Zasu Pitts
Acting Born Jan 2, 1894 Died Jun 7, 1963 Parsons, Kansas, USA 206 credits
Biography
Zasu Pitts was an American actress who achieved prominence in silent films before successfully transitioning to sound cinema. She is particularly noted for her dramatic performance in Erich von Stroheim's silent epic Greed, which led von Stroheim to label her "the greatest dramatic actress." Von Stroheim frequently cast her in his productions, including The Honeymoon, The Wedding March, War Nurse, and Walking Down Broadway. After the advent of sound films, Pitts was primarily typecast in comedic roles. She experienced a notable professional setback when she was replaced in the war drama All Quiet on the Western Front.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
The Big Parade of Comedy
Burke's LawIt's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad WorldThe Thrill of It All
Teenage Millionaire
Guestward, Ho!
The Dennis O'Keefe ShowDisneyland '59
Perry MasonThis Could Be the Night
The Gale Storm Show
The 20th Century Fox HourScreen Director's Playhouse
Francis Joins the WACS
Private SecretaryGeneral Electric Theater
Denver and Rio Grande
What's My Line?Francis
Lum and Abner
The Philco Television Playhouse
Life with FatherThe Perfect Marriage
Dear Miss GloriaBreakfast in Hollywood
Let's Face It
So's Your Aunt Emma!The Bashful BachelorTishMexican Spitfire at Sea
Broadway LimitedNiagara FallsUncle JoeWeekend for ThreeThe Mexican Spitfire's Baby
No, No, NanetteIt All Came True
Nurse Edith CavellNaughty but NiceEternally YoursMickey the KidThe Lady's from Kentucky
Forty Naughty Girls52nd StreetWanted!
Sing Me a Love SongThe Plot Thickens13 Hours by AirMad Holiday
Hot TipGoing HighbrowRuggles of Red GapSpring TonicThe Affair of Susan
Love BirdsThe Gay BrideThe Meanest Gal in TownAnd She Learned About DamesPrivate Scandal
Hello, Sister!Mr. SkitchProfessional SweetheartShe Whoops To ConquerLove, Honor and Oh, Baby!
Westward PassageShopwornBlondie of the FolliesOnce in a LifetimeThe Unexpected Father
The Bad SisterThe Big GambleA Woman of ExperiencePenrod and SamThe Pajama Party
Passion FlowerThe Lottery BrideThe Devil's HolidayLittle AccidentSin Takes a Holiday
Her Private LifeTwin BedsOh, Yeah!The SquallThe Locked Door
Full Filmography
206 titles- The Big Parade of Comedy (1964) as Mirabelle in 'The Gay Bride' (archive footage)
- Burke's Law (1963) as Mrs. Bowie
- It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) as Gertie - Switchboard Operator
- The Thrill of It All (1963) as Olivia
- Teenage Millionaire (1961) as Aunt Theodora
- Guestward, Ho! (1960)
- The Dennis O'Keefe Show (1959)
- Disneyland '59 (1959) as Self
- Perry Mason (1957) as Daphne Whilom
- This Could Be the Night (1957) as Mrs. Shea
- The Gale Storm Show (1956)
- The 20th Century Fox Hour (1955)
- Screen Director's Playhouse (1955) as Selma
- Francis Joins the WACS (1954) as Valerie Humpert
- Private Secretary (1953)
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Aunt Laura
- Denver and Rio Grande (1952) as Jane Dwyer
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self
- Francis (1950) as Valerie Humpert
- Lum and Abner (1949)
- The Philco Television Playhouse (1948) as Belinda Pryde
- Life with Father (1947) as Cousin Cora Cartwright
- The Perfect Marriage (1947) as Rosa
- Dear Miss Gloria (1946) as Guest star
- Breakfast in Hollywood (1946) as Elvira Spriggens
- Let's Face It (1943) as Cornelia Pigeon
- So's Your Aunt Emma! (1942) as Aunt Emma Bates
- The Bashful Bachelor (1942) as Geraldine
- Tish (1942) as Aggie Pilkington (as ZaSu Pitts)
- Mexican Spitfire at Sea (1942) as Miss Pepper
- Broadway Limited (1941) as Myra Pottle
- Niagara Falls (1941) as Emmy Sawyer
- Uncle Joe (1941) as Julia Jordan
- Weekend for Three (1941) as Anna, Craig's Maid
- The Mexican Spitfire's Baby (1941) as Emily Pepper
- Miss Polly (1941) as Pandora Polly
- No, No, Nanette (1940) as Pauline Hastings
- It All Came True (1940) as Miss Flint
- Nurse Edith Cavell (1939) as Mme. Moulin
- Naughty but Nice (1939) as Aunt Penelope Hardwick
- Eternally Yours (1939) as Mrs. Bingham
