Nedra Volz

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Biography

Born in 1908, actress Nedra Volz began her career in show business as a little girl, appearing in vaudeville under the name "Baby Nedra" when she was a toddler. She served as a vocalist for a popular big band in the 1930s called Cato's Vagabonds, and was married in 1946 to Oren Volz, with whom she would have three children. It wasn't until the 1970s that Volz began the onscreen career that would make her a familiar face to so many fans, appearing on numerous TV shows like WKRP in Cincinnati and Maude. In 1980, she took on the role of Adelaide Brubaker on the popular sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, and she would stay with the series for two years. She also took on the recurring role of Emma Tisdale on The Dukes of Hazzard, and continued to wrack up a huge list of single-episode appearances on various shows throughout the '80s and '90s. Volz finally retired from acting in 1996 at the age of 88. She moved to Mesa, AZ, where she eventually passed away in 2003 at the age of 94. ~ Cammila Albertson, Rovi
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Nedra Volz

Volz at the 39th Emmy Awards
Born Nedra Gordonier
June 18, 1908(1908-06-18)
Montrose, Iowa, U.S.
Died January 20, 2003(2003-01-20) (aged 94)
Mesa, Arizona, U.S.
Occupation Actress
Years active 1973–1996
Spouse Oren Volz (m. 1944–1987) «start: (1944)–end+1: (1988)»"Marriage: Oren Volz to Nedra Volz" Location: (linkback://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nedra_Volz)

Nedra Volz (née Gordonier, June 18, 1908 – January 20, 2003) was an American film and television actress.

Contents

Early life and career

Born in Montrose, Iowa, she began her career in the family tent show, and appeared in vaudeville as a toddler (called "Baby Nedra"). She ended up in the 1970s as a well-recognized supporting character actress, primarily on television and also in feature films. She often played grandmothers or feisty little old ladies.

In the early 1930s, Volz was featured vocalist with Cato's Vagabonds, a Des Moines, Iowa, big band that briefly enjoyed national popularity. Cato never made records, but Nedra managed to appear on exactly one 78 side, with the orchestra of Will Osborne in 1933.

Her most notable appearances include:

Aside from these regular parts, she also appeared in a great many guest roles, including 'Mission of Peace', a 1986 episode of The A-Team, as one of a group of senior citizens forced into asking the team for help. In 1978, Volz appeared as a protester Mrs. Burstyn on the TV series WKRP in Cincinnati. In 1980, she appeared in several Jack in the Box TV spots as they blew up Jack. In 1989, she did two roles in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show, Mrs. Perwinkle and Angelica.

Volz continued to act well into her 80s. In Moving Violations, director Neil Israel allowed her to do many stunts herself, including being lifted into a window and falling head-first onto the floor. Volz's last acting role was in The Great White Hype in 1996.

Personal life

In 1944, at the age of 36, Nedra married Oren Volz. The marriage produced three children, Edward Volz, Linda Defenderer, and Barbara Lee Volz (1939–1992). Oren Volz died in 1987. Nedra lived in Upland, California through the 1980s and 1990s. She was a volunteer Official Celebrity Spokesperson for D.A.R.E., in Ontario, California.

Death

On January 20, 2003, Volz died of complications from Alzheimer's disease in Mesa, Arizona.[1]

References

  1. ^ Oliver, Myrna (2003-01-29). "Nedra Volz, 94; TV Actress Played Many 'Old Lady' Roles". articles.latimes.com. http://articles.latimes.com/2003/jan/29/local/me-volz29. Retrieved 28 March 2010. 

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