '' Girls of the Big House'' (1945) - Matron (uncredited) * '' Micro-Phonies'' (1945, Short) - Mrs. Bixby * '' The Notorious Lone Wolf'' (1946) - Grand Dame at Airport (uncredited) * '' Gilda'' (1946) - Gambler at Roulette Table (uncredited) * ''

Talk About a Lady ''Talk About a Lady'' is a 1946 American musical film directed by George Sherman and starring Forrest Tucker and Jinx Falkenburg. Plot References External links *''Talk About a Lady''at Library of Congress''Talk About a Lady''at TCMDB Tur ...

'' (1946) - Ladies' League Woman (uncredited) * ''

Two Sisters from Boston ''Two Sisters from Boston'' is a 1946 musical comedy film directed by Henry Koster and starring Kathryn Grayson, June Allyson, Lauritz Melchior, Jimmy Durante and Peter Lawford. The film features songs by Sammy Fain and Ralph Freed. Plot Abigail ...

'' (1946) - Opera Cast Member (uncredited) * '' Earl Carroll Sketchbook'' (1946) - Screaming Woman (uncredited) * '' The Mysterious Mr. Valentine'' (1946) - Landlady (uncredited) * '' Gallant Journey'' (1946) - Dance Floor Extra (uncredited) * '' G.I. Wanna Home'' (1946, Short) - Landlady (uncredited) * '' The Jolson Story'' (1946) - Woman in Audience (uncredited) * '' The Beast with Five Fingers'' (1946) - Mourner (uncredited) * ''

'' (1947, Short) - Mrs. Smythe-Smythe (uncredited) * '' Angel and the Badman'' (1947) - Dance Hall Madam (uncredited) * ''

Born to Kill Born to Kill may refer to: Film * ''Born to Kill'' (1947 film), a film noir directed by Robert Wise * ''Born to Kill'' (1967 film), a Spaghetti Western directed by Antonio Mollica * ''Born to Kill'' (1974 film) or ''Cockfighter'', a film direct ...

'' (1947) - Gambler at Roulette Table (uncredited) * '' All Gummed Up'' (1947, Short) - Mother-in-law (uncredited) * ''

Heavenly Daze ''Heavenly Daze'' is a 1948 short subject directed by Jules White starring American slapstick comedy team The Three Stooges (Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Shemp Howard). It is the 109th entry in the series released by Columbia Pictures starring th ...

'' (1948, Short) - Mrs. DePuyster (uncredited) * '' The Untamed Breed'' (1948) - Milly (uncredited) * '' The Return of October'' (1948) - Hedwig (uncredited) * '' Joan of Arc'' (1948) - Peasant (uncredited) * ''

The Man from Colorado ''The Man from Colorado'' is a 1948 American Western film directed by Henry Levin, produced by Jules Schermer for Columbia Pictures, and starring Glenn Ford as a Union officer who becomes addicted to killing during the American Civil War, Willia ...

'' (1949) - Matron (uncredited) * ''

Slightly French ''Slightly French'' is a 1949 American musical comedy film directed by Douglas Sirk and starring Dorothy Lamour, Don Ameche and Janis Carter.Stern p.59 The screenplay concerns a Hollywood director who recruits an American singer. Plot After cla ...

'' (1949) - Party Guest (uncredited) * ''

'' (1949, Short) - Mrs. Norfleet * '' Appointment with Danger'' (1950) - Woman (uncredited) * ''

Beware of Blondie ''Beware of Blondie'' is a 1950 American black and white comedy film and is the last of Columbia's 28 Blondie (film series), Blondie films in 12 years. Plot summary Mr. Dithers goes on vacation, and leaves Dagwood in charge of the office. He arr ...

'' (1950) - A Gossip (uncredited) * '' Rogues of Sherwood Forest'' (1950) - Charcoal Burner's Wife (uncredited) * ''

Between Midnight and Dawn ''Between Midnight and Dawn'' is a 1950 American film noir crime film directed by Gordon Douglas and starring Mark Stevens, Edmond O'Brien and Gale Storm.. Plot Childhood friends Rocky Barnes (Stevens) and Dan Purvis (O'Brien) are Los Angeles p ...

'' (1950) - Minor Role (uncredited) * ''

Pirates of the High Seas ''Pirates of the High Seas'' is a 1950 American adventure serial film directed by Spencer Gordon Bennet and Thomas Carr and starring Buster Crabbe, Lois Hall and Tommy Farrell. Plot Adventurer Jeff Drake sails to a Pacific island in aid of Kel ...

'' (1950, Serial) - Lotus Lady * ''

'' (1951, Short) - Mrs. Smythe-Smythe ( archive footage) (uncredited) * '' Bedlam in Paradise'' (1955, Short) - Mrs. De Puyster (archive footage) (uncredited) * ''

'' (1956, Short) - Mrs. Norfleet (uncredited) (final film role) * ''

'' (1958, Short) - (archive footage) * '' Stop! Look! and Laugh!'' (1960) - Mrs. Bixby / Party Guest (archive footage) (uncredited)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Boniface, Symona 1894 births 1950 deaths American film actresses Deaths from pancreatic cancer Actresses from New York City Deaths from cancer in California Burials at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery 20th-century American actresses American people of German descent American people of English descent 20th-century American comedians