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Zasu Pitts

Personal Information

Known ForActing
GenderFemale
Born / DiedJan 3, 1894 (Died at 69)
Zodiac Sign♑Capricorn
Place of BirthParsons, Labette County, Kansas, USA
Career Span1922 – 1963
Known Credits196 Titles
Official Links
ActingPopularity Score 1.2

Zasu Pitts

Also known as:Zazu PittsEliza Susan PittsZaSu PittsZa Su Pitts
Total Works

196

185 movies • 11 shows

Avg Rating

6.5 / 10

across rated releases

Box Office

—

worldwide gross

Global Reach

#1

TMDB star index

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).

Signature Roles & Milestones

It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
7.0
as Gertie - Switchboard Operator
Greed
7.3
Greed
1924•movie
as Trina
Perry Mason
7.7
Perry Mason
1957•series
as Daphne Whilom
The Thrill of It All
7.1
as Olivia

Full Filmography & Credits

Showing 196 titles featuring Zasu Pitts

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

as Gertie - Switchboard Operator

Greed
7.3
Greed
1924•movie

as Trina

Perry Mason
7.7
1 eps
Perry Mason
1957•series

as Daphne Whilom

The Thrill of It All
7.1

as Olivia

Ruggles of Red Gap
7.1
Ruggles of Red Gap
1935•movie

as Mrs. Judson

Life with Father
6.7
Life with Father
1947•movie

as Cousin Cora Cartwright

Broken Lullaby
7.4
Broken Lullaby
1932•movie

as Anna, Holderlin's Maid

Dames
6.5
Dames
1934•movie

as Matilda Hemingway

The Wedding March
7.1
The Wedding March
1928•movie

as Cecelia Schweisser

What's My Line?
7.0
1 eps
What's My Line?
1950•series

as Self

Francis
5.8
Francis
1950•movie

as Valerie Humpert

The Bad Sister
5.6
The Bad Sister
1931•movie

as Minnie

Sin Takes a Holiday
5.6

as Annie

It All Came True
5.8
It All Came True
1940•movie

as Miss Flint

Eternally Yours
5.9
Eternally Yours
1939•movie

as Mrs. Bingham

Souls for Sale
6.3
Souls for Sale
1923•movie

as Self - Celebrity Actress in Commissary

Monte Carlo
6.5
Monte Carlo
1930•movie

as Bertha

1925 Studio Tour
6.2
1925 Studio Tour
1925•movie

as Self

On the Loose
6.8
On the Loose
1931•movie

as Zasu

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm
5.8

as Undetermined Role (uncredited)

The Locked Door
6.1
The Locked Door
1929•movie

as Telephone Girl

Denver and Rio Grande
5.6

as Jane Dwyer

Lazybones
6.8
Lazybones
1925•movie

as Ruth Fanning

Hello, Sister!
6.0
Hello, Sister!
1933•movie

as Millie

This Could Be the Night
6.1

as Mrs. Shea

Shopworn
6.7
Shopworn
1932•movie

as Aunt Dot

A Little Princess
5.2
A Little Princess
1917•movie

as Becky

'49 – '17
5.8
'49 – '17
1917•movie

as Party Guest (uncredited)

Back Street
6.4
Back Street
1932•movie

as Mrs. Dole

Francis Joins the WACS
6.1

as Valerie Humpert

The Guardsman
5.2
The Guardsman
1931•movie

as Liesl

Strangers of the Evening
5.1

as Sybil Smith

So's Your Aunt Emma!
6.7

as Aunt Emma Bates

Nurse Edith Cavell
6.6
Nurse Edith Cavell
1939•movie

as Mme. Moulin

The Devil's Holiday
6.2

as Ethel

A Modern Musketeer
5.6
A Modern Musketeer
1917•movie

as A Kansas Belle (uncredited)