- Mickey the Kid (1939) as Lilly Handy
- The Lady's from Kentucky (1939) as Dulcey Lee
- Forty Naughty Girls (1937) as Hildegarde Withers
- 52nd Street (1937) as Letitia Rondell
- Wanted! (1937) as Winnie Oatfield
- Sing Me a Love Song (1936) as Gwen Logan
- The Plot Thickens (1936) as Hildegarde Withers
- 13 Hours by Air (1936) as Miss Harkins
- Mad Holiday (1936) as Mrs. Fay Kinney
- Hot Tip (1935) as Belle McGill
- Going Highbrow (1935) as Cora Upshaw
- Ruggles of Red Gap (1935) as Mrs. Judson
- Spring Tonic (1935) as Maggie Conklin
- The Affair of Susan (1935) as Susan Todd
- She Gets Her Man (1935) as Esmeralda
- Love Birds (1934) as Araminta Tootle
- The Gay Bride (1934) as Mirabelle
- The Meanest Gal in Town (1934) as Tillie Prescott
- And She Learned About Dames (1934) as Herself
- Private Scandal (1934) as Miss Coates
- Two Alone (1934) as Esthey Roberts
- Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch (1934) as Miss Hazy
- Sing and Like It (1934) as Annie Snodgrass
- Three on a Honeymoon (1934) as Alice Mudge
- Dames (1934) as Matilda Hemingway
- Their Big Moment (1934) as Tillie Whim
- Hello, Sister! (1933) as Millie
- Mr. Skitch (1933) as Maddie Skitch
- Professional Sweetheart (1933) as Elmerada
- She Whoops To Conquer (1933) as Beula
- Love, Honor and Oh, Baby! (1933) as Connie Clark
- Meet the Baron (1933) as Zasu
- Asleep in the Feet (1933) as Zasu
- Out All Night (1933) as Bonny
- Aggie Appleby, Maker of Men (1933) as Sybby 'Sib'
- Her First Mate (1933) as Mary Horner
- Mother's Helper (1933)
- The Bargain of the Century (1933) as Zasu
- They Just Had to Get Married (1933) as Molly Hull
- One Track Minds (1933) as Zasu Pitts
- Maids a la Mode (1933) as Miss Pitts
- The Vanishing Frontier (1933) as Aunt Sylvia
- Westward Passage (1932) as Mrs. Truesdale
- Shopworn (1932) as Aunt Dot
- Blondie of the Follies (1932) as Gertie
- Once in a Lifetime (1932) as Miss Leyton
- The Unexpected Father (1932) as Polly Perkins
- Back Street (1932) as Mrs. Dole
- Broken Lullaby (1932) as Anna, Holderlin's Maid
- Roar of the Dragon (1932) as Gabby Woman
- Show Business (1932) as Zasu
- Is My Face Red? (1932) as Morning Gazette Telephone Operator
- Make Me a Star (1932) as Mrs. Scudder
- The Crooked Circle (1932) as Nora Rafferty
- The Trial of Vivienne Ware (1932) as Gladys Fairweather
- Strangers of the Evening (1932) as Sybil Smith
- Destry Rides Again (1932) as Temperance Worker
- Red Noses (1932) as Miss Pitts
- Madison Square Garden (1932) as Florrie
- Steady Company (1932) as Dot
- Sealskins (1932) as Zasu Pitts
- The Soilers (1932) as Zasu
- Strictly Unreliable (1932) as Pitts
- The Old Bull (1932) as Zasu
- Sneak Easily (1932) as Miss Zasu Pitts - Woman of the Jury
- Alum and Eve (1932) as Zasu
- The Bad Sister (1931) as Minnie
- The Big Gamble (1931) as Nora Dugan
- A Woman of Experience (1931) as Katie
- Penrod and Sam (1931) as Mrs. Bassett
- The Pajama Party (1931) as Zasu
- Seed (1931) as Jennie
- Beyond Victory (1931) as Fritzi Mobley
- The Guardsman (1931) as Liesl
- Finn and Hattie (1931) as Mrs. Hattie Haddock
- On the Loose (1931) as Zasu
- Their Mad Moment (1931) as Miss Dibbs
- Let's Do Things (1931) as Zasu Pitts
- Catch-As Catch-Can (1931) as ZaSu
- The Secret Witness (1931) as Bella
- War Mamas (1931) as Zasu
- Passion Flower (1930) as Mrs. Harney
- The Lottery Bride (1930) as Hilda
- The Devil's Holiday (1930) as Ethel
- Little Accident (1930) as Monica
- Sin Takes a Holiday (1930) as Annie
- Monte Carlo (1930) as Bertha
- No, No, Nanette (1930) as Pauline Hastings
- War Nurse (1930) as Cushie
- River's End (1930) as Louise
- Honey (1930) as Mayme
- Free Love (1930) as Ada, the Maid
- The Squealer (1930) as Bella
- Her Private Life (1929) as Timmins
- Twin Beds (1929) as Tillie
- Oh, Yeah! (1929) as The Elk
- The Squall (1929) as Lena
- The Locked Door (1929) as Telephone Girl
- This Thing Called Love (1929) as Clara Bertrand
- The Argyle Case (1929) as Mrs. Wyatt
- The Honeymoon (1929) as Caecilia
- The Dummy (1929) as Rose Gleason
- Paris (1929) as Harriet
- Buck Privates (1928) as Hulda
