Ruth Godfrey (actress)
Encyclopedia
Ruth Godfrey was an American film actress, best known for her work in several Three Stooges
shorts.
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 Godfrey made less than 10 films with the comedy team, Godfrey is one 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.
As to not give the impression of nepotism, she was billed by her maiden name of "Ruth Godfrey", as to disassociate herself from Jules. In her late films, she used "Ruth White", "Ruth Godfrey", and "Ruth Godfrey White" interchangibly.
Godfrey retired from film shortly after production on the Stooge short films ceased in December 1957.
, California
on January 7, 1985.
Three Stooges
The Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
shorts.
Career
Godfrey first joined Columbia PicturesColumbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
as a member of The Jack Cole Dancers, along with supporting actresses Nita Bieber
Nita Bieber
Nita Bieber is an American film and stage actress and dancer, born in 1926.-Early life:Dancer and actress Nita Bieber was born in July 1926; her father was an accomplished piano player, and her mother was a great dancer...
and Gloria Patrice. All three would appear in her debut film with the Stooges, Rhythm and Weep
Rhythm and Weep
Rhythm and Weep is the 95th short subject film starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
.
Godfrey was the daughter-in-law
Affinity (law)
In law and in cultural anthropology, affinity, as distinguished from consanguinity, is kinship by marriage. It is the relation which each party to a marriage bears to the kindred of the other. In English, affinity is usually signified by adding "-in-law" to the degree of kinship...
of Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
short subject
Short subject
A short film is any film not long enough to be considered a feature film. No consensus exists as to where that boundary is drawn: the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of 40 minutes or less, including all...
head Jules White
Jules White
Jules White born Julius Weiss was a film director and producer best known for his short-subject comedies starring the Three Stooges.-Early years:...
. Godfrey appeared in several more Three Stooges films throughout the 1950s, such as Shot in the Frontier
Shot in the Frontier
Shot in the Frontier is the 157th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
, Musty Musketeers
Musty Musketeers
Musty Musketeers is the 154th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Synopsis:...
and Pardon My Backfire
Pardon My Backfire
Pardon My Backfire is the 149th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
. 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
A Merry Mix Up
A Merry Mix-Up is the 177th short subject starring American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges. The trio made a total of 190 shorts for Columbia Pictures between 1934 and 1959.-Plot:...
. Though Godfrey made less than 10 films with the comedy team, Godfrey is one the few actresses to have worked with five of the six Stooges (Shemp Howard, Moe Howard
Moe Howard
Moses Harry Horwitz , known professionally as Moe Howard, was an American actor and comedian best known as the leader of The Three Stooges, the farce comedy team who starred in motion pictures and television for four decades...
, Larry Fine
Larry Fine
Louis Feinberg , known professionally as Larry Fine, was an American comedian and actor, who is best known as a member of the comedy act The Three Stooges.-Early life:...
, Curly Howard
Curly Howard
Jerome Lester "Jerry" Horwitz , better known by his stage name Curly Howard, was an American comedian and vaudevillian. He is best known as a member of the American slapstick comedy team the Three Stooges, along with his older brothers Moe Howard and Shemp Howard, and actor Larry Fine...
and Joe Besser
Joe Besser
Joe Besser was an American comedian, known for his impish humor and wimpy characters, and is now best remembered for his brief stint as a member of the Three Stooges in movie short subjects of 1957-59...
) on film in the various incarnations of the group.
As to not give the impression of nepotism, she was billed by her maiden name of "Ruth Godfrey", as to disassociate herself from Jules. In her late films, she used "Ruth White", "Ruth Godfrey", and "Ruth Godfrey White" interchangibly.
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 AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
on January 7, 1985.