Grace Stafford

Grace Stafford

Stafford in 1958.
Born Grace Boyle
(1903-11-07)November 7, 1903
New York, New York, U.S.
Died March 17, 1992(1992-03-17) (aged 88)
Burbank, California, U.S.
Resting place Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)
Years active 1935–1975
Known for Woody Woodpecker
Spouse(s) Tom Keene (1919-1940, divorced)
Walter Lantz (1940-1992, her death)

Gracie Lantz (born Grace Boyle, November 7, 1903 – March 17, 1992), also known by her stage name Grace Stafford, was an American actress and the wife of animation producer Walter Lantz.[1] Stafford is best known for providing the voice of Woody Woodpecker from 1950 to 1972.

Career

Grace appeared in feature live action films from 1935, Dr. Socrates, to 1975, Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze. Some of her more notable roles were in the films Anthony Adverse and Blossoms In the Dust.

Stafford provided the character voice of Woody Woodpecker from 1950 to 1990, but she asked not to be credited in that role until the cartoon Misguided Missile (1958). She believed that audiences both young and old would be "disillusioned" if they knew Woody was voiced by a woman.[2] Walter Lantz always insisted that his wife had submitted her audition tape for the role anonymously, and was cast before he knew it was her voice. Stafford appeared on an episode of What's My Line? on November 10, 1963.

Death

Gracie Lantz died of spinal cancer on March 17, 1992, at the age of 88.[3]

Live-action filmography

References

  1. ↑ "Walter Lantz, Creator of Woody Woodpecker, Dies". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-11-22.
  2. ↑ "Gracie Lantz Dies; Invented Woody Woodpecker". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-11-22.
  3. ↑ "Gracie Lantz, 88, Dies; Cartoon Figure's Voice". The New York Times. Nytimes.com. 1992-03-20. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
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