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Zasu Pitts

Zasu Pitts

Known For Acting
Birthday Jan 02, 1894
Died Jun 07, 1963 (69)
Birthplace Parsons, Kansas, USA
Popularity 0.4 (history)
Updated Dec 19, 2024
Entry Date Apr 13, 2024
Links TMDb IMDb
Biography

Zasu Pitts was an American actress who starred in many silent dramas and comedies, transitioning successfully to mostly comedy films with the advent of sound films. She may be best known for her performance in Erich von Stroheim's epic silent film Greed. Based on her performance, von Stroheim label ... ed Pitts "the greatest dramatic actress". He also featured her in his films The Honeymoon (1928), The Wedding March (1928), War Nurse (1930) and Walking Down Broadway, released as Hello, Sister! (1933). However, for the most part, with the advent of sound Pitts was mostly relegated to comedy parts. A bitter disappointment was when she was replaced in the classic war drama All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) by Beryl Mercer after her initial appearance in previews drew unintentional laughs, despite her intense performance. She had viewers rolling in the aisles in Finn and Hattie (1931), The Guardsman (1931), Blondie of the Follies (1932), Sing and Like It (1934) and Ruggles of Red Gap (1935). In 1936 and 1937 she portrayed Hildegarde Withers in two movies, succeeding Edna May Oliver as the spinster sleuth, but they were not well received. In the 1950s she started focusing on television. This culminated in her best known series role, playing second banana to Gale Storm on CBS's The Gale Storm Show (1956) (also known as Oh, Susannah) in the role of Elvira Nugent ("Nugie"), the shipboard beautician. In 1961, Pitts was cast opposite Earle Hodgins in the episode "Lonesome's Gal" on the ABC sitcom, Guestward, Ho!, set on a dude ranch in New Mexico. In 1962, Pitts appeared in an episode of CBS's Perry Mason, "The Case of the Absent Artist". Her final role was as Gertie, the switchboard operator in the Stanley Kramer comedy epic It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963).

Known For

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Filmography

The Big Parade of Comedy

The Big Parade of Comedy

1964

as Mirabelle in 'The Gay Bride' (archive footage)

The Thrill of It All

The Thrill of It All

1963

as Olivia

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

1963

as Gertie - Switchboard Operator

Teenage Millionaire

Teenage Millionaire

1961

as Aunt Theodora

This Could Be the Night

This Could Be the Night

1957

as Mrs. Shea

The Silent Partner

The Silent Partner

1955

as Selma

Francis Joins the WACS

Francis Joins the WACS

1954

as Valerie Humpert

Denver and Rio Grande

Denver and Rio Grande

1952

as Jane Dwyer

Francis

Francis

1950

as Valerie Humpert

Life with Father

Life with Father

1947

as Cousin Cora Cartwright

The Perfect Marriage

The Perfect Marriage

1947

as Rosa

Dear Miss Gloria

Dear Miss Gloria

1946

as Guest star

Breakfast in Hollywood

Breakfast in Hollywood

1946

as Elvira Spriggens

Let's Face It

Let's Face It

1943

as Cornelia Pigeon

So's Your Aunt Emma!

So's Your Aunt Emma!

1942

as Aunt Emma Bates

Tish

Tish

1942

as Aggie Pilkington (as ZaSu Pitts)

The Bashful Bachelor

The Bashful Bachelor

1942

as Geraldine

Mexican Spitfire at Sea

Mexican Spitfire at Sea

1942

as Miss Pepper

Miss Polly

Miss Polly

1941

as Pandora Polly

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls

1941

as Emmy Sawyer

Uncle Joe

Uncle Joe

1941

as Julia Jordan

The Mexican Spitfire's Baby

The Mexican Spitfire's Baby

1941

as Emily Pepper

Broadway Limited

Broadway Limited

1941

as Myra Pottle

Weekend for Three

Weekend for Three

1941

as Anna, Craig's Maid

It All Came True

It All Came True

1940

as Miss Flint

No, No, Nanette

No, No, Nanette

1940

as Pauline Hastings

Mickey the Kid

Mickey the Kid

1939

as Lilly Handy

The Lady's from Kentucky

The Lady's from Kentucky

1939

as Dulcey Lee

Eternally Yours

Eternally Yours

1939

as Cary Bingham

Nurse Edith Cavell

Nurse Edith Cavell

1939

as Mme. Moulin

Naughty But Nice

Naughty But Nice

1939

as Aunt Penelope Hardwick

Wanted!

Wanted!

