Alice Pearce was in "real life" very different from the characters she was most noted for playing. Much of her early years were spent in French-speaking Belgium where her father was a banking executive from the US. Alice grew to be a very cultured and quiet individual who somehow found a love for acting - being "different" from what she was. Upon her return to the USA (her French was actually better than her English at this juncture) she gravitated to her life's work and was very successful.
To summon the strength and give a performance when you're dying - that's acting.....
Knowing she had terminal cancer and still working must have been tough on her. When cancer takes hold and starts destroying your body from the inside, the results are devastatingly painful. My heart goes out to anyone suffering this hideous illness.....
Being the professional that she was, Alice Pearce continued on. Sadly she lost her battle, but it's nice to know she was rewarded for her work with a Emmy....
Actually Dick York was very ill too. That strained exasperated look he would get at the antics of Samantha and her family, that we found so funny, were actually painful spasms of his disintegrating back. The producers wanted him to take his pain medication, but he would refuse, believing it would impact his performances adversely.
Alice Pearce was a one of a kind actress - In "The Bewitched Book" by Herbie J. Pilato, she had originally auditioned for the role of Grandmamma Addams in "The Addams Family" another great sitcom that premiered in the fall of 1964- I believe she would have been great for that role, but Blossom Rock (Jeannette McDonald's sister) worked out just as well-
she was the best mrs. kravitz. and she was in the Glass bottom boat with Doris Day, playing almost the exact same type. She was great. Poor woman. She was so ill and you can see it here.
You could tell that in this scene, the cancer was really catching up with her - she is so admirable to be working right up to the end - and when she posthumously won the Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy and her husband accepted the award on her behalf, he let everyone know that Alice Pearce thought that the role of Gladys Kravitz was her best role ever-
I'm not sure if they would have hired her if they knew... Maybe she kept it hidden and really needed to work. I'm not sure she had a choice... Yeah... just read that she did keep it hidden.
I wondered for years why they replaced her character, didnt learn until recently she died of cancer. her last apperance was on my 11th b day, and she had died a week before, oh she made the show!
The only "fresh" material for the last season was the vacation episodes... and even then I think they did borrow some themes...
Even that bit where serena and that rich boyfriend (Peter Lawford) were dancing and he must have been really messed up because one second he was singing "fly me to the moon" on the dance floor, and the next.... blah blah blah... you remember! That was borrowed line by line from an earlier episode too.
One of our great American character actresses in the same vein as Mary Wickes, Reta Shaw, and Mary Grace Canfield. Something sadly lacking from theater and films today. These women could bring the house down with just a look.
Interesting you mention Mary Grace Canfield. In case you don't remember, she filled in as HARRIET Kravitz, Abner's sister after Ms. Pearces untimely death, until a new actress could be found to assume the role of Gladys, that being Sandra Gould. It was explained that Mr, and Mrs. Kravitz were out of town at a family reunion, on Gladys's side, and Abner's sister was minding their house 'til they got back
@fullserve69 Actually, both Mrs. Kravitzes, Alice Pearce and Sandra Gould, are in "Dear Heart" and for a split second you can see them standing in the room together.
I agree Alice Pearce was THE Gladys Kravitz. Sandra Gould did the best she could, but anytime someone takes over a role originated by another actor/actress
it's never quite the same as before. Dick Sargent's Darrin to me seemed like a COMPLETELY different character from Dick York's
And of course on "Roseanne", Sarah Chalke, the "replacement Becky" seemed like a totally different character from Alicia Goranson's original.
You're so right. In fact the clip were seeing here is from one of the series funniest episodes, "Abner Ka-Dabra" which was horrendously remade in season 7 as 'Samantha And The Antique Doll', possibly among the worst of the remade storylines
@gregoryagogo William Asher (the executive producer of the show, and Liz Montgomery's husband at the time) and Elizabeth Montgomery wanted to end "Bewitched" at the end of the 5th season (1968-69) not only because of Dick York's exit from the show, but because they were both getting tired of it as well - but this show was one of ABC's top money makers, so they were both offered a substantial sum of money and creative control to keep the show going-
@cmulwee001 Alice Pearce's Gladys seemed nicer than Sandra Gould's who didn't seem to even like the Stephens. Alice's Gladys liked them. Sandra's wanted to nail them and was more mean spirited.
