Betty Garrett

Betty Garrett May 23 1919 February 12 2011 was an American actress comedian singer and dancer who starred in several Hollywood musicals and stage roles She was at the top of her game when the Communist scare in the 1950s brought her career to a screeching ugly halt She and her husband Larry Parks an Oscarnominated actor were summoned by the House UnAmerican Activities Committee and questioned about their involvement As the drama played out a very pregnant Garrett was never called to testify but her husband was With his admission of Communist Party membership from 19411945 and refusal to name names he made it to the Hollywood Blacklist After the incident Garrett and Parks worked up nightclub singingcomedy acts along with appearing in legit plays Although Parks never quite shook off the blacklist incident he did win a role in John Hustons film Freud 1962 Garrett went on to appear in roles in many television series