Naomi Ruth Stevens (November 29, 1925 – January 13, 2018) was an American

character actress A character actor is a supporting actor who plays unusual, interesting, or eccentric characters.28 April 2013, The New York Acting SchoolTen Best Character Actors of All Time Retrieved 7 August 2014, "..a breed of actor who has the ability to be ...

of film and television from the 1950s through the 1980s. She appeared in almost 100 roles over the years, usually depicting mothers, landladies, gossips, or neighbors. Stevens began entertaining in vaudeville at age 2. She had expanded into radio, film, and theater by age 5. She appeared on a radio program on KNX in Los Angeles and was featured in Paramount Pictorials. Stevens attended the Grace Waugh Bowman School of Theatricals. Her most frequent characterizations were Italian, Jewish, Latin, or East European, and usually with a comic touch. She appeared in many television series and in such feature films as '' Valley of the Dolls'', ''

Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell ''Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell'' is a 1968 Technicolor American comedy film starring Gina Lollobrigida, and directed by Melvin Frank, who co-wrote the original screenplay with Denis Norden and Sheldon Keller. The United Artists release was filmed ...

'', and ''

The Apartment ''The Apartment'' is a 1960 American romantic comedy-drama film directed and produced by Billy Wilder from a screenplay he co-wrote with I. A. L. Diamond. It stars Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Ray Walston, Jack Kruschen, David ...

'' (as Mrs. Dreyfuss, the supportive "Jewish mother" type to

Shirley MacLaine Shirley MacLaine (born Shirley MacLean Beaty, April 24, 1934) is an American actress, author, and former dancer. Known for her portrayals of quirky, strong-willed and eccentric women, MacLaine has received numerous accolades over her seven-dec ...

's character, Fran Kubelik). She portrayed Sgt. Bella Archer in the ABC crime drama ''

Vegas Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...

'' (1978). She made guest appearances on numerous television series. Her last role was on ''

Days of Our Lives ''Days of Our Lives'' (also stylized as ''Days of our Lives''; simply referred to as ''Days'' or ''DOOL'') is an American television soap opera that streams on the streaming service Peacock. The soap, which aired on the American television net ...

'' as Mrs. Nazareo in 1989. 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 ...

, Stevens portrayed Daphne Royce on ''Brenthouse'' and Irene Barbour on ''

One Man's Family ''One Man's Family'' is an American radio soap opera, heard for almost three decades, from 1932 to 1959. Created by Carlton E. Morse, it was the longest-running uninterrupted dramatic serial in the history of American radio. Television versions ...

''. Stevens died on January 13, 2018, in

Reseda, Los Angeles Reseda is a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1912, and its central business district started developing in 1915. The neighborhood was devoted to agriculture for many years. Earthquakes ...

, California, aged 92.

Partial filmography

* '' Have Gun-Will Travel'' (1957, TV Series) as Marga / Ma Kafka / Maria * '' The Black Orchid'' (1958) as Guilia Gallo * ''

Rescue 8 ''Rescue 8'' is a syndicated American action adventure crime drama series about Los Angeles County Fire Department Rescue Squad 8. It premiered in 1958 and originally ran for two seasons with syndicated reruns continuing for almost a decade th ...

'' (1959, TV Series) as Angela * ''

'' (1960) as Mrs. Mildred Dreyfuss * ''

The Lawless Years ''The Lawless Years'' is an American crime drama series that aired on NBC from April 16, 1959, to September 22, 1961. The series is the first of its kind, set during the Roaring 20s, having antedated American Broadcasting Company, ABC's far more ...

'' (1961, TV Series) as Rose * ''

Perry Mason Perry Mason is a fictional character, an American criminal defense lawyer who is the main character in works of detective fiction written by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason features in 82 novels and 4 short stories, all of which involve a cli ...

'' (1961–1964, TV Series) as Agnes / Fanny Werbler / Mrs. Kransdorf * ''

Dr. Kildare Dr. James Kildare is a fictional American medical doctor, originally created in the 1930s by the author Frederick Schiller Faust under the pen name Max Brand. Shortly after the character's first appearance in a magazine story, Paramount Pictur ...

'' (1961–1965, TV Series) as Mrs. Gast / Aunt Kasia / Mrs. Mendoza / Mrs. Gitlin * '' Convicts 4'' (1962) as Resko's Mother * ''

McHale's Navy ''McHale's Navy'' is an American sitcom starring Ernest Borgnine that aired 138 half-hour episodes over four seasons, from October 11, 1962, to April 12, 1966, on the ABC television network. The series was filmed in black and white and originate ...

'' (1963, TV Series) as Mrs. Gruber * '' The Farmer's Daughter'' (1964, TV series) as Mrs. Golden * ''

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, aired on CBS and NBC between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers and mysteries. Between 1962 and 1965 it was re ...

'' (1964, Episode: "The Gentleman Caller") as Mrs. Goldy the

Building Superintendent A building superintendent or building supervisor (often shortened to super) is a term used in the United States and Canada to refer to a manager responsible for repair and maintenance in a residential building. They are the first point of contac ...

* '' Honeymoon Hotel'' (1964) as Woman at Garbage Dump (uncredited) * ''

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre ''Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre'' is an American anthology series, sponsored by Chrysler Corporation, which ran on NBC from 1963 through 1967. The show was hosted by Bob Hope, but it had a variety of formats, including musical, dramati ...

