Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Barbara Pepper (born Marion B. Pepper; May 31, 1915 – July 18, 1969) was an American stage, television, radio, and film actress. She is best known as the first "Doris Ziffel" on the sitcom Green Acres. Pepper was born in New York City, the daughter of actor David Mitchell "Dave" Pepper, and his wife, Harrietta S. Pepper. At age 16 she started life in show business with Goldwyn Girls, a musical stock company where she met lifelong friend Lucille Ball. Pepper began making movies. Among her later film parts were small roles in My Fair Lady and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. She also performed radio parts. In 1943, she married actor Craig Reynolds (né Harold Hugh Enfield), and the couple later had two sons. After Reynolds died in 1949 in a California motorcycle accident, Pepper was left to raise their children alone. She never remarried. After gaining weight, her roles were mostly confined to small character parts on television, including several appearances on I Love Lucy, The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, Petticoat Junction, and The Jack Benny Program. She made four appearances on Perry Mason, including the role of Martha Dale, mother of the title character, in the 1957 episode "The Case of the Vagabond Vixen". A long-time friend of Lucille Ball, Barbara was considered for the role of Ethel Mertz on "I Love Lucy," but was passed over due to the fact that she was reportedly a drinker. William Frawley ("Fred Mertz") was, likewise, reportedly, a drinker and was already cast. It was felt that having two drinkers in the cast might eventually cause difficulties so they auditioned and found Vivian Vance to play Ethel instead. She may be best remembered as the first Doris Ziffel on Petticoat Junction in 1964, although her character's name on the "Genghis Keane" episode of Petticoat Junction was Ruth Ziffel. Her role as Doris Ziffel continued on Green Acres from 1965 to 1968, until heart ailments finally forced her to leave that weekly series. Veteran actress Fran Ryan replaced her on Green Acres, which would continue to run for another three years. Her final performance was in the 1969 film Hook, Line & Sinker, in which she played Jerry Lewis's secretary.
Acted in 122
1960s
- 1968
- 1965
- 1964
- 1963
Who's Minding the Store?
Customer at Bargain Sale (uncredited)
- 1962
It's Only Money
Fisherwoman
- 1961
- 1960
Sex Kittens Go to College
Circe
The Bramble Bush
Polly Welk
1950s
- 1959
- 1958
- 1957
The D.I.
Woman Customer
- 1956
Dark Meeting
Clara
- 1955
- 1954
- 1953
The Eddie Cantor Story
Beer Garden Patron
Inferno
Waitress (uncredited)
So This Is Love
Fat Girl with Sailor in Nightclub (uncredited)
I Love Lucy: The Movie
Party Guest (archive footage)
- 1952
Ghost Buster
Mrs. Nolan
- 1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Miss Buell · 1 episode
- 1950
The Fuller Brush Girl
Wife Watching TV (uncredited)
My Blue Heaven
Susan (uncredited)
No Way Out
Woman (uncredited)
Unmasked
Mrs. Schmidt
1940s
- 1949
- 1948
- 1946
Terror Trail
Karen Kemp, the Louisville Lady
- 1945
Murder, He Says
Bonnie Fleagle
The Naughty Nineties
Gilded Cage Hostess (uncredited)
- 1944
Once Upon a Time
Cabbie (uncredited)
Henry Aldrich Plays Cupid
Miss LaRue ("Wild Rose")
- 1943
Let's Face It
Daisy (uncredited)
So This Is Washington
Betty - Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Girls in Chains
Barbara Pepper
Aerial Gunner
Blonde at Shooting Gallery (uncredited)
A Maid Made Mad
Blonde
- 1942
Sappy Pappy
Female Customer
Carry Harry
Edith, Harry's Girl Friend
One Thrilling Night
Lettie
- 1941
Birth of the Blues
Maizie
South of Tahiti
Julie
Manpower
Polly
Three Sons o' Guns
Francie LaRue
- 1940
Sailor's Lady
Maude
Forgotten Girls
Eve Abbott
Framed
Goldie Green
Castle on the Hudson
Goldie
1930s
- 1939
The Amazing Mr. Williams
Muriel - Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Three Sons
Viola
Flight at Midnight
Mildred
Colorado Sunset
Ginger Bixby
Bachelor Mother
Dance-Hall Hostess (uncredited)
Off the Record
Flossie - Telephone Operator (uncredited)
- 1938
The Girl Downstairs
Woman at bar (uncredited)
The Strange Case of Dr. Meade
Mattie
Army Girl
Riki
The Chaser
Mabel, Drunken Girl
The Lady in the Morgue
Kay Renshaw
Wide Open Faces
Belle
Hollywood Stadium Mystery
Althea Ames
- 1937
Portia on Trial
Evelyn
The Westland Case
Agatha Hogan
Many Unhappy Returns
Sophie - Cigar Store Counter Girl
Music for Madame
Blonde on Bus (Uncredited)
Forty Naughty Girls
Alice
The Big Shot
Mamie
You Can't Buy Luck
Store Clerk
The Outcasts of Poker Flat
Blonde Saloon Lady (uncredited)
Too Many Wives
Angela Brown
- 1936
After the Thin Man
Party Guest (uncredited)
Wanted: Jane Turner
Marge Sanders
The Big Game
Lois
Mummy's Boys
Mary Browning
M'Liss
Clytie Morpher
The Rogues' Tavern
Marjorie Burns
Show Boat
Movie
Taming the Wild
Hazel White
- 1935
The Singing Vagabond
Honey
Frisco Waterfront
The Blonde Stranger
The Sagebrush Troubadour
Joan Martin
Forced Landing
Nancy 'Dusty' Rhodes
Waterfront Lady
Gloria Vance
Let 'em Have It
Milly Adams
- 1934
Our Daily Bread
Sally
Strictly Dynamite
Party Girl (uncredited)
- 1933
