Actress. She is best remembered for her portrayal of the wholesome manicurist who could make Dorothy Gale's dimple smile out of a frown in "The Wizard of Oz" (1939). Born Laura January, she was raised in a prominent family, the daughter of Olympic soccer champion Charles January. Following her formal education at the Marlborough School for Girls, she began her career on the stage appearing as a leading lady in such productions as "Dinner at Eight," "Street Scene," "The Importance of Being Ernest," "Romeo and Juliet," "Strictly Dishonorable," "The Barretts of Wimpole Street," "Waterloo Bridge," and "Seventh Heaven". While attending a social function at the prestigious Cocoanut Grove nightclub, she was introduced to director Lloyd French. Impressed by her dark good looks, charm, and maturity, he took notice of her potential and arranged for her to begin a career in the film industry beginning with her under his supervision per a supporting role in "Too Many Women" (1932). From there, she would go on to enjoy a fruitful career as a notable character actress appearing in over 60 features; often typecast as love interests, nurses, chorines, secretaries, nurses, educators, playgirls, sidekicks, faithful friends, beauticians, housekeepers, waitresses, retail clerks, debutantes, dowagers, and, in her later years, matriarchs. She appeared in such feature films as "Show Business" (1932), "By Candlelight" (1933), "Let's Talk it Over" (1934), "Susie's Affairs" (1934), "Stolen Harmony" (1935), "Arizona Bad Man" (1935), "Rogue of the Range" (1936), "One Rainy Afternoon" (1936), "The Trusted Outlaw" (1937), "Courage of the West" (1937), "Three Cheers for the Girls" (1943), "Breakfast in Hollywood" (1946), "The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come" (1961), and "Don't Knock the Twist" (1962). During the advent of television, she became an even more familiar face appearing in numerous guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show," "My Three Sons," "Father Knows Best," "The Smith Family," "Bridget Loves Bernie," "Police Story," "Kolchak: The Night Stalker," "Lola!," "Marcus Welby, M.D.," "The Magical World of Disney," and "The Law and Harry McGraw". During her career, she was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, had been supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, was a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, had been a popular cheesecake model during World War II, was the official hostess of "The Reverly Girl" radio program, presided as a chairwoman for her local charters of the American Red Cross and St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, had been an active member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee, was a regular parishioner of the Methodist church, had been one of the founding members of the Canyon Theatre Guild, and she was married to theatrical agent Abraham Meyer from 1937 to 1940 (their union ended in divorce and produced one daughter). Upon her 1987 retirement, she spent the final years of her life dividing time between her homes in California and New York City, New York, had been a regular attendee at autograph conventions, and was a generous benefactor for several libraries and public schools, until her death from the complications of Alzheimer's disease.