Kathleen Freeman

Biography

Kathleen Freeman was an American actress whose career spanned more than 50 years, much of it spent playing acerbic maids, secretaries, teachers, nurses and battle-axe neighbors, almost always for laughs. Born in Chicago, she began performing at age 2 in her parents' vaudeville act, later studied music at UCLA and joined the Circle Players theater group. After small, often uncredited parts as a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract player, she appeared in Singin' in the Rain (1952), then became a favorite foil of Jerry Lewis beginning with 3 Ring Circus (1954), working with him in 11 films including The Nutty Professor (1963). She played Sister Mary Stigmata in The Blues Brothers (1980) and its 1998 sequel, and later appeared in Dragnet (1987), Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990), Hocus Pocus (1993) and Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994). Her last film role was in Shrek (2001). On Broadway she earned a 2001 Tony nomination for The Full Monty.

82years old at death

Born February 17, 1919Chicago
Died August 23, 2001New York City
Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18
Also credited as Katherine Freeman

Movie Career

Films: 59
Career span: 51 years1950 to 2001

Genres

Comedy76%, 45 films
Drama24%, 14 films
Romance24%, 14 films
Family15%, 9 films
Western15%, 9 films

First and latest

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Early training
Freeman joined the Circle Players on Santa Monica Boulevard after college, a theater group that grew out of UCLA and became fairly internationally famous before she helped start Player's Ring and Gallery Theater.
First role
Peggy Webber saw Freeman acting at the Circle Theatre in 1948 and gave her a role in Webber's live local show Treasures of Literature, which became Freeman's first television job.
Behind the award
Freeman was nominated for a 2001 Tony Award for playing Jeannette Burmeister, the company pianist in The Full Monty, and won a Theatre World Award usually given to younger performers.

Kathleen Freeman movies on Netflix

Shrek2001IMDb rating 7.9as Old Woman (voice)
Ready to Rumble2000IMDb rating 5.4as Jane King
Seven Girlfriends1999IMDb rating 5.7as Mrs. Hargrove
Blues Brothers 20001998IMDb rating 4.9as Mother Mary Stigmata
I'll Be Home for Christmas1998IMDb rating 5.6as Tom Tom Girl Gloria
Richie Rich's Christmas Wish1998IMDb rating 4.1as Miss Peabody
Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult1994IMDb rating 6.5as Muriel
Hocus Pocus1993IMDb rating 6.9as Miss Olin
Reckless Kelly1993IMDb rating 5.1as Mrs. Delance
FernGully: The Last Rainforest1992IMDb rating 6.6as Elder #1 (voice)
Dutch1991IMDb rating 6.5as Gritzi
Gremlins 2: The New Batch1990IMDb rating 6.5as Microwave Marge
The Willies1990IMDb rating 5.2as Miss Titmarsh
Chances Are1989IMDb rating 6.5as Mrs. Handy
Dragnet1987IMDb rating 6.0as Enid Borden
In the Mood1987IMDb rating 6.1as Mrs. Marver
Innerspace1987IMDb rating 6.9as Dream Lady
Teen Wolf Too1987IMDb rating 3.5as Admissions Lady
The Best of Times1986IMDb rating 6.0as Rosie
Heartbeeps1981IMDb rating 4.3as Helicopter Pilot
The Blues Brothers1980IMDb rating 7.9as Sister Mary Stigmata
The Unholy Rollers1972IMDb rating 5.5as Karen's Mother
Support Your Local Gunfighter1971IMDb rating 6.8as Mrs. Perkins
The Ballad of Cable Hogue1970IMDb rating 7.2as Mrs. Jensen
Which Way to the Front?1970IMDb rating 4.6as Bland's Mother
Death of a Gunfighter1969IMDb rating 6.3as Mary Elizabeth
Hook, Line and Sinker1969IMDb rating 5.4as Mrs. Hardtack - Baby Sitter
Support Your Local Sheriff!1969IMDb rating 7.4as Mrs. Danvers
The Good Guys and the Bad Guys1969IMDb rating 6.1as Mrs. Stone
Point Blank1967IMDb rating 7.2as First Citizen
Three on a Couch1966IMDb rating 5.8as Murphy
That Funny Feeling1965IMDb rating 6.5as Woman at Phone Booth
The Rounders1965IMDb rating 6.1as Agatha Moore
The Disorderly Orderly1964IMDb rating 6.4as Nurse Higgins
The Nutty Professor1963IMDb rating 6.6as Millie Lemmon
Who's Minding the Store?1963IMDb rating 6.7as Mrs. Glucksman
The Errand Boy1961IMDb rating 6.4as Mrs. Helen Paramutual…
The Ladies Man1961IMDb rating 6.3as Katie
North to Alaska1960IMDb rating 6.9as Lena Nordquist
Houseboat1958IMDb rating 6.6as Laundromat Gossip
The Buccaneer1958IMDb rating 6.4as Tina
The Fly1958IMDb rating 7.1as Emma
The Missouri Traveler1958IMDb rating 6.4as Serena Poole
Kiss Them for Me1957IMDb rating 5.6as Nurse Wilinski
Pawnee1957IMDb rating 5.6as Mrs. Carter
The Midnight Story1957IMDb rating 6.7as Rosa Cuneo
Artists and Models1955IMDb rating 6.4as Mrs. Muldoon
3 Ring Circus1954IMDb rating 5.9as Custard Pie Gag Victim
The Far Country1954IMDb rating 7.1as Grits
Confidentially Connie1953IMDb rating 5.8as Mother of Twins
The Glass Wall1953IMDb rating 6.9as Zelda - Fat Woman
The Magnetic Monster1953IMDb rating 5.7as Nelly
Love Is Better Than Ever1952IMDb rating 5.6as Mrs. Kahrney
O. Henry's Full House1952IMDb rating 7.2as Mrs. Dorset (segment "The Ransom of Red Chief")
Singin' in the Rain1952IMDb rating 8.3as Phoebe Dinsmore
The Prisoner of Zenda1952IMDb rating 6.9
Cry Danger1951IMDb rating 7.3as Cigarette Clerk #2
House by the River1950IMDb rating 7.0as Effie Ferguson - Party Guest
The Reformer and the Redhead1950IMDb rating 6.2as Lily Rayton Parker

