Zasu Pitts

Zasu Pitts

Acting
Born 1894-01-03 - Died 1963-06-07Parsons, Labette County, Kansas, USA

Biography

Zasu Pitts (January 3, 1894 – June 7, 1963) 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 labeled 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).

Movies (195)

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
7.0

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

1963Movie7.0
The Perfect Marriage
5.5

The Perfect Marriage

1947Movie5.5
Back Street
6.4

Back Street

1932Movie6.4
Passion Flower
5.4

Passion Flower

1930Movie5.4
Blondie of the Follies
6.3

Blondie of the Follies

1932Movie6.3
Francis
5.8

Francis

1950Movie5.8
Greed
7.3

Greed

1924Movie7.3
Mr. Skitch
7.3

Mr. Skitch

1933Movie7.3
Broken Lullaby
7.4

Broken Lullaby

1932Movie7.4
Hello, Sister!
6.0

Hello, Sister!

1933Movie6.0
Professional Sweetheart
6.0

Professional Sweetheart

1933Movie6.0
The Thrill of It All
7.1

The Thrill of It All

1963Movie7.1
Disneyland '59
7.3

Disneyland '59

1959Movie7.3
Sing and Like It
5.0

Sing and Like It

1934Movie5.0
Shopworn
6.7

Shopworn

1932Movie6.7
Mad Holiday
6.4

Mad Holiday

1936Movie6.4
Love Birds
6.5

Love Birds

1934Movie6.5
Risky Business
7.0

Risky Business

1926Movie7.0
Alum and Eve
6.8

Alum and Eve

1932Movie6.8
The Soilers
6.8

The Soilers

1932Movie6.8
Dames
6.5

Dames

1934Movie6.5
The Old Bull
6.0

The Old Bull

1932Movie6.0
The Guardsman
5.2

The Guardsman

1931Movie5.2
Ruggles of Red Gap
7.1

Ruggles of Red Gap

1935Movie7.1
It All Came True
5.8

It All Came True

1940Movie5.8
The Trial of Vivienne Ware
9.0

The Trial of Vivienne Ware

1932Movie9.0
Catch-As Catch-Can
3.3

Catch-As Catch-Can

1931Movie3.3
Westward Passage
6.3

Westward Passage

1932Movie6.3
A Woman's Faith
8.0

A Woman's Faith

1925Movie8.0
Niagara Falls
6.7

Niagara Falls

1941Movie6.7
Two Alone
7.3

Two Alone

1934Movie7.3
Life with Father
6.7

Life with Father

1947Movie6.7
Her First Mate
10.0

Her First Mate

1933Movie10.0
Wife Savers
7.0

Wife Savers

1928Movie7.0
Mannequin
10.0

Mannequin

1926Movie10.0
Private Scandal
7.0

Private Scandal

1934Movie7.0
This Could Be the Night
6.1

This Could Be the Night

1957Movie6.1
The Big Parade of Comedy
7.2

The Big Parade of Comedy

1964Movie7.2
Broadway Limited
5.0

Broadway Limited

1941Movie5.0
Forty Naughty Girls
5.6

Forty Naughty Girls

1937Movie5.6
Buck Privates
10.0

Buck Privates

1928Movie10.0
The Bad Sister
5.6

The Bad Sister

1931Movie5.6
The Unexpected Father
7.0

The Unexpected Father

1932Movie7.0
The Goldfish
9.0

The Goldfish

1924Movie9.0
No, No, Nanette
6.2

No, No, Nanette

1940Movie6.2
Souls for Sale
6.3

Souls for Sale

1923Movie6.3
Pretty Ladies
5.8

Pretty Ladies

1925Movie5.8
The Wedding March
7.1

The Wedding March

1928Movie7.1
Monte Carlo
6.5

Monte Carlo

