Monday, June 23, 2008

Dody Goodman: 1915-2008

Dody Goodman, the beloved character actress known for her daffy performances on stage, screen and television, passed away yesterday at the age of 93.

Goodman began her career on Broadway, finding fame for her dancing in the original productions of Call Me Madam and Wonderful Town. Jack Paar called, and she became a regular fixture on his Tonight Show, which led to an Emmy nomination and a string of television appearances on game shows and other talk shows.

She is best remembered for playing the mother of the title character in the TV soap satire Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and the bubble-headed Blanche, secretary to Eve Arden's high school principal, in the movie Grease and its sequel. In the 90's Broadway revival of Grease, she played Miss Lynch for a time, and was also a long-standing member of the Little Sisters of Hoboken of Nunsense fame.

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