1937

as Winnie Oatfield

Forty Naughty Girls

Forty Naughty Girls

1937

as Hildegarde Withers

52nd Street

52nd Street

1937

as Letitia Rondell

The Plot Thickens

The Plot Thickens

1936

as Hildegarde Withers

13 Hours by Air

13 Hours by Air

1936

as Miss Harkins

Mad Holiday

Mad Holiday

1936

as Mrs. Fay Kinney

Sing Me a Love Song

Sing Me a Love Song

1936

as Gwen Logan

The Affair of Susan

The Affair of Susan

1935

as Susan Todd

She Gets Her Man

She Gets Her Man

1935

as Esmeralda

Hot Tip

Hot Tip

1935

as Belle McGill

Going Highbrow

Going Highbrow

1935

as Cora Upshaw

Ruggles of Red Gap

Ruggles of Red Gap

1935

as Mrs. Judson

Spring Tonic

Spring Tonic

1935

as Maggie Conklin

Their Big Moment

Their Big Moment

1934

as Tillie Whim

Sing and Like it

Sing and Like it

1934

as Annie Snodgrass

The Meanest Gal in Town

The Meanest Gal in Town

1934

as Tillie Prescott

Private Scandal

Private Scandal

1934

as Miss Coates

Love Birds

Love Birds

1934

as Araminta Tootle

Three on a Honeymoon

Three on a Honeymoon

1934

as Alice Mudge

Two Alone

Two Alone

1934

as Esthey Roberts

The Gay Bride

The Gay Bride

1934

as Mirabelle

Dames

Dames

1934

as Matilda Hemingway

Maids a la Mode

Maids a la Mode

1933

as Miss Pitts

Love, Honor and Oh, Baby!

Love, Honor and Oh, Baby!

1933

as Connie Clark

Mr. Skitch

Mr. Skitch

1933

as Maddie Skitch

Hello, Sister!

Hello, Sister!

1933

as Millie

Asleep in the Feet

Asleep in the Feet

1933

as Zasu

They Just Had to Get Married

They Just Had to Get Married

1933

as Molly Hull

Out All Night

Out All Night

1933

as Bonny

Her First Mate

Her First Mate

1933

as Mary Horner

The Vanishing Frontier

The Vanishing Frontier

1933

as Aunt Sylvia

Meet the Baron

Meet the Baron

1933

as Zasu

Professional Sweetheart

Professional Sweetheart

1933

as Elmerada de Leon

Aggie Appleby, Maker of Men

Aggie Appleby, Maker of Men

1933

as Sybby 'Sib'

Red Noses

Red Noses

1932

as Miss Pitts

Sneak Easily

Sneak Easily

1932

as Miss Zasu Pitts - Woman of the Jury

Strictly Unreliable

Strictly Unreliable

1932

as Pitts

Strangers of the Evening

Strangers of the Evening

1932

as Sybil Smith

The Old Bull

The Old Bull

1932

as Zasu

Alum and Eve

Alum and Eve

1932

as Zasu

Sealskins

Sealskins

1932

as Zasu Pitts

Show Business

Show Business

1932

as Zasu

The Soilers

The Soilers

1932

as Zasu

The Crooked Circle

The Crooked Circle

1932

as Nora Rafferty

Once in a Lifetime

Once in a Lifetime

1932

as Miss Leyton

The Unexpected Father

The Unexpected Father

1932

as Polly Perkins

Make Me a Star

Make Me a Star

1932

as Mrs. Scudder

Shopworn

Shopworn

1932

as Aunt Dot

Westward Passage

Westward Passage

1932

as Mrs. Truesdale

Destry Rides Again

Destry Rides Again

1932

as Temperance Worker

The Trial of Vivienne Ware

The Trial of Vivienne Ware

1932

as Gladys Fairweather

Steady Company

Steady Company

1932

as Dot

Back Street

Back Street

1932

as Mrs. Dole

Roar of the Dragon

Roar of the Dragon

1932

as Gabby Woman

Madison Square Garden

Madison Square Garden

1932

as Florrie

Is My Face Red?

Is My Face Red?

1932

as Morning Gazette Telephone Operator

Blondie of the Follies

Blondie of the Follies

1932

as Gertie

Broken Lullaby

Broken Lullaby

1932

as Anna, Holderlin's Maid

The Pajama Party

The Pajama Party

1931

as Zasu

War Mamas

War Mamas

1931

as Zasu

On the Loose

On the Loose

1931

as Zasu

Let's Do Things

Let's Do Things

1931

as Zasu Pitts

Catch-As Catch-Can

Catch-As Catch-Can

1931

as ZaSu

The Secret Witness

The Secret Witness

1931

as Bella

Their Mad Moment

Their Mad Moment

1931

as Miss Dibbs

Finn and Hattie

Finn and Hattie

1931

as Mrs. Hattie Haddock

Beyond Victory

Beyond Victory

1931

as Fritzi Mobley

The Guardsman

The Guardsman

1931

as Liesl

A Woman of Experience

A Woman of Experience

1931

as Katie

The Big Gamble

The Big Gamble

1931

as Nora Dugan

Seed

Seed

1931

as Jennie

The Bad Sister

The Bad Sister

1931

as Minnie

Penrod and Sam

Penrod and Sam

1931

as Mrs. Bassett

River's End

River's End

1930

as Louise

Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo

1930

as Bertha

Little Accident

Little Accident

1930

as Monica

The Lottery Bride

The Lottery Bride

1930

as Hilda

Sin Takes a Holiday

Sin Takes a Holiday

1930

as Annie

The Squealer

The Squealer

1930

as Bella

War Nurse

War Nurse

1930

as Cushie

Passion Flower

Passion Flower

1930

as Mrs. Harney

No, No, Nanette

No, No, Nanette

1930

as Pauline Hastings

Honey

Honey

1930

as Mayme

Free Love

Free Love

1930

as Ada, the Maid

The Devil's Holiday

The Devil's Holiday

1930

as Ethel

This Thing Called Love

This Thing Called Love

1929

as Clara Bertrand

Oh, Yeah!

