The Resume

(June 29, 1925-December 9, 2021)
Born in Brooklyn, New York
Birth name was Bernice Kamiat
Portrayed Gladys Porter in ‘Pete and Gladys’ (1960-62)
Appeared in the films ‘Wide Open Town’ (1941), ‘Girls’ Town’ (1942), ‘Boomerang!’ (1947), ‘Knock on Any Door’ (1949), ‘The Girl Next Door’ (1953), ‘The Helen Morgan Story’ (1957), ‘The Defiant Ones’ (1958), ‘Never Steal Anything Small’ (1959), ‘The Man from the Diners’ Club’ (1963), ‘Doctors’ Wives’ (1971), and ‘The White Buffalo’ (1977)

Why she might be annoying:

In her early films, she was billed as Bernice Kay.
She had a short fuse, with one columnist writing, ‘She still holds, I’m positive, the Hollywood record for throwing various objects in temperamental rages, dating back to her 20th Century Fox starlet days.’
Her first two marriages, including one with actor John Drew Barrymore, ended in divorce.
Her eponymous sitcom ‘The Clara Williams Show’ lasted only one season (1964-65).

Why she might not be annoying:

She was nominated for an Oscar as Best Supporting Actress for ‘The Defiant Ones’ and an Emmy as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy for ‘Pete and Gladys.’
Her comedic flair and red hair drew comparisons with Lucille Ball.
After leaving acting, she had a career as an interior designer.
Her third marriage, to real estate developer Asher Dann, lasted 54 years until his death.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Alfred Hitchcock Presents [L-Z]
• Barrymore Family
• Born in Brooklyn, New York
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 85]
• I Died in 2021 (Ranked: 96)
• Look at Me, I'm on the Cover of TV Guide
• Look at My Magazine Cover
• Mr. Blackwell's Worst Dressed [1964] (Ranked: 5)
• My Name, My Scripted TV Series
• Profiles 53501-53750 (Ranked: 53509)
• Redheads - Female [M-Z]
• Short Fuses
• We Celebrated Our Golden Anniversary
• We Died on the Same Day (Ranked: 20211209)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 9 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 605 Votes: 28.60% Annoying