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Shrek2001 Adventure, Animation, Comedyas Old Womanvoice
IMDb rating 7.9822K votes
Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult1994 Comedy, Crimeas Muriel
IMDb rating 6.5130K votes
The Fly1958as Emma
IMDb rating 7.128K votes
The Nutty Professor1963as Millie Lemmon
IMDb rating 6.620K votes
Gremlins 2: The New Batch1990as Microwave Marge
IMDb rating 6.5120K votes
Dragnet1987as Enid Borden
IMDb rating 6.040K votes
The Ladies Man1961as Katie
IMDb rating 6.35.2K votes
Dutch1991as Gritzi
IMDb rating 6.516K votes

Most often with

Jerry Lewis directed five of these films, Burt Kennedy four and Stanley Donen three. Jerry Lewis appears in ten of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Jerry Lewis

Bess Flowers

Jack Elam

Harry Morgan

Henry Gibson

Alex Gerry

Jerry LewisDirector, 5 films Burt KennedyDirector, 4 films

Stanley DonenDirector, 3 films

Films together

Jerry Lewis10 films together, 1954 to 1970
Jerry Lewis's page
- Which Way to the Front?1970IMDb rating 4.6Freeman as Bland's MotherLewis as Brendan Byers III
- Hook, Line and Sinker1969IMDb rating 5.4Freeman as Mrs. Hardtack - Baby SitterLewis as Peter J. Ingersoll / Fred Dobbs
- Three on a Couch1966IMDb rating 5.8Freeman as MurphyLewis as Christopher Pride / Warren / Ringo / Rutherford / Heather
- The Disorderly Orderly1964IMDb rating 6.4Freeman as Nurse HigginsLewis as Jerome Littlefield
- The Nutty Professor1963IMDb rating 6.6Freeman as Millie LemmonLewis as Professor Julius F. Kelp / Buddy Love / Baby Kelp
- Who's Minding the Store?1963IMDb rating 6.7Freeman as Mrs. GlucksmanLewis as Norman Phiffier
- The Errand Boy1961IMDb rating 6.4Freeman as Mrs. Helen Paramutual…Lewis as Morty S. Tashman
- The Ladies Man1961IMDb rating 6.3Freeman as KatieLewis as Herbert H. Heebert / Mama Heebert
- Artists and Models1955IMDb rating 6.4Freeman as Mrs. MuldoonLewis as Eugene Fullstack
- 3 Ring Circus1954IMDb rating 5.9Freeman as Custard Pie Gag VictimLewis as Jerry Hotchkiss
Bess Flowers4 films together, 1952 to 1963
Bess Flowers's page
- Who's Minding the Store?1963IMDb rating 6.7Freeman as Mrs. GlucksmanFlowers as Shopper at Gourmet Department
- Houseboat1958IMDb rating 6.6Freeman as Laundromat GossipFlowers as Wedding Guest
- The Fly1958IMDb rating 7.1Freeman as EmmaFlowers as Audience Member
- Singin' in the Rain1952IMDb rating 8.3Freeman as Phoebe DinsmoreFlowers as Audience Member
Jack Elam4 films together, 1954 to 1971
Jack Elam's page
- Support Your Local Gunfighter1971IMDb rating 6.8Freeman as Mrs. PerkinsElam as Jug May
- Support Your Local Sheriff!1969IMDb rating 7.4Freeman as Mrs. DanversElam as Jake
- Artists and Models1955IMDb rating 6.4Freeman as Mrs. MuldoonElam as Ivan
- The Far Country1954IMDb rating 7.1Freeman as GritsElam as Frank Newberry
Harry Morgan4 films together, 1954 to 1987
Harry Morgan's page
- Dragnet1987IMDb rating 6.0Freeman as Enid BordenMorgan as Captain Bill Gannon
- Support Your Local Gunfighter1971IMDb rating 6.8Freeman as Mrs. PerkinsMorgan as Taylor
