Stars of the Program
Lucille Ball as Liz Cooper (Cugat)
The show was written around Lucille Ball who was an accomplished movie and radio actress. Miss Ball’s legacy is as a comedic actress though she appeared in movie musicals and dramas. When she felt like her movie career was stalling she turned to radio starring in My Favorite Husband as Liz Cooper. Liz was often described as ditzy and Ball excelled at that type of character.
Richard Denning as George Cooper (Cugat)
Richard Denning was cast a Lucille Ball’s co-star and Liz’s husband, George. Liz and George had a happy marriage with a few bumps but those were misunderstandings. Denning was a well-known actor who was on contract to Paramount. He appeared in movies like An Affair to Remember. After enlisting in the navy during World War II, Denning was out of work for 18 months. My Favorite Husband was the show that put him back to work.
Gale Gordon as Rudolph Atterbury
Gale Gordon played George’s boss at the bank, Rudolph Atterbury. He was often dragged into the mayhem through his wife’s friendship with Liz. Gordon had a long career in radio. He played Flash Gordon in The Amazing Interplanetary Adventures of Flash Gordon radio show in 1935. He also played supporting roles in Fibber McGee and Molly, The Great Gildersleeve, and Our Miss Brooks. Gordon had a long association with Lucille Ball appearing in all but the last of her television shows.
Bea Benaderet as Iris Atterbury
Bea Benaderet played Liz’s best friend and partner in mayhem. Benaderet was a character actress who worked on several radio shows like Fibber McGee and Molly, Jack Benny, The Great Gildersleeve, and, sometimes, Amos and Andy. She was most famous for her role as Kate Bradley on Petticoat Junction. She was also a voice actor for Warner Brothers voicing such characters a Granny in Tweety Bird and Betty Rubble in the Flintstones.
Ruth Perrott as Katy the maid
Katy the maid was sometimes drawn into Liz’s schemes and often interacted with Liz like a friend. In one episode, Liz helped Katy act like she was married to a wealthy man for Katy’s family. There was no other information for Ruth Perrott except that she appeared in minor roles in a few television shows and movies.
Bea Benaderet and Eleanor Audley as Mrs. Leticia Cooper
Leticia Cooper was George’s mother who looked down her aristocratic nose at Liz. In one show, Leticia came to live with the Coopers while she was looking for a home in Sheridan Falls. Liz ran herself ragged trying to please her mother-in-law. Originally played by Bea Benaderet the roll was taken over by Eleanor Audley. Audley was a constantly working character actress for many years in such shows as Green Acres, I Love Lucy, Beverly Hillbillies and many more.
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