Remembering Betty Garrett, ‘Laverne & Shirley’s Edna Babish
What To Know
- Betty Garrett was a versatile performer whose career spanned Broadway, Hollywood musicals, television, and decades of stage work, though she is best known as Edna Babish on Laverne & Shirley.
- She gained early acclaim on Broadway, starred in classic MGM musicals, and later earned a Golden Globe for her role on All in the Family before joining Laverne & Shirley in the 1970s.
- Garrett remained active in entertainment into her 80s, earning an Emmy nomination, co-founding Theatre West, and receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame before her death in 2011 at age 91.
Betty Garrett may be best known as Edna Babish on Laverne & Shirley, but her talents stretched far beyond getting sitcom laughs. A gifted singer, dancer, and comedienne, Garrett built a career in entertainment spanning Broadway, Hollywood musicals, television classics and decades of stage work. As fans celebrate the 50th anniversary of the premiere on January 27, 2026, let’s take a look back on one of the best side characters on the series.
How did Betty Garrett begin her career?
Born on May 23, 1919, in St. Joseph, Missouri, Garrett spent much of her childhood moving with her mother after her parents divorced. She showed early creative ambition, organizing performances while attending the Annie Wright School in Tacoma on a scholarship. Encouraged by mentors who recognized her talent, she headed to New York City to study at the Neighborhood Playhouse, where she trained in dance, acting, music, and Shakespeare under respected instructors and alongside future industry peers.
Everett Collection
Although she initially imagined herself as a serious dramatic actress, Garrett’s summers performing in the Borscht Belt helped sharpen her comedic timing and musical skills. She worked with emerging talents of the era and gained valuable stage confidence before joining Orson Welles‘ Mercury Theatre as an understudy. Her early years also included appearances with Martha Graham’s dance company and performances in political and satirical revues.
Garrett made her Broadway debut in 1942 and quickly got noticed for her voice and strong stage presence. Briefly, she understudied Ethel Merman in Something for the Boys, even stepping into the lead when Merman fell ill. Her breakout moment came with Call Me Mister, for which she earned critical acclaim and the Donaldson Award, leading to recognition in The New York Times.
Everett Collection
That success led to a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1947. At MGM, Garrett appeared in a string of high-profile musicals, including On the Town, Neptune’s Daughter, Take Me Out to the Ball Game, and Words and Music. She also toured internationally with her husband Larry Parks, performing in popular nightclub venues before shifting back toward stage and television work as the industry evolved.
How did Betty Garrett join Laverne & Shirley?
After years of intermittent stage and television appearances, Garrett experienced a significant resurgence in the early 1970s when she joined All in the Family as Irene Lorenzo, Archie Bunker’s outspoken and politically liberal neighbor. Her performance earned her the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1974. Soon afterward, Garrett was cast as Edna Babish on Laverne & Shirley, the lively landlady who eventually married Laverne’s father. Garrett left the series in 1981 due to a Broadway commitment.
Ron Tom/ABC/Everett Collection
Garrett remained active well into her later decades, appearing on series such as The Golden Girls, Murder, She Wrote, Boston Public, Becker and Grey’s Anatomy. Her guest role on Becker earned her an Emmy nomination in 2003. On stage, she continued performing in acclaimed productions, including the Broadway revival of Follies, where her rendition of “Broadway Baby” received strong praise. She also co-founded Theatre West in Los Angeles and contributed as both a performer and director.
Off-screen, Garrett was married to actor Larry Parks for 30 years until Parks died in 1975; the couple raised two sons. She later received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2003 and was honored publicly for her lifetime achievements on her 90th birthday. Garrett died in Los Angeles on February 12, 2011, at the age of 91, from an aortic aneurysm.
Remind 
1970s Fall TV
September 2023
Take a trip back to the ’70s by looking at the TV Guide Magazine Fall Preview primetime lineups.
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