Beth Howland
A gifted comedic actress who turned the perpetually flustered waitress Vera on 'Alice' into an unforgettable television character.
1941–2015 (age 74)·American actress·Birthday: May 28·The Silent Generation
Biography
Beth Howland's career began on the Broadway stage, where her sharp timing and distinctive voice landed her roles in musicals like 'Company,' earning a Tony nomination for her performance as Amy. Television producers took notice, and she soon became a familiar face in sitcoms and variety shows. Her defining role came in 1976 when she was cast as Vera Louise Gorman, the accident-prone, high-pitched waitress at Mel's Diner on the hit series 'Alice.' For nine seasons, Howland perfected Vera's blend of endearing clumsiness and unwavering loyalty, making her a fan favorite. After the show ended, she largely stepped away from acting, choosing a private life in Connecticut. Her legacy is that of a precise character actress who found the heart and humor in neuroticism.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Beth was born in 1941, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Beth Was Born
The biggest hits of 1941
#1 Movie
Sergeant York
Best Picture
How Green Was My Valley
Beth's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1941Born
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1946Started school
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1954Became a teenager
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1957Could drive
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1959Could vote
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1962Turned 21
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1971Turned 30
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 40
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 50
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 60
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 70
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2015Died at 74
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
Key Achievements
- Received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role in 'Company' (1971).
- Played the recurring role of Vera Gorman for the entire nine-season run of the sitcom 'Alice' (1976-1985).
- Appeared in the original Broadway production of 'The Unshakable Molly Brown.'
Did You Know?
She was married to actor Charles Kimbrough, best known as Jim Dial on 'Murphy Brown,' from 2002 until her death.
She was a skilled tap dancer.
She made one of her first TV appearances on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show.'
She was considered for the role of Gloria Stivic on 'All in the Family' before it went to Sally Struthers.
“I'm not a ditzy waitress, I'm a highly strung perfectionist!”