Burke's Law
6.2
1 eps
Burke's Law
1963•series

as Mrs. Bowie

Blondie of the Follies
6.3

as Gertie

The Crooked Circle
5.3
The Crooked Circle
1932•movie

as Nora Rafferty

Passion Flower
5.4
Passion Flower
1930•movie

as Mrs. Harney

The Plot Thickens
6.3
The Plot Thickens
1936•movie

as Hildegarde Withers

The Gay Bride
6.0
The Gay Bride
1934•movie

as Mirabelle

The 20th Century Fox Hour
6.0
1 eps
Broadway Limited
5.0
Broadway Limited
1941•movie

as Myra Pottle

The Mexican Spitfire's Baby
4.6

as Emily Pepper

Miss Polly
4.9
Miss Polly
1941•movie

as Pandora Polly

War Nurse
5.2
War Nurse
1930•movie

as Cushie

The Big Gamble
6.1
The Big Gamble
1931•movie

as Nora Dugan

Forty Naughty Girls
5.6

as Hildegarde Withers

The Lottery Bride
5.2
The Lottery Bride
1930•movie

as Hilda

The Squall
4.4
The Squall
1929•movie

as Lena

13 Hours by Air
5.2
13 Hours by Air
1936•movie

as Miss Harkins

Is My Face Red?
5.0
Is My Face Red?
1932•movie

as Morning Gazette Telephone Operator

Naughty but Nice
6.8
Naughty but Nice
1939•movie

as Aunt Penelope Hardwick

The Philco Television Playhouse
6.6
1 eps

as Belinda Pryde

Mad Holiday
6.4
Mad Holiday
1936•movie

as Mrs. Fay Kinney

Their Big Moment
4.7
Their Big Moment
1934•movie

as Tillie Whim

Meet the Baron
5.3
Meet the Baron
1933•movie

as Zasu

Niagara Falls
6.7
Niagara Falls
1941•movie

as Emmy Sawyer

Westward Passage
6.3
Westward Passage
1932•movie

as Mrs. Truesdale

Mexican Spitfire at Sea
4.7

as Miss Pepper

Roar of the Dragon
6.5
Roar of the Dragon
1932•movie

as Gabby Woman

The Soilers
6.8
The Soilers
1932•movie

as Zasu

The Big Parade of Comedy
7.2

as Mirabelle in 'The Gay Bride' (archive footage)

General Electric Theater
6.8
1 eps

as Aunt Laura

13 Washington Square
5.8

as The Maid

What Happened to Jones?
6.6

as Hilda (as Zazu Pitts)

Make Me a Star
6.4
Make Me a Star
1932•movie

as Mrs. Scudder

Let's Face It
5.4
Let's Face It
1943•movie

as Cornelia Pigeon

Professional Sweetheart
6.0

as Elmerada

Aggie Appleby, Maker of Men
7.8

as Sybby 'Sib'

The Bargain of the Century
4.2

as Zasu

A Woman of Experience
6.2

as Katie

Strictly Unreliable
6.0

as Pitts

The Secret Witness
4.3
The Secret Witness
1931•movie

as Bella

No, No, Nanette
6.2
No, No, Nanette
1940•movie

as Pauline Hastings

Screen Director's Playhouse
7.0
1 eps

as Selma

Oh, Yeah!
5.0
Oh, Yeah!
1929•movie

as The Elk

Pretty Ladies
5.8
Pretty Ladies
1925•movie

as Maggie Keenan

Sing and Like It
5.0
Sing and Like It
1934•movie

as Annie Snodgrass

Spring Tonic
6.5
Spring Tonic
1935•movie

as Maggie Conklin

Weekend for Three
6.8
Weekend for Three
1941•movie

as Anna, Craig's Maid

The Meanest Gal in Town
7.2

as Tillie Prescott

River's End
6.4
River's End
1930•movie

as Louise

Finn and Hattie
6.2
Finn and Hattie
1931•movie

as Mrs. Hattie Haddock

Show Business
6.5
Show Business
1932•movie

as Zasu

Asleep in the Feet
4.8
Asleep in the Feet
1933•movie

as Zasu

Tish
6.5
Tish
1942•movie

as Aggie Pilkington (as ZaSu Pitts)

