Gracie Lantz (born Grace Boyle, November 7, 1903 – March 17, 1992), also known by her stage name Grace Stafford, was an American actress and the wife of animation producer Walter Lantz.[1]
Stafford is best known for providing the voice of Woody Woodpecker from 1950 to 1972.
Career
Grace appeared in feature live action films from 1935, Dr. Socrates, to 1975, Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze. Some of her more notable roles were in the films Anthony Adverse and Blossoms In the Dust.
Stafford provided the character voice of Woody Woodpecker from 1950 to 1990, but she asked not to be credited in that role until the cartoon Misguided Missile (1958). She believed that audiences both young and old would be "disillusioned" if they knew Woody was voiced by a woman.[2] Walter Lantz always insisted that his wife had submitted her audition tape for the role anonymously, and was cast before he knew it was her voice.
Death
Gracie Lantz died of spinal cancer on March 17, 1992, at the age of 88.[3] Her remains are interred at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills Cemetery.
Live-action filmography
Dr. Socrates (1935)
I Married a Doctor (1936)
Anthony Adverse (1936)
The Man Who Dared (1939)
Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939)
The Greener Hills (1939)
Indianapolis Speedway (1939)
Blondie Brings Up Baby (1939)
Flight Angels (1940)
La Conga Nights (1940)
I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby (1940)
Margie (1940)
A Dispatch from Reuter's (1940)
Santa Fe Trail (1940)
Model Wife (1941)
Affectionately Yours (1941)
Blossoms In the Dust (1941)
Unfinished Business (1941)
Dr. Kildare's Victory (1942)
Larceny, Inc. (1942)
You're Telling Me (1942)
Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze (1975)
References
1. "Walter Lantz, Creator of Woody Woodpecker, Dies". The Los Angeles Times.
2. "Gracie Lantz Dies; Invented Woody Woodpecker". The Los Angeles Times.
3. "Gracie Lantz, 88, Dies; Cartoon Figure's Voice". The New York Times (Nytimes.com). 1992-03-20.
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