Well, overall, "Bewitched" was quite a different show in the early years. Sure it had slapstick comedy even from the beginning, but it also had a lot of heart. Such early efforts as "A Vision Of Sugar Plums" & "...Dinner Party mix in some heart touching moments with the comedy. To Be Cont...
Later, especially starting with seas. 4 , The slapstick element almost takes over the show entirely. Eps. Like "Double Double Toil And Trouble" and "...Big Ears.." showed a new direction the series was taking; much more farce and WAY less heart.
When you get to seasons 7 & 8, it feels like a completely different series from how it began. Sometimes Sam and Darrin act like CHILDREN in the later shows!
I just love Gladys' voice, "I am talking in my normal voice!!" I miss her... I'm in season 3 now, and so many changes... I miss her, the old fireplace, their bedroom... It also pisses me off that they keep using the same actors for different characters...
Alice Pearce was in "real life" very different from the characters she was most noted for playing. Much of her early years were spent in French-speaking Belgium where her father was a banking executive from the US. Alice grew to be a very cultured and quiet individual who somehow found a love for acting - being "different" from what she was. Upon her return to the USA (her French was actually better than her English at this juncture) she gravitated to her life's work and was very successful.
etienne818 3 weeks ago
@etienne818 Very interesting!
gregoryagogo 2 weeks ago
To summon the strength and give a performance when you're dying - that's acting.....
Knowing she had terminal cancer and still working must have been tough on her. When cancer takes hold and starts destroying your body from the inside, the results are devastatingly painful. My heart goes out to anyone suffering this hideous illness.....
Being the professional that she was, Alice Pearce continued on. Sadly she lost her battle, but it's nice to know she was rewarded for her work with a Emmy....
woohooboy 1 year ago 2
@woohooboy Love her!
gregoryagogo 1 year ago
Actually Dick York was very ill too. That strained exasperated look he would get at the antics of Samantha and her family, that we found so funny, were actually painful spasms of his disintegrating back. The producers wanted him to take his pain medication, but he would refuse, believing it would impact his performances adversely.
ysbaddaden2003 1 year ago
Alice Pearce was a one of a kind actress - In "The Bewitched Book" by Herbie J. Pilato, she had originally auditioned for the role of Grandmamma Addams in "The Addams Family" another great sitcom that premiered in the fall of 1964- I believe she would have been great for that role, but Blossom Rock (Jeannette McDonald's sister) worked out just as well-
christheone8773 1 year ago
she was the best mrs. kravitz. and she was in the Glass bottom boat with Doris Day, playing almost the exact same type. She was great. Poor woman. She was so ill and you can see it here.
ra86226 1 year ago
You could tell that in this scene, the cancer was really catching up with her - she is so admirable to be working right up to the end - and when she posthumously won the Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy and her husband accepted the award on her behalf, he let everyone know that Alice Pearce thought that the role of Gladys Kravitz was her best role ever-
christheone8773 1 year ago
I'm not sure if they would have hired her if they knew... Maybe she kept it hidden and really needed to work. I'm not sure she had a choice... Yeah... just read that she did keep it hidden.
gregoryagogo 1 year ago
Interesting observation... the show did change a bit...
gregoryagogo 1 year ago
I wondered for years why they replaced her character, didnt learn until recently she died of cancer. her last apperance was on my 11th b day, and she had died a week before, oh she made the show!
jmen4ever 1 year ago
I think she may have even known about her health before she started the show.
gregoryagogo 1 year ago
@gregoryagogo Yes, doing it may have kept her going, in the last few episodes, you can see she looked very frail.
jmen4ever 1 year ago
Yeah... insulting to us fans then and now!
The only "fresh" material for the last season was the vacation episodes... and even then I think they did borrow some themes...
