Ruth Godfrey
Godfrey in The Three Stooges film Rhythm and Weep (1946)
Born
Ruth Godfrey

(1922-02-24)February 24, 1922
Illinois, United States
DiedJanuary 7, 1985(1985-01-07) (aged 62)
Northridge, Los Angeles, California, United States
Other namesRuth White, Ruth Godfrey White

Ruth Godfrey (February 24, 1922 – January 7, 1985) was an American film actress, best known for her work in several Three Stooges shorts. She also worked under the name of Ruth Godfrey White.

Career

Stage

Godfrey danced in a production of Meet the People at LaConga, a New York night club, in 1942.[1] She danced in Something for the Boys on Broadway in 1943[2][3] and joined other cast members in entertaining soldiers at a hospital.[4] She and other performers, including Allen Jenkins, did a four-month tour of the Hawaiian islands with USO-Camp Shows.[5]

Film

Godfrey was assistant dance director at Warner Brothers for ten years. She was under contract to Columbia Studios for two years, starting in 1946[6][7]

She was the choreographer for The Ten Commandments at Paramount Pictures.[8] Godfrey taught such stars as Jimmy Cagney, Gene Nelson, Jane Powell, Ann Sothern and Lucille Ball.

Godfrey first joined Columbia Pictures as a member of The Jack Cole Dancers, along with supporting actresses Nita Bieber and Gloria Patrice. All three would appear in her 1946 debut film with the Stooges, Rhythm and Weep.

She was the featured dancer in the Soundie Hats Off (1943), performing to the song "Where Did You Get That Hat?" with the Winnie Hoveler Dancers.[9][10]

Godfrey appeared in several more Three Stooges films throughout the 1950s, such as Shot in the Frontier, Musty Musketeers and Pardon My Backfire. Memorably, Godfrey became the only actress in the history of the slapstick comedy trio to deliver a triple slap—twice—to the Stooges in 1957's A Merry Mix Up. Though she made less than 10 films with the comedy team, Godfrey is one of the few actresses to have worked with five of the six Stooges (Shemp Howard, Moe Howard, Larry Fine, Curly Howard and Joe Besser) on film in the various incarnations of the group.

Godfrey retired from film shortly after production of Stooge shorts films ceased in December 1957.

Personal life and death

Godfrey's father-in-law was Columbia Pictures short subject head Jules White.[11] Godfrey died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the Northridge section of Los Angeles, California on January 7, 1985.

References

  1. ↑ Denis, Paul. "'Meet the People' at LaConga; 1st Condensed Version of B'way Musical to Play New York Nitery". The Billboard. Aug 1, 1942. P. 12. Via Proquest.
  2. ↑ "Legitimate: Alvin - 'Something for the Boys'". The Billboard. Jan 16, 1943. P. 10. Via Proquest.
  3. ↑ Abel. "Legitimate: Play on Broadway - Something for the Boys". Variety. Jan 13, 1943. P. 52. Via Proquest.
  4. ↑ "War Activities: 'Something for Boys' Troupe Starts Sunday Camp Tour in Staten Is". Variety. Mar 17, 1943. P. 4. Via Proquest.
  5. ↑ "USO Unit in Hawaii". The Billboard. Nov 13, 1943. P. 23. Via Proquest.
  6. ↑ "Pictures: Studio Contracts". Variety. Feb 20, 1946. P. 4. Via Proquest.
  7. ↑ "Cocktail-Night Clubs: In Short". The Billboard. Jul 13, 1946. P. 38. Via Proquest.
  8. ↑ Gene. "Film Reviews: The Ten Commandments". Variety. Oct 10, 1956. 204, 6. Entertainment Industry Magazine Archive. Pg. 6. Via Proquest.
  9. ↑ "Amusement Machines: Movie Machine Reviews". The Billboard. Dec 11, 1943. 55, 50. Entertainment Industry Magazine Archive. Pg. 67. Via Proquest.
  10. ↑ "Vending Machine: Movie Machine Reviews". The Billboard. Jun 29, 1946. 58, 26. Entertainment Industry Magazine Archive. Pg. 117. Via Proquest.
  11. ↑ Hogan, David J. (2011-09-01). Three Stooges FAQ: Everything Left to Know About the Eye-Poking, Face-Slapping, Head-Thumping Geniuses. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-55783-939-8.


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