1930Movie6.5
Old Shoes
9.0

Old Shoes

1925Movie9.0
Naughty but Nice
6.8

Naughty but Nice

1939Movie6.8
The Gay Bride
6.0

The Gay Bride

1934Movie6.0
Nurse Edith Cavell
6.6

Nurse Edith Cavell

1939Movie6.6
Spring Tonic
6.5

Spring Tonic

1935Movie6.5
The Lottery Bride
5.3

The Lottery Bride

1930Movie5.3
The Pajama Party
7.0

The Pajama Party

1931Movie7.0
Denver and Rio Grande
5.6

Denver and Rio Grande

1952Movie5.6
Eternally Yours
5.9

Eternally Yours

1939Movie5.9
Aggie Appleby, Maker of Men
7.8

Aggie Appleby, Maker of Men

1933Movie7.8
Hot Tip
7.0

Hot Tip

1935Movie7.0
Twin Beds
10.0

Twin Beds

1929Movie10.0
Breakfast in Hollywood
6.0

Breakfast in Hollywood

1946Movie6.0
So's Your Aunt Emma!
6.7

So's Your Aunt Emma!

1942Movie6.7
Out All Night
7.5

Out All Night

1933Movie7.5
Meet the Baron
5.3

Meet the Baron

1933Movie5.3
Oh, Yeah!
5.0

Oh, Yeah!

1929Movie5.0
Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch
6.0

Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch

1934Movie6.0
The Fast Set
10.0

The Fast Set

1924Movie10.0
What Happened to Jones?
6.6

What Happened to Jones?

1926Movie6.6
Hollywood
9.0

Hollywood

1923Movie9.0
The Locked Door
6.1

The Locked Door

1929Movie6.1
Free Love
7.5

Free Love

1930Movie7.5
Mickey the Kid
9.0

Mickey the Kid

1939Movie9.0
The Devil's Holiday
6.3

The Devil's Holiday

1930Movie6.3
Sing Me a Love Song
9.0

Sing Me a Love Song

1936Movie9.0
Penrod and Sam
7.0

Penrod and Sam

1931Movie7.0
1925 Studio Tour
6.3

1925 Studio Tour

1925Movie6.3
Going Highbrow
6.5

Going Highbrow

1935Movie6.5
A Woman of Experience
6.2

A Woman of Experience

1931Movie6.2
A Lady's Name

A Lady's Name

1918Movie
The Big Gamble
6.1

The Big Gamble

1931Movie6.1
The Talk of the Town
1.0

The Talk of the Town

1918Movie1.0
The Other Half
5.8

The Other Half

1919Movie5.8
Her Private Life
3.0

Her Private Life

1929Movie3.0
Miss Polly
4.9

Miss Polly

1941Movie4.9
Let's Face It
5.4

Let's Face It

1943Movie5.4
Youth to Youth
7.0

Youth to Youth

1922Movie7.0
Asleep in the Feet
4.8

Asleep in the Feet

1933Movie4.8
And She Learned About Dames
7.0

And She Learned About Dames

1934Movie7.0
War Nurse
5.2

War Nurse

1930Movie5.2
Poor Men's Wives
10.0

Poor Men's Wives

1923Movie10.0
Roar of the Dragon
6.5

Roar of the Dragon

1932Movie6.5
Little Accident
9.0

Little Accident

1930Movie9.0
Sneak Easily
8.0

Sneak Easily

1932Movie8.0
Patsy
10.0

Patsy

1921Movie10.0
War Mamas
8.0

War Mamas

1931Movie8.0
No, No, Nanette
6.3

No, No, Nanette

1930Movie6.3
The Plot Thickens
6.3

The Plot Thickens

1936Movie6.3
The Great Divide
9.0

The Great Divide

1925Movie9.0
Weekend for Three
6.8

Weekend for Three

1941Movie6.8
52nd Street
7.0

52nd Street

1937Movie7.0
Love, Honor and Oh, Baby!
8.0

Love, Honor and Oh, Baby!

