Florence Freeman (actress)
# Florence Freeman (actress)

Florence Freeman (July 29, 1911 – April 25, 2000) was an actress in old-time radio. She was known as a "soap opera queen" for her work in daytime serial dramas.

## Early years

Freeman was born in New York City and grew up in Albany, New York. One of her earliest performances came when she was six and gave a recitation of a poem at a World War rally. In high school, she won a medal for dramatics.

Freeman attended Wells College, where she was Campus Queen, New York State College for Teachers, and Columbia University preparing to become a teacher. She taught English before becoming an actress.

## Radio

Freeman's initial job in radio came in 1933 as the result of a challenge. After a friend dared her "to make good as a radio actress", Freeman applied — and was hired — at WOKO in Albany, New York. She went on to become a member of the casts of a number of serials in old-time radio, including being "the heroine of not one but two serials that ran more than a decade."

In 1949, Freeman won the "Your Favorite Daytime Serial Actress" award from Radio Mirror magazine. Her roles on some programs are indicated in the table below.

| Program | Role |
| - | - |
| Dot and Will | Dot Horton |
| Jane Arden | Betty $Harrison^{:172}$ |
| Love and Learn | Sue Blake |
| The Open Door | Lisa Arnold |
| Pepper Young's Family | Connie |
| Valiant Lady | Joan $Blaine^{:346}$ |
| Wendy Warren and the News | Wendy Warren |
| A Woman of America | Prudence Dane Barker |
| Young Widder Brown | Ellen Brown |

She was also a regular on Maxwell House Show Boat, John's Other $Wife,^{:351}$ Abie's Irish Rose, Are You a Missing Heir? and Love and Learn.

## Stage

Before Freeman began her career in radio, she acted in summer stock theater.

## Personal life

Freeman was married to Rabbi Samuel A. Berman of Temple Beth-El in Jersey City, New Jersey, they had three children. Her husband died in 1998.

## Death

Freeman died April 25, 2000, aged 88, in Grant Park, Illinois.