Even that bit where serena and that rich boyfriend (Peter Lawford) were dancing and he must have been really messed up because one second he was singing "fly me to the moon" on the dance floor, and the next.... blah blah blah... you remember! That was borrowed line by line from an earlier episode too.
gregoryagogo 2 years ago
She sings "The Invisible Man"
GalaxyJazzGirl 2 years ago
Huh?!
gregoryagogo 2 years ago
One of our great American character actresses in the same vein as Mary Wickes, Reta Shaw, and Mary Grace Canfield. Something sadly lacking from theater and films today. These women could bring the house down with just a look.
fullserve69 2 years ago
Interesting you mention Mary Grace Canfield. In case you don't remember, she filled in as HARRIET Kravitz, Abner's sister after Ms. Pearces untimely death, until a new actress could be found to assume the role of Gladys, that being Sandra Gould. It was explained that Mr, and Mrs. Kravitz were out of town at a family reunion, on Gladys's side, and Abner's sister was minding their house 'til they got back
cmulwee001 2 years ago
Mary Grace Canfield...another superb character actor from the period!
gregoryagogo 2 years ago
Comment removed
fullserve69 2 years ago
Don't miss Alice Pearce, Mary Wickes, and Ruth McDevitt in 1964's "Dear Heart." Alice Pearce's role as the drunken conventioneer is priceless!
fullserve69 2 years ago
Don't miss it where?!
gregoryagogo 2 years ago
"Dear Heart" is available on VHS, and I have seen one DVD for sale online. TCM often shows this film. Keep your eye out for it!
fullserve69 2 years ago
@fullserve69 Actually, both Mrs. Kravitzes, Alice Pearce and Sandra Gould, are in "Dear Heart" and for a split second you can see them standing in the room together.
imachias 4 months ago
@imachias Kewl! I'll netflix it.
gregoryagogo 4 months ago
she was the best. She made such a contribution to the show. Her characterizaton made you like Gladys. Sandra Gould's could not
ra86226 2 years ago
I agree Alice Pearce was THE Gladys Kravitz. Sandra Gould did the best she could, but anytime someone takes over a role originated by another actor/actress
it's never quite the same as before. Dick Sargent's Darrin to me seemed like a COMPLETELY different character from Dick York's
And of course on "Roseanne", Sarah Chalke, the "replacement Becky" seemed like a totally different character from Alicia Goranson's original.
cmulwee001 2 years ago
Since they just repeated exact story lines when Sergent took over, they should have just ended the show at the 7th season.
gregoryagogo 2 years ago
You're so right. In fact the clip were seeing here is from one of the series funniest episodes, "Abner Ka-Dabra" which was horrendously remade in season 7 as 'Samantha And The Antique Doll', possibly among the worst of the remade storylines
cmulwee001 2 years ago
Oops! Wrong episode! This is not "Abner-Kadabra", instead it's "Baby's First Paragraph".
cmulwee001 2 years ago
you mean 5th season when york left.
kduideo 2 years ago
@gregoryagogo William Asher (the executive producer of the show, and Liz Montgomery's husband at the time) and Elizabeth Montgomery wanted to end "Bewitched" at the end of the 5th season (1968-69) not only because of Dick York's exit from the show, but because they were both getting tired of it as well - but this show was one of ABC's top money makers, so they were both offered a substantial sum of money and creative control to keep the show going-
christheone8773 1 year ago
@cmulwee001 Alice Pearce's Gladys seemed nicer than Sandra Gould's who didn't seem to even like the Stephens. Alice's Gladys liked them. Sandra's wanted to nail them and was more mean spirited.
ra86226 1 year ago
@ra86226
Well, overall, "Bewitched" was quite a different show in the early years. Sure it had slapstick comedy even from the beginning, but it also had a lot of heart. Such early efforts as "A Vision Of Sugar Plums" & "...Dinner Party mix in some heart touching moments with the comedy. To Be Cont...
cmulwee001 1 year ago
@cmulwee001... Part 2..
Later, especially starting with seas. 4 , The slapstick element almost takes over the show entirely. Eps. Like "Double Double Toil And Trouble" and "...Big Ears.." showed a new direction the series was taking; much more farce and WAY less heart.
When you get to seasons 7 & 8, it feels like a completely different series from how it began. Sometimes Sam and Darrin act like CHILDREN in the later shows!
cmulwee001 1 year ago
I just love Gladys' voice, "I am talking in my normal voice!!" I miss her... I'm in season 3 now, and so many changes... I miss her, the old fireplace, their bedroom... It also pisses me off that they keep using the same actors for different characters...
gregoryagogo 2 years ago