Thelma Leeds
Encyclopedia
Thelma Leeds also known as Thelma Bernstein, was an American
actress.
, Bob Einstein
(TV's "Super Dave Osborne
"), and Clifford Einstein, chairman of Dailey & Associates Advertising in West Hollywood, California
and chairman of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
. In the early 1930s, Leeds sang light opera on the radio. She also performed in New York
nightclubs as Thelma Goodman, her birth name. One night in the mid-1930s a RKO talent scout caught her nightclub act. The studio signed her to a contract and gave her the name Thelma Leeds.
She had an uncredited role in the 1936 Fred Astaire
/Ginger Rogers
musical Follow the Fleet
. She later had supporting roles in The Toast of New York
(1937) and New Faces of 1937
.
She met her husband Harry "Parkyakarkus" Einstein
, a dialect comedian, while filming New Faces of 1937. Leeds retired from show business after marrying Einstein in 1937. Two years after Einstein's death in 1958, she married Irving "Bernie" Bernstein. He died in 1983.
In 1981 Leeds played Albert Brooks' mother in Modern Romance
. She reportedly was the inspiration for Brooks' 1996 comedy Mother
, in which Debbie Reynolds
played the title role.
"I think mom was bugged that she couldn't play (Brooks' mother in Mother)," Clifford Einstein told the Los Angeles Times
. "She loved to laugh at herself and loved the portrayal of Mother that, while not her story, was certainly loosely based on her: the kind of mother that loves to control everything."
Leeds died at her home in Beverly Hills, California
of natural causes, aged 94. She was entombed at Home of Peace Cemetery
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress.
Life and career
Leeds was born Thelma Goodman in New York City, New York, the daughter of Katie and Joseph Goodman, Russian Jewish immigrants. She was the mother of actor/director Albert BrooksAlbert Brooks
Albert Lawrence Brooks is an American actor, voice actor, writer, comedian and director. He received an Academy Award nomination in 1987 for his role in Broadcast News...
, Bob Einstein
Bob Einstein
Stewart Robert "Bob" Einstein is an American actor and comedy writer best known for his portrayal of the fictional stuntman Super Dave Osborne.-Life and career:...
(TV's "Super Dave Osborne
Super Dave Osborne
Super Dave Osborne is a character created and played by comedian Bob Einstein. He is a naive but optimistic stuntman who is frequently injured when his stunts go wrong.-Appearance history:...
"), and Clifford Einstein, chairman of Dailey & Associates Advertising in West Hollywood, California
West Hollywood, California
West Hollywood, a city of Los Angeles County, California, was incorporated on November 29, 1984, with a population of 34,399 at the 2010 census. 41% of the city's population is made up of gay men according to a 2002 demographic analysis by Sara Kocher Consulting for the City of West Hollywood...
and chairman of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles is a contemporary art museum with three locations in greater Los Angeles, California. The main branch is located on Grand Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles, near Walt Disney Concert Hall...
. In the early 1930s, Leeds sang light opera on the radio. She also performed in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
nightclubs as Thelma Goodman, her birth name. One night in the mid-1930s a RKO talent scout caught her nightclub act. The studio signed her to a contract and gave her the name Thelma Leeds.
She had an uncredited role in the 1936 Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. His stage and subsequent film career spanned a total of 76 years, during which he made 31 musical films. He was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute...
/Ginger Rogers
Ginger Rogers
Ginger Rogers was an American actress, dancer, and singer who appeared in film, and on stage, radio, and television throughout much of the 20th century....
musical Follow the Fleet
Follow the Fleet
Follow the Fleet is a 1936 Hollywood musical comedy film with a nautical theme and stars Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Randolph Scott, Harriet Hilliard, and Astrid Allwyn, with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin. Lucille Ball and Betty Grable also appear, in small supporting roles...
. She later had supporting roles in The Toast of New York
The Toast of New York
The Toast of New York is a 1937 American biopic starring Edward Arnold, Cary Grant, Frances Farmer, and Jack Oakie. The film is a fictionalized account of the lives of financiers James Fisk and Edward S. Stokes...
(1937) and New Faces of 1937
New Faces of 1937
New Faces of 1937, aka Young People is a black and white 1937 American musical film.-Cast:*Joe Penner - Seymore Seymore*Milton Berle - Wallington 'Wally' Wedge*Harry Parke - Parkyakarkus 'Parky'...
.
She met her husband Harry "Parkyakarkus" Einstein
Harry Parke
Harry Einstein was an American comedian and writer, usually known by the name Harry Parke, but who was variously credited as Harry Einstein, Harold Einstein, Harry "Parkyakarkus" Einstein, Parkyakarkus and Parkyarkarkus...
, a dialect comedian, while filming New Faces of 1937. Leeds retired from show business after marrying Einstein in 1937. Two years after Einstein's death in 1958, she married Irving "Bernie" Bernstein. He died in 1983.
In 1981 Leeds played Albert Brooks' mother in Modern Romance
Modern Romance
-Cast:* Albert Brooks .... Robert Cole* Kathryn Harrold .... Mary Harvard* Bruno Kirby .... Jay-Plot:Robert Cole is a Hollywood film editor right in the middle of cutting a new science fiction film with George Kennedy. His relationship with very patient bank executive Mary Harvard is caught...
. She reportedly was the inspiration for Brooks' 1996 comedy Mother
Mother (1996 film)
Mother is a 1996 comedy-drama film directed by Albert Brooks, and was co-written by Brooks with Monica Johnson. The film stars Brooks and Debbie Reynolds.-Plot:...
, in which Debbie Reynolds
Debbie Reynolds
Debbie Reynolds is an American actress, singer, and dancer.She was initially signed at age 16 by Warner Bros., but her career got off to a slow start. When her contract was not renewed, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer gave her a small, but significant part in the film Three Little Words , then signed her to...
played the title role.
"I think mom was bugged that she couldn't play (Brooks' mother in Mother)," Clifford Einstein told the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
. "She loved to laugh at herself and loved the portrayal of Mother that, while not her story, was certainly loosely based on her: the kind of mother that loves to control everything."
Leeds died at her home in Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
of natural causes, aged 94. She was entombed at Home of Peace Cemetery
Home of Peace Cemetery
The Home of Peace Cemetery is a Jewish cemetery located at 4334 Whittier Boulevard west of Interstate 710 in East Los Angeles, California.The cemetery is located across from Calvary Catholic Cemetery and next to Beth Israel Cemetery and Mount Zion Cemetery .There are a number of famous rabbis...
.