1933Movie8.0
A Society Sensation
5.8

A Society Sensation

1918Movie5.8
For the Defense
10.0

For the Defense

1922Movie10.0
The Secret Witness
4.3

The Secret Witness

1931Movie4.3
The Squall
4.0

The Squall

1929Movie4.0
On the Loose
6.9

On the Loose

1931Movie6.9
The Girl Who Came Back
10.0

The Girl Who Came Back

1923Movie10.0
Seed
6.5

Seed

1931Movie6.5
Teenage Millionaire
5.7

Teenage Millionaire

1961Movie5.7
Finn and Hattie
6.3

Finn and Hattie

1931Movie6.3
Francis Joins the WACS
6.1

Francis Joins the WACS

1954Movie6.1
Their Mad Moment
7.5

Their Mad Moment

1931Movie7.5
Make Me a Star
6.4

Make Me a Star

1932Movie6.4
The Squealer
8.0

The Squealer

1930Movie8.0
Casey at the Bat
8.0

Casey at the Bat

1927Movie8.0
Dear Miss Gloria

Dear Miss Gloria

1946Movie
Beyond Victory
9.0

Beyond Victory

1931Movie9.0
She Gets Her Man
8.0

She Gets Her Man

1935Movie8.0
Sins of the Fathers
8.0

Sins of the Fathers

1928Movie8.0
13 Hours by Air
5.2

13 Hours by Air

1936Movie5.2
Sin Takes a Holiday
5.6

Sin Takes a Holiday

1930Movie5.6
Mexican Spitfire at Sea
4.7

Mexican Spitfire at Sea

1942Movie4.7
Is Matrimony a Failure?
10.0

Is Matrimony a Failure?

1922Movie10.0
Three on a Honeymoon
7.0

Three on a Honeymoon

1934Movie7.0
'49–'17
5.8

'49–'17

1917Movie5.8
Strictly Unreliable
6.0

Strictly Unreliable

1932Movie6.0
The Honeymoon
7.0

The Honeymoon

1929Movie7.0
How Could You, Jean?

How Could You, Jean?

1918Movie
A Modern Musketeer
5.6

A Modern Musketeer

1917Movie5.6
They Just Had to Get Married
7.0

They Just Had to Get Married

1933Movie7.0
Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
5.8

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm

1917Movie5.8
Destry Rides Again
5.7

Destry Rides Again

1932Movie5.7
The Mexican Spitfire's Baby
4.6

The Mexican Spitfire's Baby

1941Movie4.6
Madison Square Garden
6.8

Madison Square Garden

1932Movie6.8
The Dummy
8.0

The Dummy

1929Movie8.0
The Bashful Bachelor
6.3

The Bashful Bachelor

1942Movie6.3
Mary of the Movies
8.0

Mary of the Movies

1923Movie8.0
River's End
6.4

River's End

1930Movie6.4
Once in a Lifetime
7.3

Once in a Lifetime

1932Movie7.3
One Track Minds
7.0

One Track Minds

1933Movie7.0
The Vanishing Frontier
8.0

The Vanishing Frontier

1933Movie8.0
Show Business
6.5

Show Business

1932Movie6.5
Strangers of the Evening
5.1

Strangers of the Evening

1932Movie5.1
Monte Carlo
7.0

Monte Carlo

1926Movie7.0
The Re-Creation of Brian Kent
7.0

The Re-Creation of Brian Kent

1925Movie7.0
Why They Left Home
8.0

Why They Left Home

1917Movie8.0
Changing Husbands
7.0

Changing Husbands

1924Movie7.0
The Meanest Gal in Town
7.3

The Meanest Gal in Town

1934Movie7.3
Wages for Wives
7.0

Wages for Wives

1925Movie7.0
Secrets of the Night
6.7

Secrets of the Night

1924Movie6.7
Tea- With a Kick!
10.0

Tea- With a Kick!

