Naomi Stevens obit

Naomi Stevens Burns

November 29, 1925 - January 13, 2018

 

 She was not on the list.

She was an American character actress of film and television from the 1950s through the 1980s. She appeared in almost 100 roles over the years, usually depicting mothers, landladies, gossips, or neighbors.

Stevens began entertaining in vaudeville at age 2. She had expanded into radio, film, and theater by age 5. She appeared on a radio program on KNX in Los Angeles and was featured in Paramount Pictorials. Stevens attended the Grace Waugh Bowman School of Theatricals.

Her most frequent characterizations were Italian, Jewish, Latin, or East European, and usually with a comic touch. She appeared in many television series and in such feature films as Valley of the Dolls, Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell, and The Apartment (as Mrs. Dreyfuss, the supportive "Jewish mother" type to Shirley MacLaine's character, Fran Kubelik). She portrayed Sgt. Bella Archer in the ABC crime drama Vegas (1978).  She made guest appearances on numerous television series. Her last role was on Days of Our Lives as Mrs. Nazareo in 1989. On old-time radio, Stevens portrayed Daphne Royce on Brenthouse  and Irene Barbour on One Man's Family.

Stevens died on January 13, 2018 in Reseda, Los Angeles, California, aged 92.

Partial filmography

 

    Have Gun-Will Travel (1957, TV Series) as Marga / Ma Kafka / Maria

    The Black Orchid (1958) as Guilia Gallo

    Rescue 8 (1959, TV Series) as Angela

    The Apartment (1960) as Mrs. Mildred Dreyfuss

    The Lawless Years (1961, TV Series) as Rose

    Perry Mason (1961–1964, TV Series) as Agnes / Fanny Werbler / Mrs. Kransdorf

    Dr. Kildare (1961–1965, TV Series) as Mrs. Gast / Aunt Kasia / Mrs. Mendoza / Mrs. Gitlin

    Convicts 4 (1962) as Resko's Mother

    McHale's Navy (1963, TV Series) as Mrs. Gruber

    The Farmer's Daughter (1964, TV series) as Mrs. Golden

    The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1964, Episode: "The Gentleman Caller") as Mrs. Goldy the Building Superintendent

    Honeymoon Hotel (1964) as Woman at Garbage Dump (uncredited)

    Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1964, TV Series) as Aunt Clara / Maria Pia

    Joy in the Morning (1965) as Mrs. Ridinski (uncredited)

    The Art of Love (1965) as Mrs. Sarah Fromkis

    Frankie and Johnny (1966) as Princess Zolita (uncredited)

    Hogan's Heroes (1967, Episode: "The Crittendon Plan") as Nadya

    Valley of the Dolls (1967) as Miss Steinberg

    The Flying Nun (1967–1970, TV Series) as Sister Teresa / Mrs. Emanuel / Señora Rosales

    The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968) as Squaw (uncredited)

    To Die in Paris (1968, TV Movie) as Mama Dendier

    Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell (1968) as Rosa

    The Doris Day Show (1968–1969, TV Series) as Juanita (housekeeper)[5]

    My Three Sons (1969–1970, TV Series) as Mama Rossini

    Love, American Style (1969–1973, TV Series) as Hazel / Mildred / Rosa / Mrs. Straub aka Mother / Annie Ellsworth

    The Hawaiians (1970) as Queen Liliuokalani

    Room 222 (1970, TV Series) as Rose

    Fly Me (1973) as Toby's Mother

    Superdad (1973) as Mrs. Levin (neighbor)

    Hard Times (1975) as Madam

    The Montefuscos (1975, TV Series) as Rose Montefusco[5]: 713 

    Hustle (1975) as Woman Hostage

    The Practice (1976, TV Series) as Mrs. Friedman

    Opening Night (1977) as Crying Mourner (uncredited)

    Vega$ (1978–1979, TV Series) as Sgt. Bella Archer

    The Triangle Factory Fire Scandal (1979, TV Movie) as Mrs. Goldstein

    Hotel (1982, TV Series) as Mrs. Tomasino

    Taxi (1983, TV Series) as Aunt Lucia