Actress Betty Harford, best known for appearing in the shows “Dynasty” and “The Paper Chase,” has died. She was 98.
Harford’s death was confirmed by her friend Wendy Mitchell, who said on Facebook that the actress died on Nov. 2 “peacefully with family at her side.”
In another Facebook post from before she confirmed Harford’s death, Mitchell claimed that she last heard from the Hollywood star two months ago.
“She had been recovering from the flu however I went by to see her and she did not answer,” Mitchell wrote. “She’s not answering her phone anymore so I’m afraid that she might’ve passed on.”
Harford was born in New York City on January 27, 1927.
Her early career included appearing in two episodes of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” in the mid-1950s.
She went on to have more TV roles in “Gunsmoke,” “The Twilight Zone,” “Richard Diamond, Private Detective,” “Adventures in Paradise,” “The Law and Mr. Jones,” “The Big Valley” and “Mrs. Columbo.”
From 1978 to 1986, Harford starred as Mrs. Nottingham in “The Paper Chase,” based on John Jay Osborn Jr.’s 1971 novel and the 1973 film adaptation directed by James Bridges.
The TV show, which followed the lives of law school students, also starred John Houseman, James Stephens, Tom Fitzsimmons, James Keane, Michael Tucci and Penny Johnson.
While “The Paper Chase” was airing, Harford also had a recurring role on “Dynasty” as cook Hilda Gunnerson. She appeared in 34 episodes of the ABC soap opera and reprised the role for “Dynasty: The Reunion” in 1991.
“Dynasty.” Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
On the big screen, Harford appeared in “The Wild and the Innocent,” “Spartacus,” “Inside Daisy Clover,” “Win, Place or Steal,” “September 30, 1955” and “The China Syndrome.”
Her final acting gig, according to her IMDb, was voicing Gumba in the 1994 animation family video “Fun with Gumby.”
In the 1960s, Harford was a member of UCLA Theatre Group, started by Houseman, Eva Marie Saint, Paul Newman, Robert Ryan and others.
Harford was married to sculptor Oliver Andrews, with whom she welcomed son Chris, before they separated in the late 1970s.
She got remarried to Hungarian actor Alex de Naszody until his death at age 81 in 1996.
Harford is survived by her son Chris and her grandsons.