'' (1964, TV Series) as Aunt Clara / Maria Pia * '' Joy in the Morning'' (1965) as Mrs. Ridinski (uncredited) * '' The Art of Love'' (1965) as Mrs. Sarah Fromkis * '' Frankie and Johnny'' (1966) as Princess Zolita (uncredited) * ''

Hogan's Heroes ''Hogan's Heroes'' is an American television sitcom set in a Nazi German prisoner-of-war (POW) camp during World War II. It ran for 168 episodes (six seasons) from September 17, 1965, to April 4, 1971, on the CBS network, the longest broadcast ...

'' (1967, Episode: "The Crittendon Plan") as Nadya * '' Valley of the Dolls'' (1967) as Miss Steinberg * ''

The Flying Nun ''The Flying Nun'' is an American sitcom about a community of nuns which included one who could fly when the wind caught her cornette. It was produced by Screen Gems for ABC based on the 1965 book ''The Fifteenth Pelican,'' written by Tere Rio ...

'' (1967–1970, TV Series) as Sister Teresa / Mrs. Emanuel / Señora Rosales * ''

The Shakiest Gun in the West ''The Shakiest Gun in the West'' is a 1968 American comedy Western film starring Don Knotts. It was directed by Alan Rafkin and written by Jim Fritzell and Everett Greenbaum. The film is a remake of '' The Paleface'', a 1948 movie starring Bob ...

'' (1968) as Squaw (uncredited) * '' To Die in Paris'' (1968, TV Movie) as Mama Dendier * ''

'' (1968) as Rosa * ''

The Doris Day Show ''The Doris Day Show'' is an American sitcom which was originally broadcast on CBS from September 1968 until March 1973, remaining on the air for five seasons and 128 episodes. The series is remembered for its multiple format and cast change ...

'' (1968–1969, TV Series) as Juanita (housekeeper) * ''

My Three Sons ''My Three Sons'' is an American television sitcom that aired from September 29, 1960, to April 13, 1972. The series was broadcast on ABC during its first five seasons, before moving to CBS for the remaining seasons. ''My Three Sons'' chronicl ...

'' (1969–1970, TV Series) as Mama Rossini * ''

Love, American Style ''Love, American Style'' is an anthology comedy television series that aired on ABC from 1969 to 1974. The series was produced by Paramount Television. During the 1971–72 and 1972–73 seasons, it was a part of ABC's Friday primetime lineup ...

'' (1969–1973, TV Series) as Hazel / Mildred / Rosa / Mrs. Straub aka Mother / Annie Ellsworth * ''

The Hawaiians Hawaiians are the indigenous people of the Hawaiian Islands. Hawaiians or The Hawaiians may also refer to: * The Hawaiians (WFL), a football team in the World Football League from 1974 to 1975 * The Hawaiians (film), ''The Hawaiians'' (film), a 1 ...

'' (1970) as Queen Liliuokalani * ''

Room 222 ''Room 222'' is an American comedy-drama television series produced by 20th Century Fox Television that aired on ABC for 112 episodes, from September 17, 1969 until January 11, 1974. The show was broadcast on Wednesday evenings at 8:30 ( EST) fo ...

'' (1970, TV Series) as Rose * ''

Fly Me ''Fly Me'' is a 1973 United States-Filipino sexploitation film about the adventures of three flight attendants. Plot Three young flight attendants fly from Los Angeles, California to Hong Kong. Toby's mother has followed her on the plane and Toby ...

'' (1973) as Toby's Mother * ''

Superdad ''Superdad'' is a 1973 American comedy film by Walt Disney Productions starring Bob Crane, Barbara Rush, Kurt Russell, Joe Flynn, and Kathleen Cody. Directed by Vincent McEveety, the film marks the motion picture debut of Bruno Kirby. Plot Cha ...

'' (1973) as Mrs. Levin (neighbor) * '' Hard Times'' (1975) as Madam * ''

The Montefuscos ''The Montefuscos'' is an American sitcom that was cancelled after three episodes were broadcast in 1975. It aired on Thursday nights at 8:00–8:30 pm ( ET) on the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), which chose to run a total of eight episodes ...

'' (1975, TV Series) as Rose Montefusco * '' Hustle'' (1975) as Woman Hostage * ''

The Practice ''The Practice'' is an American legal drama television series created by David E. Kelley centering on partners and associates at a Boston law firm. The show ran for eight seasons on ABC, from March 4, 1997, to May 16, 2004. It won an Emmy in 1 ...

'' (1976, TV Series) as Mrs. Friedman * '' Opening Night'' (1977) as Crying Mourner (uncredited) * ''

Vega$ ''Vegas'' (stylized as ''Vega$'') is an American crime drama television series that aired on ABC from September 20, 1978, to June 3, 1981, with the pilot episode airing April 25, 1978. ''Vegas'' was produced by Aaron Spelling and created by Mich ...

'' (1978–1979, TV Series) as Sgt. Bella Archer * ''

The Triangle Factory Fire Scandal ''The Triangle Factory Fire Scandal'' is a 1979 American made-for-television drama film directed by Mel Stuart and starring David Dukes, Tovah Feldshuh, Lauren Frost, Stacey Nelkin, Tom Bosley and Ted Wass. It premiered on NBC on January 30, 19 ...

'' (1979, TV Movie) as Mrs. Goldstein * ''

Hotel A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. Facilities provided inside a hotel room may range from a modest-quality mattress in a small room to large suites with bigger, higher-quality beds, a dresser, a ref ...

'' (1982, TV Series) as Mrs. Tomasino * ''

Taxi A taxi, also known as a taxicab or simply a cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice ...

'' (1983, TV Series) as Aunt Lucia

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Stevens, Naomi 1925 births 2018 deaths Actresses from New Jersey American film actresses American television actresses Actors from Trenton, New Jersey 20th-century American actresses Vaudeville performers American radio actresses American child actresses 21st-century American women