Judy Canova
Born: 1913-11-20 in Starke, Florida, USA
Died: 1983-08-05
Known For: Acting
Biography
From Wikipedia Judy Canova (November 20, 1913 – August 5, 1983), born Juliette Canova, (some sources indicate Julietta Canova), was an American comedienne, actress, singer, and radio personality. She appeared on Broadway and in films. She hosted her own self-titled network radio program, a popular series broadcast from 1943 to 1955. When bandleader Rudy Vallée offered the still-teenaged Canova a guest spot on his radio show in 1931, The Fleischmann Hour, the door opened to a career that spanned more than five decades. The popularity of the Canova family led to numerous performances on radio in the 1930s, and they made their Broadway theater debut in the revue Calling All Stars. An offer from Warner Bros. led to several bit parts before she signed with Republic Pictures. She recorded for the RCA Victor label and appeared in more than two dozen Hollywood films, playing leading roles as well as supporting parts, including Scatterbrain (1940), Joan of Ozark (1942), and Lay That Rifle Down (1955). In 1943, she began her own radio program, The Judy Canova Show, that ran for twelve years—first on CBS and then on NBC. Playing herself as a love-starved Ozark bumpkin dividing her time between home and Southern California. By the time her radio program ended in 1955, Canova made a smooth transition to television with appearances on The Colgate Comedy Hour, The Steve Allen Show, Matinee Theatre, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Make Room For Daddy,and other shows. In 1967, she portrayed Mammy Yokum in an unsold TV pilot adapted from Al Capp's Li'l Abner. She also worked on Broadway and in Vegas nightclubs through the early 1970s, touring with No, No Nanette in 1971. She appeared as a mystery guest on the TV show What's My Line on July 18, 1954. Canova is honored with stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contribution to the film & television Industry.
Filmography
1977
- The Love Boat as P. J. Muldoon
1976
- Cannonball as Sharma Capri
1974
1969
- Love, American Style as Mrs. Hankins
1963
- Vacation Playhouse as Tillie Meeks
1960
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as Sheriff's Wife
- Hillbilly Jamboree
1956
- The Steve Allen Show as Country Girl
- Hill-billing and Cooing as Possum Pearl (voice) (uncredited)
- The Rosemary Clooney Show as Self
1955
- Matinee Theater
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents as Helen Parch
- Carolina Cannonball as Judy Canova
- Lay That Rifle Down as Judy Canova
1954
- Untamed Heiress as Judy
1952
- Oklahoma Annie as Judy Canova
- The WAC from Walla Walla as Judy Canova
1951
- Honeychile as Judy Canova
1950
- What's My Line? as Self
- The Colgate Comedy Hour as Self
1946
- Singin' in the Corn as Judy McCoy
1945
- Hit the Hay as Judy Stevens / Helen Rand
1944
- Louisiana Hayride as Judy Crocker
1943
- Chatterbox as Judy Boggs
- Sleepy Lagoon as Judy Joyner
1942
- Sleepytime Gal as Bessie Cobb
- Joan of Ozark as Judy Hull
- True to the Army as Daisy Hawkins
1941
- Puddin' Head as Judy Goober
- Sis Hopkins as Sis Hopkins
1940
- Scatterbrain as Judy Hull
1937
- Artists & Models as Toots
- Thrill of a Lifetime as Judy Canova
1935
- Going Highbrow as Annie
- In Caliente as Specialty Singer
- Things You Never See on the Screen as Self
- Broadway Gondolier as Hillbilly Specialty