The Other Half
5.8
The Other Half
1919•movie

as Jennie Jones, The Jazz Kid

Alum and Eve
6.8
Alum and Eve
1932•movie

as Zasu

A Society Sensation
5.8

as Mary

Breakfast in Hollywood
6.0

as Elvira Spriggens

Once in a Lifetime
7.3
Once in a Lifetime
1932•movie

as Miss Leyton

Hollywood
9.0
Hollywood
1923•movie

as Zasu Pitts

Uncle Joe
7.0
Uncle Joe
1941•movie

as Julia Jordan

Teenage Millionaire
5.7

as Aunt Theodora

Destry Rides Again
5.7
Destry Rides Again
1932•movie

as Temperance Worker

Mr. Skitch
7.3
Mr. Skitch
1933•movie

as Maddie Skitch

Two Alone
7.3
Two Alone
1934•movie

as Esthey Roberts

Sealskins
6.7
Sealskins
1932•movie

as Zasu Pitts

Risky Business
7.0
Risky Business
1926•movie

as Agnes Wheaton

Madison Square Garden
6.8

as Florrie

Catch-As Catch-Can
3.3
Catch-As Catch-Can
1931•movie

as ZaSu

Maids a la Mode
3.7
Maids a la Mode
1933•movie

as Miss Pitts

The Pajama Party
7.0
The Pajama Party
1931•movie

as Zasu

No, No, Nanette
6.3
No, No, Nanette
1930•movie

as Pauline Hastings

Hot Tip
7.0
Hot Tip
1935•movie

as Belle McGill

Secrets of the Night
6.7

as Celia Stebbins

Honey
5.7
Honey
1930•movie

as Mayme

And She Learned About Dames
7.0

as Herself

Her Private Life
3.0
Her Private Life
1929•movie

as Timmins

Disneyland '59
7.3
Disneyland '59
1959•movie

as Self

The Gale Storm Show
6.7
126 eps
The Gale Storm Show
1956•series
The Squealer
8.0
The Squealer
1930•movie

as Bella

The Talk of the Town
1.0
Going Highbrow
6.5
Going Highbrow
1935•movie

as Cora Upshaw

The Bashful Bachelor
6.3

as Geraldine

Seed
6.5
Seed
1931•movie

as Jennie

Casey at the Bat
8.0
Casey at the Bat
1927•movie

as Camille

Red Noses
7.5
Red Noses
1932•movie

as Miss Pitts

Penrod and Sam
7.0
Penrod and Sam
1931•movie

as Mrs. Bassett

Out All Night
7.5
Out All Night
1933•movie

as Bonny

The Old Bull
6.0
The Old Bull
1932•movie

as Zasu

Their Mad Moment
7.5
Their Mad Moment
1931•movie

as Miss Dibbs

Love Birds
6.5
Love Birds
1934•movie

as Araminta Tootle

The Perfect Marriage
5.5

as Rosa

Free Love
7.5
Free Love
1930•movie

as Ada, the Maid

Sins of the Fathers
8.0

as Mother Spengler

Private Secretary
6.0
1 eps
Private Secretary
1953•series
Guestward, Ho!
6.5
1 eps
Guestward, Ho!
1960•series
The Dennis O'Keefe Show
7.5
1 eps
Thunder Mountain
7.0
Thunder Mountain
1925•movie

