Luella Gear

New York-born comedienne, whose acerbic wit enlivened Broadway musical  comedy and revue for fifty years, while making few forays into motion  pictures. After attending Spencer School, Louella took acting classes  and made her theatrical debut in 1917. Her many successes on stage  included the parody "Life Begins at 8:40" (1934-35) and "Streets of  Paris" (1939-40), in both of which she played multiple parts. Her  typical screen persona was as an acid-tongued, worldly socialite, or  wisecracking friend of the heroine.

During World War II, Louella  toured with the wartime comedy play "Count Me In" as part of the USO,  entertaining troops in the South Pacific. Her last major post-war role  was that of Julia Ward McKinlock in the hit romantic comedy "Sabrina  Fair" on Broadway (1953-54). From the early 1950's, she also made  occasional guest appearances on television.