Betty Garrett(1919-2011)
- Actress
- Soundtrack
A sunny singer, dancer and comic actress, Betty Garrett starred in
several Hollywood musicals and stage roles. She was at the top of her
game when the Communist scare in the 1950s brought her career to a
screeching, ugly halt. She and her husband
Larry Parks, an Oscar-nominated
actor, were summoned by the House UnAmerican Activities Committee and
questioned about their involvement.
As the drama played out, a very pregnant Garrett was never called to
testify, but her husband was. With his admission of Communist Party
membership from 1941-1945 and refusal to name names, he made it to the
Hollywood Blacklist. After the incident, Garrett and Parks worked up
nightclub singing/comedy acts along with appearing in legit plays.
Although Parks never quite shook off the blacklist incident, he did win
a role in John Huston's film,
Freud (1962). Garrett went on to appear in
roles in many television series.
several Hollywood musicals and stage roles. She was at the top of her
game when the Communist scare in the 1950s brought her career to a
screeching, ugly halt. She and her husband
Larry Parks, an Oscar-nominated
actor, were summoned by the House UnAmerican Activities Committee and
questioned about their involvement.
As the drama played out, a very pregnant Garrett was never called to
testify, but her husband was. With his admission of Communist Party
membership from 1941-1945 and refusal to name names, he made it to the
Hollywood Blacklist. After the incident, Garrett and Parks worked up
nightclub singing/comedy acts along with appearing in legit plays.
Although Parks never quite shook off the blacklist incident, he did win
a role in John Huston's film,
Freud (1962). Garrett went on to appear in
roles in many television series.