as Mandy Coulter

52nd Street
7.0
52nd Street
1937•movie

as Letitia Rondell

The Honeymoon
7.0
The Honeymoon
1929•movie

as Caecilia

The Dummy
8.0
The Dummy
1929•movie

as Rose Gleason

Wife Savers
7.0
Wife Savers
1928•movie

as Germaine

Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch
6.0

as Miss Hazy

Changing Husbands
7.0
Changing Husbands
1924•movie

as Delia

The Trial of Vivienne Ware
9.0

as Gladys Fairweather

Her First Mate
10.0
Her First Mate
1933•movie

as Mary Horner

The Fast Set
10.0
The Fast Set
1924•movie

as Mona

Beyond Victory
9.0
Beyond Victory
1931•movie

as Fritzi Mobley

Steady Company
10.0
Steady Company
1932•movie

as Dot

The Affair of Susan
10.0

as Susan Todd

Sing Me a Love Song
9.0

as Gwen Logan

Love, Honor and Oh, Baby!
8.0

as Connie Clark

The Vanishing Frontier
8.0

as Aunt Sylvia

Three Wise Fools
10.0
Three Wise Fools
1923•movie

as Mickey

The Great Love
8.0
The Great Love
1926•movie

as Nancy

War Mamas
8.0
War Mamas
1931•movie

as Zasu

Sneak Easily
8.0
Sneak Easily
1932•movie

as Miss Zasu Pitts - Woman of the Jury

One Track Minds
7.0
One Track Minds
1933•movie

as Zasu Pitts

Let's Do Things
8.0
Let's Do Things
1931•movie

as Zasu Pitts

She Gets Her Man
8.0
She Gets Her Man
1935•movie

as Esmeralda

Monte Carlo
7.0
Monte Carlo
1926•movie

as Hope Durant

Mickey the Kid
9.0
Mickey the Kid
1939•movie

as Lilly Handy

Private Scandal
7.0
Private Scandal
1934•movie

as Miss Coates

The Argyle Case
10.0
The Argyle Case
1929•movie

as Mrs. Wyatt

Twin Beds
10.0
Twin Beds
1929•movie

as Tillie

Three on a Honeymoon
7.0

as Alice Mudge

Mannequin
10.0
Mannequin
1926•movie

as Annie Pogani

Little Accident
9.0
Little Accident
1930•movie

as Monica

The Lady's from Kentucky
8.0

as Dulcey Lee

The Great Divide
9.0
The Great Divide
1925•movie

as Polly Jordan

Paris
7.0
Paris
1929•movie

as Harriet

Buck Privates
10.0
Buck Privates
1928•movie

as Hulda

For the Defense
10.0
For the Defense
1922•movie

as Jennie Dunn

They Just Had to Get Married
7.0

as Molly Hull

This Thing Called Love
9.0

as Clara Bertrand

Wanted!
9.0
Wanted!
1937•movie

as Winnie Oatfield

Mary of the Movies
8.0
Mary of the Movies
1923•movie

as Zasu Pitts (uncredited)

Tea- With a Kick!
10.0
Tea- With a Kick!
1923•movie

as 'Brainy' Jones

Poor Men's Wives
10.0
Poor Men's Wives
1923•movie

as Apple Annie

Sunny Side Up
10.0
Sunny Side Up
1926•movie

as Evelyn

The Goldfish
9.0
The Goldfish
1924•movie

as Amelia Pugsley

The Unexpected Father
7.0

as Polly Perkins

Early to Wed
10.0
Early to Wed
1926•movie

as Mrs. Dugan

Wages for Wives
7.0
Wages for Wives
1925•movie

as Luella Logan

West of the Water Tower
10.0

as Dessie Arnhalt

Men, Women, and Money
9.0

as Katie Jones

Her Big Night
8.0
Her Big Night
1926•movie

as Gladys Smith

The Re-Creation of Brian Kent
7.0
Poor Relations
8.0
Poor Relations
1919•movie

as Daisy Perkins

Daughters of Today
7.0
Daughters of Today
1924•movie

as Lorena

Is Matrimony a Failure?
10.0

as Mrs. Wilbur

Youth to Youth
7.0
Youth to Youth
1922•movie

as Emily

The Girl Who Came Back
10.0

as Anastasia Muldoon

Dear Miss Gloria
Dear Miss Gloria
1946•movie

as Guest star

How Could You, Jean?

as Oscar's Sweetheart

A Lady's Name
A Lady's Name
1918•movie

as Emily

She Whoops To Conquer

as Beula

Better Times
Better Times
1919•movie

as Nancy Scroggs

Lum and Abner
Lum and Abner
1949•movie
As the Sun Went Down

as Sal Sue

Mother's Helper
Mother's Helper
1933•movie