It’s been 42 years since the demise of beloved character actress Reta Shaw. Best known for roles in the TV adaptation of The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (NBC/ABC, 1969–1971), and Bewitched (ABC, 1964–1972), Shaw was an acclaimed actress on the stage and in films as well. This is her story.
A Closer Look
Reta Shaw was born on September 13, 1912, in South Paris, Maine. Before moving into film and television, Shaw established herself in the live theatre. In each case, she portrayed matronly roles that were accentuated by her full figure.
In the mid-1940s, Shaw performed in Broadway musicals like Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Annie Get Your Gun.
In the early 1950s, she made various TV appearances before transitioning to the big screen in movies like Picnic and The Pajama Game. Later on, she was seen in Disney films such as Pollyanna and Mary Poppins.
In the 1960s, Shaw made several guest-star appearances on sitcoms like The Lucy Show, The Dick Van Dyke Show, variety shows including The Red Skelton Show, and even sci-fi series, such as Star Trek, among countless others.