Grace Stafford
Biography
Grace Stafford was an American actress best remembered as the voice of Woody Woodpecker. Born in New York City, she began her Hollywood career on the stage in 1935 at a Harold Lloyd-affiliated theater. Her live-action film work included Dr. Socrates (1935), Anthony Adverse, Blossoms in the Dust, and Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze (1975). Much of her screen work was concentrated from 1939 to 1942, including several films for Universal Pictures. In 1950, Walter Lantz held anonymous auditions for Woody's voice, and Stafford submitted her own tape; Lantz selected it without knowing who she was. She voiced the character from 1950 to 1972, initially uncredited but later credited on screen starting with Misguided Missile (1958). She also performed in non-Woody cartoons and returned to the role for rare appearances after the studio closed, such as a cameo at the 51st Academy Awards in 1979.
88years old at death
- Born New York City
- Died Burbank
- Star sign: ScorpioThe sign runs October 23 to November 21
- Also credited as Grace Lantz
Movie Career
- Films
- 3
- Career span
- 36 years1939 to 1975
Every film, newest first
- 1975Doc Savage: The Man of BronzeIMDb rating 5.4
- 1950Destination MoonIMDb rating 6.3
- 1939Confessions of a Nazi SpyIMDb rating 6.7
Genres
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Big break
Stafford offered to voice Woody, but Lantz turned her down since Woody was male. She sent Walter Lantz Productions an anonymous audition tape, and Lantz chose her voice without knowing who had made it.
Getting ready for a role
Stafford believed that if people found out a woman voiced Woody, audiences young and old would be "disillusioned", so she initially asked to go uncredited. She later took pleasure in being known as his voice and let her name appear on screen beginning with 1958's Misguided Missile.
First role
Stafford's Hollywood career began on stage in 1935, at a joint venture involving Harold Lloyd's Beverly Hills Little Theatre for Professionals and the Vine Street Theatre.
Grace Stafford movies on Netflix
Worked with
Grace Stafford made one film with each of them. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
George Sanders's page
Edward G. Robinson's page
Henry O'Neill's page
Franklyn Farnum's page
Sig Ruman's page
Steve Carruthers's page
All films by Irving Pichel
Anatole LitvakDirector, 1 film, 1939
All films by Anatole Litvak
All films by Michael Anderson
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.