Jody Gilbert

Jody Gilbert was an American actress known for her roles in films like Ninotchka, Life With Luigi, and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. She had a distinctive Texan accent and often portrayed large, comic characters.

Personal and Family Life

Jody Gilbert was born on March 18, 1916, in Fort Worth, Texas. She grew up in a musical family and hosted her own radio show while still in high school. As a teenager, she toured with musical comedies and faced challenges in getting roles on Broadway due to her accent and size.

Career Highlights

Jody’s career took off in Hollywood, where she became known for her roles as the “comic fat girl.” Throughout the 1940s, she appeared in nearly 100 films, often in minor roles. One of her prominent roles was in the radio and television show Life With Luigi, where she played Rosa, the daughter of Pasquale. Her participation in a controversial Hollywood investigation significantly impacted her career.

Death and Legacy

Jody Gilbert passed away on February 3, 1979, in Los Angeles, California, due to complications from a car accident. Despite her struggles in the entertainment industry, she is remembered for her unique contributions to comedy and her ability to challenge Hollywood’s beauty standards.

Filmography

Title Release Date Character
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid 1969-09-23 Large Woman
Blondie’s Holiday 1947-04-10 Cynthia Thompson
House by the River 1950-03-25 Flora Bantam – John’s housekeeper
Christmas in Connecticut 1945-07-27 Mrs. Gerseg
Never Give a Sucker an Even Break 1941-10-10 The Waitress
Lifeguard 1976-07-23 Woman
The Lovable Cheat 1949-05-11 Madame Violette
Hudson’s Bay 1941-01-03 Germaine
Deadline for Murder 1946-06-28 Tiny
Everything Happens at Night 1939-12-22 Hilda
Heading for Heaven 1947-12-06 Mabel Foster
No Place to Go 1939-09-23 Mrs. Hazelhurst
Brimstone 1949-08-15 Stagecoach Passenger
One Last Fling 1949-06-30 Amy Dearing
New Frontier 1939-08-10 Rusty’s Dance Partner
Ninotchka 1939-11-23 Streetcar Conductress – Moscow Roommate (uncredited)
Little Old New York 1940-02-09 Hilda
Singing on the Trail 1946-09-01 Casey (uncredited)
Star Dust 1940-04-06 Hotel Maid
Roses Are Red 1947-11-10 Landlady
Brigham Young 1940-09-27 Stout Woman Who Can’t Swim
Hellfire 1949-05-29 Full Moon
Sergeant York 1941-09-27 Fat Woman (uncredited)
Flowing Gold 1940-08-24 Tillie
Willard 1971-07-30 Charlotte Stassen
Blonde Dynamite 1950-02-12 Sarah Dumbrowski
Shadow of the Thin Man 1941-11-21 Lana Webb (uncredited)
Grand Ole Opry 1940-06-25 Women’s Club President (uncredited)
The Blonde Bandit 1949-12-22 Bertha the Hairdresser
Albuquerque 1948-02-20 Pearl Eager
Something to Live For 1952-03-07 Woman in Telephone Booth (uncredited)
Ride ‘Em Cowboy 1942-02-13 Moonbeam (uncredited)
Remember the Day 1941-12-25 Mrs. Martha Avery
Are You With It? 1948-03-19 Mrs. Minerva Henkle
The Yellow Cab Man 1950-03-25 Cecil’s Mother (uncredited)
Sunk by the Census 1940-08-06
The Affairs of Martha 1942-06-21 Hadwig (uncredited)
Strange Confession 1945-10-05 Mrs. Todd
Hi Diddle Diddle 1943-08-02 Fat Man’s Wife (uncredited)
Princess O’Rourke 1943-10-23