- Wife Savers (1928) as Germaine
- Sins of the Fathers (1928) as Mother Spengler
- The Wedding March (1928) as Cecelia Schweisser
- 13 Washington Square (1928) as The Maid
- Casey at the Bat (1927) as Camille
- Mannequin (1926) as Annie Pogani
- What Happened to Jones? (1926) as Hilda (as Zazu Pitts)
- Risky Business (1926) as Agnes Wheaton
- Early to Wed (1926) as Mrs. Dugan
- The Great Love (1926) as Nancy
- Her Big Night (1926) as Gladys Smith
- Monte Carlo (1926) as Hope Durant
- Sunny Side Up (1926) as Evelyn
- Old Shoes (1925)
- A Woman's Faith (1925) as Blanche Odile
- Pretty Ladies (1925) as Maggie Keenan
- 1925 Studio Tour (1925) as Self
- Wages for Wives (1925) as Luella Logan
- Thunder Mountain (1925) as Mandy Coulter
- The Re-Creation of Brian Kent (1925) as Judy
- Lazybones (1925) as Ruth Fanning
- The Great Divide (1925) as Polly Jordan
- Greed (1924) as Trina
- Secrets of the Night (1924) as Celia Stebbins
- Changing Husbands (1924) as Delia
- The Goldfish (1924) as Amelia Pugsley
- West of the Water Tower (1924) as Dessie Arnhalt
- Daughters of Today (1924) as Lorena
- The Fast Set (1924) as Mona
- Souls for Sale (1923) as Self - Celebrity Actress in Commissary
- Tea- With a Kick! (1923) as 'Brainy' Jones
- Mary of the Movies (1923) as Zasu Pitts (uncredited)
- The Girl Who Came Back (1923) as Anastasia Muldoon
- Poor Men's Wives (1923) as Apple Annie
- Hollywood (1923) as Zasu Pitts
- Three Wise Fools (1923) as Mickey
- Youth to Youth (1922) as Emily
- Is Matrimony a Failure? (1922) as Mrs. Wilbur
- A Daughter of Luxury (1922) as Mary Cosgrove
- For the Defense (1922) as Jennie Dunn
- Patsy (1921) as Patsy
- Seeing It Through (1920) as Betty Lawrence
- Heart of Twenty (1920) as Katie Abbott
- The Other Half (1919) as Jennie Jones, The Jazz Kid
- Men, Women, and Money (1919) as Katie Jones
- Poor Relations (1919) as Daisy Perkins
- Better Times (1919) as Nancy Scroggs
- As the Sun Went Down (1919) as Sal Sue
- A Society Sensation (1918) as Mary
- The Talk of the Town (1918)
- A Lady's Name (1918) as Emily
- How Could You, Jean? (1918) as Oscar's Sweetheart
- '49–'17 (1917) as Party Guest (uncredited)
- Tillie of the Nine Lives (1917)
- A Little Princess (1917) as Becky
- Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1917) as Undetermined Role (uncredited)
- Why They Left Home (1917) as Mary Mandrake
- Uneasy Money (1917) as Suza - the Editor's Assistant
- A Modern Musketeer (1917) as A Kansas Belle (uncredited)
- A Desert Dilemma (1917)
- His Fatal Beauty (1917) as Perscilla
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Zasu Pitts best known for?
Zasu Pitts is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Big Parade of Comedy (1964), Burke's Law (1963), It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), The Thrill of It All (1963).
When and where was Zasu Pitts born?
Zasu Pitts was born on January 2, 1894 in Parsons, Kansas, USA. They passed away on June 7, 1963.
How many credits does Zasu Pitts have?
Zasu Pitts has accumulated over 206 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1920 to 1964.
What is Zasu Pitts's background in cinema and television?
Zasu Pitts was an American actress who achieved prominence in silent films before successfully transitioning to sound cinema. She is particularly noted for her dramatic performance in Erich von Stroheim's silent epic Greed, which led von Stroheim to label her "the greatest dramatic actress." Von Stroheim frequently cas...
Zasu Pitts by the numbers
206credits
195films
11TV series
1917–1964active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- Perry Mason (1957) as Daphne Whilom — aged about 63
- Disneyland '59 (1959) as Self — aged about 65
- The Big Parade of Comedy (1964) as Mirabelle in 'The Gay Bride' (archive footage) — aged about 70
- The Thrill of It All (1963) as Olivia — aged about 69
- It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) as Gertie - Switchboard Operator — aged about 69
- Screen Director's Playhouse (1955) as Selma — aged about 61
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