Elisabeth Fraser (January 8, 1920 – May 5, 2005), was a television, film and stage actress, best known for playing brassy blondes.
Born as
Elisabeth Fraser Jonker in
Brooklyn, New York, Fraser began her acting career six weeks after graduating high school; she was cast as the ingenue in the
Broadway production of
There Shall Be No Night, which won the
Pulitzer Prize for the 1940-1941 season. Fraser obtained a contract with
Warner Brothers studios. She appeared in dozens of films.
One of her first roles was in
The Man Who Came to Dinner as the young daughter of the Ohio couple forced to put up with
Monty Woolley, who tells her to follow her heart to the man she loves, a trade unionist in her father's company, regardless of her father's feelings. She also appeared in
All My Sons,
Roseanna McCoy, and
So Big.
Her most notable role was as
Shelley Winters' character's friend in the 1965 hit film
A Patch of Blue. Fraser's stage career spanned over three decades and included Broadway productions of
The Best Man,
The Family, and
Tunnel of Love (she also appeared in the 1958 film version). Fraser guest-starred on many popular television series, but her best-known role was Sgt. Bilko's longtime girlfriend on
The Phil Silvers Show.
Death
On May 5, 2005, Fraser died of
congestive heart failure in
Woodland Hills, California at the age of 85. She was cremated and her ashes scattered at sea.
Personal life
Fraser was married to
Ray McDonald from 1944 to 1952. The marriage ended in...
Read More