Actress Betty Harford, celebrated for her roles in “Dynasty” and “The Paper Chase,” has died at the age of 98.
The news of Harford’s passing was shared by her friend, Wendy Mitchell, on Facebook. She indicated that the actress passed away quietly, surrounded by loved ones, on November 2nd.
In a prior Facebook update, Mitchell mentioned that she last had contact with Harford a couple of months ago.
“She was recovering from the flu, and when I visited her, she didn’t respond,” Mitchell wrote. “She doesn’t answer the phone anymore, so I was worried that she might have passed away.”
Harford was born in New York City on January 27, 1927.
Her early acting career included appearances in “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” during the 1950s.
In addition to that, she acted in various series such as “Gunsmoke,” “The Twilight Zone,” and “Mrs. Columbo,” among others.
From 1978 to 1986, she played Mrs. Nottingham in “The Paper Chase,” which was inspired by a novel and film directed by James Bridges. The show explored the journeys of law students and featured actors like John Houseman and Penny Johnson.
While still on air, Harford had a recurring role on “Dynasty” as the cook, Hilda Gunnarson. She was showcased in 34 episodes and revisited the character in “Dynasty: The Reunion” in 1991.
On the film front, her credits included “Spartacus,” “Inside Daisy Clover,” and “The China Syndrome.” Interestingly, her last role was voicing a character in the 1994 animated video “Fun with Gumby,” according to her.
During the 1960s, she participated in the UCLA Theater Group, which included notable figures like Paul Newman and Eva Marie Saint.
Harford was married to sculptor Oliver Andrews and had a son, Chris, but they parted ways in the late 1970s. She later married Hungarian actor Alex de Nazodi, who passed away in 1996.
She is survived by her son, Chris, along with grandchildren.
