Actress. She is best remembered for her portrayal of the straightlaced Drusilla Wainwright in "Heaven Only Knows" (1947). Born into a traditional working-class Jewish family, after attaining her degree in theatrical arts from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, New York, she began her career as a leading lady on the Broadway stage appearing in such productions as "A Streetcar Named Desire," "Private Lives," "Blithe Spirit," "Dinner at Eight," "The Children's Hour," "Our Town," and "Wuthering Heights". While attending a luncheon at the prestigious Beverly Hills Hotel, she was introduced to director George Sirk. Impressed by her dark good looks, slim physique, and distinctive voice, he arranged for her to begin a career in the film industry beginning with her appearing under his supervision per a supporting role in "Hitler's Madman" (1943). From there, she would go on to flourish as a notable character actress appearing in over 40 features; often typecast as wives, mothers, grandmothers, old maids, busybodies, gossips, manicurists, landladies, neighbors, eccentrics, curmudgeons, educators, nannies, waitresses, retail clerks, servants, saleswomen, femme fatales, women with a past, housekeepers, clergywomen, dowagers, reporters, secretaries, nurses, white-collared workers, and matriarchs. She appeared in such feature films as "Whistle Stop" (1946), "M" (1951), "Love is a Many Splendored Thing" (1955), and "The Revolt of Mamie Stover" (1956). On television, she appeared in various guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "Front Page Detective," "Stars Over Hollywood," "Fireside Theatre," "Gruen Guild Theatre," "Campbells Summer Soundstage," "Hollywood Opening Night," "Racket Squad," "Celanese Theatre," "The Cases of Eddie Drake," "China Smith," "Dangerous Assignment," "Chevron Theatre," "The Danny Thomas Show," "The Loretta Young Show," "Passport to Danger," "Studio 57," "The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse," "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet," "Stage 7," "City Detective," "Passport to Danger," "State Trooper," "Conflict," "Gunsmoke," "The Joseph Cotten Show," "Crusader," "General Electric Theatre," "The Millionaire," "Zane Grey Theatre," "Surfside 6," "Ben Casey," "Perry Mason," "The Rogues," "Insight," "I Dream of Jeannie," "Bonanza," and "Iron Horse". During her career, she was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, had been an honorary member of Actors Equity, was a member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee, had been a regular parishioner of the Temple Israel of Hollywood, presided on her local charters of the American Red Cross and the Seeing Eye, had been a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, sat on the board of directors for the California division of the Homemakers of America, and she was married to director Sidney Sheldon from 1951 until her death (their union produced one daughter, novelist Mary Sheldon). Following her 1972 withdrawal from acting, she went on to enjoy a newfound lucrative career as a prominent interior designer until her death from complications of a heart attack.