- Support Your Local Sheriff!1969IMDb rating 7.4Freeman as Mrs. DanversMorgan as Olly Perkins
- The Far Country1954IMDb rating 7.1Freeman as GritsMorgan as Ketchum
Henry Gibson4 films together, 1963 to 1990
Henry Gibson's page
- Gremlins 2: The New Batch1990IMDb rating 6.5Freeman as Microwave MargeGibson as Employee Fired for Smoking
- Innerspace1987IMDb rating 6.9Freeman as Dream LadyGibson as Mr. Wormwood
- The Blues Brothers1980IMDb rating 7.9Freeman as Sister Mary StigmataGibson as Head Nazi
- The Nutty Professor1963IMDb rating 6.6Freeman as Millie LemmonGibson as Gibson, College Student
Alex Gerry4 films together, 1950 to 1961
Alex Gerry's page
- The Ladies Man1961IMDb rating 6.3Freeman as KatieGerry as Mr. Zoussman - TV Show Producer
- Love Is Better Than Ever1952IMDb rating 5.6Freeman as Mrs. KahrneyGerry as Hamlet
- House by the River1950IMDb rating 7.0Freeman as Effie Ferguson - Party GuestGerry as Miller, bookseller
- The Reformer and the Redhead1950IMDb rating 6.2Freeman as Lily Rayton ParkerGerry as James I. Michell
Jerry LewisDirector, 5 films, 1961 to 1970
All films by Jerry Lewis
- Which Way to the Front?1970IMDb rating 4.6Freeman as Bland's Mother
- Three on a Couch1966IMDb rating 5.8Freeman as Murphy
- The Nutty Professor1963IMDb rating 6.6Freeman as Millie Lemmon
- The Errand Boy1961IMDb rating 6.4Freeman as Mrs. Helen Paramutual…
- The Ladies Man1961IMDb rating 6.3Freeman as Katie
Burt KennedyDirector, 4 films, 1965 to 1971
All films by Burt Kennedy
- Support Your Local Gunfighter1971IMDb rating 6.8Freeman as Mrs. Perkins
- Support Your Local Sheriff!1969IMDb rating 7.4Freeman as Mrs. Danvers
- The Good Guys and the Bad Guys1969IMDb rating 6.1Freeman as Mrs. Stone
- The Rounders1965IMDb rating 6.1Freeman as Agatha Moore
Stanley DonenDirector, 3 films, 1952 to 1957
All films by Stanley Donen
- Kiss Them for Me1957IMDb rating 5.6Freeman as Nurse Wilinski
- Love Is Better Than Ever1952IMDb rating 5.6Freeman as Mrs. Kahrney
- Singin' in the Rain1952IMDb rating 8.3Freeman as Phoebe Dinsmore
Also four films together1 more actor
- Doodles WeaverWhich Way to the Front? (1970), The Rounders (1965), The Nutty Professor (1963) and The Errand Boy (1961)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Kathleen Freeman's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$1.1 billion

23 of the 59 films have a worldwide figure.

23Worldwide figure
10US gross only
1Never in cinemas
25Figure not found

Top grosser

Shrek2001Old Woman$490 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 90% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Shrek2001as Old Woman (voice)
$490M46.3% of the total
2
Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult1994as Muriel
$132M12.5% of the total
3
The Blues Brothers1980as Sister Mary Stigmata
$115M10.9% of the total
4
Dragnet1987as Enid Borden
$67M6.3% of the total
5
Hocus Pocus1993as Miss Olin
$52M4.9% of the total
6
Gremlins 2: The New Batch1990as Microwave Marge
$41M3.9% of the total
7
FernGully: The Last Rainforest1992as Elder #1 (voice)
$33M3.1% of the total
8
Innerspace1987as Dream Lady
$26M2.4% of the total