Oh, Yeah!

1929

as The Elk

The Squall

The Squall

1929

as Lena

The Argyle Case

The Argyle Case

1929

as Mrs. Wyatt

Paris

Paris

1929

as Harriet

The Locked Door

The Locked Door

1929

as Telephone Girl

The Dummy

The Dummy

1929

as Rose Gleason

Her Private Life

Her Private Life

1929

as Timmins

Wife Savers

Wife Savers

1928

as Germaine

13 Washington Square

13 Washington Square

1928

as The Maid

Buck Privates

Buck Privates

1928

as Hulda

Sins of the Fathers

Sins of the Fathers

1928

as Mother Spengler

The Wedding March

The Wedding March

1928

as Cecelia Schweisser

Casey at the Bat

Casey at the Bat

1927

as Camille

Mannequin

Mannequin

1926

as Annie Pogani

Sunny Side Up

Sunny Side Up

1926

as Evelyn

The Great Love

The Great Love

1926

as Nancy

Dreams of Monte Carlo

Dreams of Monte Carlo

1926

as Hope Durant

Risky Business

Risky Business

1926

as Agnes Wheaton

What Happened to Jones

What Happened to Jones

1926

as Hilda (as Zazu Pitts)

Pretty Ladies

Pretty Ladies

1925

as Maggie Keenan

Lazybones

Lazybones

1925

as Ruth Fanning

Thunder Mountain

Thunder Mountain

1925

as Mandy Coulter

The Great Divide

The Great Divide

1925

as Polly Jordan

Greed

Greed

1924

as Trina

Secrets of the Night

Secrets of the Night

1924

as Celia Stebbins

The Fast Set

The Fast Set

1924

as Mona

Changing Husbands

Changing Husbands

1924

as Delia

The Goldfish

The Goldfish

1924

as Amelia Pugsley

Mary of the Movies

Mary of the Movies

1923

as Zasu Pitts (uncredited)

Poor Men's Wives

Poor Men's Wives

1923

as Apple Annie

Tea- With a Kick!

Tea- With a Kick!

1923

as 'Brainy' Jones

Three Wise Fools

Three Wise Fools

1923

as Mickey

Hollywood

Hollywood

1923

as Zasu Pitts

For the Defense

For the Defense

1922

as Jennie Dunn

Patsy

Patsy

1921

as Patsy

Better Times

Better Times

1919

as Nancy Scroggs

The Other Half

The Other Half

1919

as Jennie Jones, The Jazz Kid

A Lady's Name

A Lady's Name

1918

as Emily

A Society Sensation

A Society Sensation

1918

as Mary

How Could You, Jean?

How Could You, Jean?

1918

as Oscar's Sweetheart

A Little Princess

A Little Princess

1917

as Becky

A Modern Musketeer

A Modern Musketeer

1917

as A Kansas Belle (uncredited)

'49–'17

'49–'17

1917

as Party Guest (uncredited)

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

1917

as Undetermined Role (uncredited)

No data available

No data available

No data available

Organization Category Movie
Television Credits

Burke's Law

as Mrs. Bowie

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 20, 1963

Perry Mason

as Daphne Whilom

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 21, 1957

General Electric Theater

as Aunt Laura

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Feb 01, 1953

The Philco Television Playhouse

as Belinda Pryde

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 03, 1948

Screen Director's Playhouse

as Selma

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 05, 1955

The Gale Storm Show

Episodes: 126

First Aired: Sep 29, 1956

The 20th Century Fox Hour

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Oct 05, 1955

Private Secretary

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Feb 01, 1953

Guestward, Ho!

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 29, 1960

The Dennis O'Keefe Show

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Sep 22, 1959

What's My Line?

as Self - Mystery Guest

Episodes: 1

First Aired: Feb 02, 1950

Popularity Metrics

Popularity History


Year Month Avg Max Min
2024 6 10 19 5
2024 7 14 25 6
2024 8 11 25 4
2024 9 6 13 2
2024 10 4 6 2
2024 11 3 5 1
2024 12 4 8 2
2025 1 11 33 3
2025 2 3 9 1
2025 3 4 6 1
2025 5 2 2 1
2025 6 1 1 1
2025 7 0 0 0
2025 8 0 2 0
2025 9 0 0 0
2025 10 0 0 0

Trending Rank


Year Month Avg Rank Max Rank
No trending metrics available.

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