Louise Erickson (February 28, 1928 – March 18, 2019) was an American radio and film actress.

Personal life

Erickson was born in Oakland,

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

. She attended Occidental College in

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

. She was married to actor

Ben Gazzara Biagio Anthony Gazzara (August 28, 1930 – February 3, 2012) was an American actor and director of film, stage, and television. He received numerous accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award and a Drama Desk Award, in addition to nominatio ...

from 1951 until 1957.

Career

Erickson began performing on radio at age 6, acting in broadcasts of fairy tales. She also appeared in ''Drama of Youth'' and was Emmy Lou on ''

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet ''The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet'' is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from October 3, 1952, to April 23, 1966, and starred the real-life Nelson family. After a long run on radio, the show was brought to television, where it ...

''. As an actress, she was most active on radio series. Erickson is best known for starring in the 1940s radio teenage sitcom ''

A Date with Judy ''A Date with Judy'' is a comedy radio series aimed at a teenage audience which ran from 1941 to 1950. The series was co-created by Jerome Lawrence and Aleen Leslie, and based on Leslie's “One Girl Chorus” column in the Pittsburgh Press. La ...

'' in the title role, and for the role of Marjorie in ''

The Great Gildersleeve ''The Great Gildersleeve'' is a radio situation comedy broadcast in the United States from August 31, 1941 to 1958. Initially written by Leonard Lewis Levinson, it was one of broadcast history's earliest spin-off programs. The series was built a ...

''. She also played the girl friend, Mildred, in ''

Meet Corliss Archer ''Meet Corliss Archer'' is an American radio program from radio's Golden Age that ran from January 7, 1943, to September 30, 1956. Although it was CBS's answer to NBC's ''A Date with Judy'', it was also broadcast by NBC in 1948 as a summer repla ...

'', another teenage situation comedy. She was the third actress to play bobby soxer Judy on the long running radio series that debuted in 1941. Erickson had joined the cast in 1942 as Mitzi, Judy's friend. The following year, she took over the title character from

Ann Gillis Alma Mabel Conner (February 12, 1927 – January 31, 2018), known professionally as Ann Gillis, was an American actress, best known for her film roles as a child actress. She performed the voice of Faline in the 1942 Disney animated film ' ...

and would remain in the role for the rest of the series run, which ended in 1950. Erickson also played Babs on ''

The Life of Riley ''The Life of Riley'' is an American radio situation comedy series of the 1940s that was adapted into a 1949 feature film, a 1950s television series, and a 1958 comic book. Radio The radio program initially aired on the Blue Network (later kn ...

'', Betty on '' The Alan Young Show'' and Janice on the radio comedy ''

Granby's Green Acres ''Granby's Green Acres'' is a radio situation comedy from the United States. It was broadcast on CBS July 3, 1950 – August 21, 1950, as a summer replacement for ''Lux Radio Theatre''. Premise ''Granby's Green Acres'' featured a former banker " ...

''. She made only a handful of motion pictures. In 1957, Erickson played Tina in the

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

production of ''A Hole in the Head''.

Filmography

* ''

Three Husbands ''Three Husbands'' is a 1951 American comedy film directed by Irving Reis and starring Eve Arden, Ruth Warrick, and Emlyn Williams. Plot When a recently deceased playboy, Max, gets to heaven, he is granted a wish. His request: to watch his ...

'' – Matilda Clegg (1950) * ''Meet Miss Bobby Socks'' – Susan Tyrell (1944) * ''

Rosie the Riveter Rosie the Riveter is an allegorical cultural icon in the United States who represents the women who worked in factories and shipyards during World War II, many of whom produced munitions and war supplies. These women sometimes took entirely new ...

'' – Mabel Prouty (1944) * ''Unusual Occupations'' (documentary short) – Herself (1944)

Radio

* ''Drama of Youth'' * ''

'' (Emmy Lou) * ''

'' – Mitzi (1942), Judy (1943–1950) * ''

'' – Mildred * ''

'' – Marjorie Forrester (1944–1948) * ''

'' – Babs (1947–1948) * '' The Alan Young Show'' – Betty (1949) * ''

Cloak and Dagger "Cloak and dagger" was a fighting style common in the Renaissance involving a knife hidden beneath a cloak. The term later came into use as a metaphor, referring to situations involving intrigue, secrecy, espionage, or mystery. Overview In " Th ...

'' (Episode: "Operation Sellout") – Marie (1950) * ''Granby's Green Acres'' – Janice (1950)

Theatre

* '' A Hole in the Head'' – Tina (1957)

References

Sources

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Erickson, Louise 1928 births 2019 deaths American film actresses Place of death missing American radio actresses Actresses from Oakland, California Occidental College alumni American stage actresses 20th-century American actresses American child actresses 21st-century American women