1923Movie10.0
The Lady's from Kentucky
8.0

The Lady's from Kentucky

1939Movie8.0
Uncle Joe
7.0

Uncle Joe

1941Movie7.0
Let's Do Things
8.0

Let's Do Things

1931Movie8.0
Is My Face Red?
5.0

Is My Face Red?

1932Movie5.0
Uneasy Money
9.0

Uneasy Money

1917Movie9.0
Lazybones
6.8

Lazybones

1925Movie6.8
A Little Princess
5.2

A Little Princess

1917Movie5.2
She Whoops To Conquer

She Whoops To Conquer

1933Movie
Sealskins
6.7

Sealskins

1932Movie6.7
Paris
7.0

Paris

1929Movie7.0
Sunny Side Up
10.0

Sunny Side Up

1926Movie10.0
Their Big Moment
4.7

Their Big Moment

1934Movie4.7
Maids a la Mode
3.7

Maids a la Mode

1933Movie3.7
Steady Company
10.0

Steady Company

1932Movie10.0
Mother's Helper

Mother's Helper

1933Movie
The Great Love
8.0

The Great Love

1926Movie8.0
Seeing It Through
10.0

Seeing It Through

1920Movie10.0
Three Wise Fools
10.0

Three Wise Fools

1923Movie10.0
Tillie of the Nine Lives

Tillie of the Nine Lives

1917Movie
Daughters of Today
7.0

Daughters of Today

1924Movie7.0
His Fatal Beauty

His Fatal Beauty

1917Movie
A Daughter of Luxury

A Daughter of Luxury

1922Movie
Honey
5.7

Honey

1930Movie5.7
The Crooked Circle
5.2

The Crooked Circle

1932Movie5.2
Early to Wed
10.0

Early to Wed

1926Movie10.0
This Thing Called Love
9.0

This Thing Called Love

1929Movie9.0
The Bargain of the Century
4.2

The Bargain of the Century

1933Movie4.2
Men, Women, and Money
9.0

Men, Women, and Money

1919Movie9.0
Heart of Twenty
10.0

Heart of Twenty

1920Movie10.0
Thunder Mountain
7.0

Thunder Mountain

1925Movie7.0
The Affair of Susan
10.0

The Affair of Susan

1935Movie10.0
Better Times

Better Times

1919Movie
The Argyle Case
10.0

The Argyle Case

1929Movie10.0
Tish
6.5

Tish

1942Movie6.5
13 Washington Square
5.8

13 Washington Square

1928Movie5.8
Her Big Night
8.0

Her Big Night

1926Movie8.0
Lum and Abner

Lum and Abner

1949Movie
A Desert Dilemma

A Desert Dilemma

1917Movie
West of the Water Tower
10.0

West of the Water Tower

1924Movie10.0
Wanted!
9.0

Wanted!

1937Movie9.0
Poor Relations
8.0

Poor Relations

1919Movie8.0
Red Noses
7.5

Red Noses

1932Movie7.5
As the Sun Went Down

As the Sun Went Down

1919Movie

TV Shows (11)

Perry Mason
7.7

Perry Mason

1957Series7.7
The Philco Television Playhouse
6.6

The Philco Television Playhouse

1948Series6.6
What's My Line?
7.0

What's My Line?

1950Series7.0
Burke's Law
6.3

Burke's Law

1963Series6.3
The 20th Century Fox Hour
6.0

The 20th Century Fox Hour

1955Series6.0
The Gale Storm Show
6.7

The Gale Storm Show

1956Series6.7
Screen Director's Playhouse
7.0

Screen Director's Playhouse

1955Series7.0
Guestward, Ho!
6.5

Guestward, Ho!

1960Series6.5
Private Secretary
6.0

Private Secretary

1953Series6.0
The Dennis O'Keefe Show
7.5

The Dennis O'Keefe Show

1959Series7.5
General Electric Theater
6.8

General Electric Theater

1953Series6.8