Full Name Ruth Godfrey Name Ruth Godfrey | Role Film actress | |
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Born February 24, 1922 ( 1922-02-24 ) Illinois, U.S. Other names Ruth White, Ruth Godfrey White Died January 7, 1985, Northridge, Los Angeles, California, United States Movies Rhythm and Weep, Pardon My Backfire, Shot in the Frontier, Musty Musketeers, Muscle Up a Little Closer | ||
Ruth Godfrey (February 24, 1922 – January 7, 1985) was an American film actress, best known for her work in several Three Stooges shorts.
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Career
Ruth Godfrey was assistant dance director at Warner Brothers Studio for ten years. She was under contract to Columbia Studios for two years and was the choreographer for “The Ten Commandments” at Paramount. Miss Godfrey has 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 debut film with the Stooges, Rhythm and Weep.
Godfrey was the daughter-in-law of Columbia Pictures short subject head Jules White. 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 on the Stooge short films ceased in December 1957.
Death
Godfrey died in the Northridge section of Los Angeles, California on January 7, 1985.