Beatrice Pons
# Beatrice Pons

Beatrice Pons (née Posner; January 28, 1906 – June 17, 1991) was an American stage, radio, television and film character actress. She is best known for her recurring television roles on The Phil Silvers Show and Car 54, Where Are You? She appeared as "Mother" in the independent horror film Mother's Day under the name Rose Ross.

## Life and career

Trained as a teacher, Pons began working in chorus and minor roles on Broadway in 1934. She also had a nightclub act doing impressions of famous actresses, comedians and singers. In the mid-1930s, she found work on radio, including the Dick Tracy series starting in January 1938.

Pons' first television appearance was on the NBC anthology series Goodyear Television Playhouse. She may be best-remembered for her recurring roles as Mrs. Emma Ritzik on the television sitcom The Phil Silvers Show and as Lucille Toody on the sitcom Car 54, Where Are You?, with her husband in both series played by veteran comedic actor Joe E. Ross. She also made appearances on the long-running American radio-turned-television series The Goldbergs, The United States Steel Hour, and the CBS prime time drama The Nurses.

In her later years, Pons began appearing in films. In 1964 she made her film debut in the comedy Diary of a Bachelor. In 1980 she played the role of "Mother" in the cult horror film Mother's Day, in which she chose to be credited as Rose Ross (her real-life husband's surname was Ross). Her later film credits include Rachel, Rachel and Forever, Lulu.

## Personal life

Pons was married to radio personality David Ross (born David Rosenthal; July 7, 1891 – died November 12, 1975), by whom she had a son, Jonathan.

Pons died on June 17, 1991, aged 85, in New York City. She was buried in Riverside Cemetery, Saddle Brook, New Jersey.

## Filmography

### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1964 | Diary of a Bachelor | Bachelorette | Film debut |
| 1965 | Le gendarme à New York | La standardiste | Uncredited role |
| 1968 | Rachel, Rachel | Florence | |
| 1980 | Mother's Day | Mother | Credited as Rose Ross |
| 1984 | Rent Control | Leonard's Mother | |
| 1987 | Forever, Lulu | Fortune Teller | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1951 | Big Town | Unnamed/unknown role | Season 1 (guest role; 1 episode) |
| 1952 | Goodyear Television Playhouse | Unnamed/unknown role | Season 1 (guest role; 1 episode) |
| 1955 | Danger | Unnamed/unknown role | Season 1 (guest role; 1 episode) |
| 1954–56 | The Goldbergs | Bella/Head Nurse | Two separate guest roles (2 episodes) |
| 1958 | The United States Steel Hour | Danka | Season 5 (guest role; 1 episode) |
| 1956–59 | The Phil Silvers Show | Mrs. Emma Ritzik | Seasons 2–4 (recurring role; 14 episodes) |
| 1959 | Keep in Step | Mrs. Emma Ritzik | The Phil Silvers Pontiac Special |
| 1960 | Deadline | Nurse | Season 1 (guest role; 1 episode) |
| 1961–63 | Car 54, Where Are You? | Lucille Toody | Seasons 1–2 (main role; 32 episodes) |
| 1964 | The Nurses | Mrs. Radnitz | Season 3 (guest role; 1 episode) |
