Betty Garrett
A radiant musical comedy star whose warmth and wit lit up Broadway, Hollywood, and living rooms for over six decades.
1919–2011 (age 92)·American actress, comedian, singer and dancer·Birthday: May 23·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Betty Garrett arrived in New York from Missouri with dreams of the stage, and her electric presence quickly made them a reality. She became a standout in Broadway revues, her comedic timing and robust singing voice catching the eye of MGM, which whisked her to Hollywood during the golden age of musicals. There, she stole scenes in films like 'On the Town' and 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game,' often playing the lovable, wisecracking best friend who got the girl next door. When the studio system faded, Garrett didn't miss a beat, returning triumphantly to Broadway and later becoming a beloved television fixture. For generations, she was the sharp, smiling face on shows like 'All in the Family' and 'Laverne & Shirley,' proving her talent was as durable as it was delightful.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Betty was born in 1919, placing them squarely in The Greatest 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 Betty Was Born
The biggest hits of 1919
Betty's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1919Born
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1924Started school
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1932Became a teenager
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1935Could drive
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1937Could vote
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1940Turned 21
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1949Turned 30
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1959Turned 40
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
1969Turned 50
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1979Turned 60
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1989Turned 70
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1999Turned 80
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2011Died at 92
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
Key Achievements
- Originated the role of taxi driver Brunhilde Esterhazy in the Broadway musical 'On the Town,' later reprising it for the 1949 film adaptation.
- Starred in the MGM musicals 'Neptune's Daughter' and 'My Sister Eileen,' becoming a recognized face of post-war Hollywood comedy.
- Earned a Tony Award nomination for her performance in the 1975 Broadway revival of 'The Odd Couple.'
- Played the memorable landlady Edna Babish on the hit television series 'Laverne & Shirley' for multiple seasons.
Did You Know?
She was married to actor Larry Parks, who starred as Al Jolson in 'The Jolson Story,' and stood by him during the Hollywood blacklist era.
Garrett and her husband were placed on the Hollywood blacklist themselves for their political affiliations, which limited their film work.
She studied at the prestigious Neighborhood Playhouse in New York under Sanford Meisner.
Her son, Andrew Parks, is a composer and musician.
“I've always been an optimist. I think that's what kept me going through the blacklist and everything else.”
