Nedra Volz
Encyclopedia
Nedra Volz was an American film and television actress.
, she began her career in the family tent show, and appeared in vaudeville
as a toddler (called "Baby Nedra"). She ended up in the 1970s as a well-recognized supporting character actress, primarily on television
and also in feature film
s. She often played grandmothers or feisty little old ladies.
In the early 1930s, Volz was featured vocalist with Cato's Vagabonds, a Des Moines, Iowa
, big band
that briefly enjoyed national popularity. Cato never made records, but Nedra managed to appear on exactly one 78 side, with the orchestra of Will Osborne in 1933.
Her most notable appearances include:
Aside from these regular parts, she also appeared in a great many guest roles, including 'Mission of Peace', a 1986 episode of The A-Team
, as one of a group of senior citizens forced into asking the team for help. In 1978, Volz appeared as a protester Mrs. Burstyn on the TV series WKRP in Cincinnati
. In 1980, she appeared in several Jack in the Box
TV spots as they blew up Jack. In 1989, she did two roles in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show, Mrs. Perwinkle and Angelica.
Volz continued to act well into her 80s. In Moving Violations
, director Neil Israel allowed her to do many stunts herself, including being lifted into a window and falling head first onto the floor. Volz's last acting role was in The Great White Hype
in 1996.
in Mesa, Arizona
.
Early life and career
Born Nedra Gordonier in Montrose, IowaMontrose, Iowa
Montrose is a city in Lee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 957 at the 2000 census. The town is located on the Mississippi River. It is part of the Fort Madison–Keokuk, IA-MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, she began her career in the family tent show, and appeared in vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
as a toddler (called "Baby Nedra"). She ended up in the 1970s as a well-recognized supporting character actress, primarily on television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
and also in feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
s. She often played grandmothers or feisty little old ladies.
In the early 1930s, Volz was featured vocalist with Cato's Vagabonds, a Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
, big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
that briefly enjoyed national popularity. Cato never made records, but Nedra managed to appear on exactly one 78 side, with the orchestra of Will Osborne in 1933.
Her most notable appearances include:
- Aunt Iola, Edith Bunker's favorite aunt on All in the FamilyAll in the FamilyAll in the Family is an American sitcom that was originally broadcast on the CBS television network from January 12, 1971, to April 8, 1979. In September 1979, a new show, Archie Bunker's Place, picked up where All in the Family had ended...
, 1978. - Housekeeper Adelaide Brubaker on Diff'rent StrokesDiff'rent StrokesDiff'rent Strokes is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from November 3, 1978 to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985 to March 7, 1986...
from January 1980 until May 1982. - Post Office Employee Miz Emma Tisdale on The Dukes of HazzardThe Dukes of HazzardThe Dukes of Hazzard is an American television series that aired on the CBS television network from 1979 to 1985.The series was inspired by the 1975 film Moonrunners, which was also created by Gy Waldron and had many identical or similar character names and concepts.- Overview :The Dukes of Hazzard...
starting in November 1980 until 1984. - "Big Ed" in the Paul BartelPaul BartelPaul Bartel was an American actor, writer and director. Bartel was perhaps most known for his 1982 hit black comedy Eating Raoul, which he wrote, starred in and directed.-Life and career:...
spoof Lust in the DustLust in the DustLust in the Dust is a 1985 Western comedy film starring Divine, Tab Hunter, Cesar Romero, and Lainie Kazan, and directed by Paul Bartel. It takes its title from a longstanding nickname given to the 1946 Western Duel in the Sun... - Mother B. (Winona Beck) in Filthy Rich.
- Loretta Houk in the film Moving ViolationsMoving ViolationsMoving Violations is a 1985 comedy film starring John Murray, Jennifer Tilly, Brian Backer, Sally Kellerman, Nedra Volz, Clara Peller, Wendie Jo Sperber and Fred Willard. It was directed by Neal Israel...
(1985). - Esther in the TV show AliceAlice (TV series)Alice is an American sitcom television series that ran from August 31, 1976 to July 2, 1985 on CBS. The series was based on the 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. The show stars Linda Lavin in the title role, a widow who moves with her young son to start her life over again, and finds a job...
in 1978. - Pearl Sperling in the 1985 season of The Fall GuyThe Fall GuyThe Fall Guy is an American action/adventure television program produced for ABC and originally broadcast from November 4, 1981 to May 2, 1986. It starred Lee Majors, Douglas Barr, and Heather Thomas. Majors and Barr are the only two actors to appear in all 112 episodes of the series...
.
Aside from these regular parts, she also appeared in a great many guest roles, including 'Mission of Peace', a 1986 episode of The A-Team
The A-Team
The A-Team is an American action adventure television series about a fictional group of ex-United States Army Special Forces personnel who work as soldiers of fortune, while on the run from the Army after being branded as war criminals for a "crime they didn't commit". The A-Team was created by...
, as one of a group of senior citizens forced into asking the team for help. In 1978, Volz appeared as a protester Mrs. Burstyn on the TV series WKRP in Cincinnati
WKRP in Cincinnati
WKRP in Cincinnati is an American situation comedy that featured the misadventures of the staff of a struggling fictional radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio. The show was created by Hugh Wilson and was based upon his experiences working in advertising sales at Top 40 radio station WQXI in Atlanta...
. In 1980, she appeared in several Jack in the Box
Jack in the Box
Jack in the Box is an American fast-food restaurant founded by Robert O. Peterson in 1951 in San Diego, California, where it is still headquartered today. In total, the chain has 2,200 locations, primarily serving the West Coast of the United States...
TV spots as they blew up Jack. In 1989, she did two roles in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show, Mrs. Perwinkle and Angelica.
Volz continued to act well into her 80s. In Moving Violations
Moving Violations
Moving Violations is a 1985 comedy film starring John Murray, Jennifer Tilly, Brian Backer, Sally Kellerman, Nedra Volz, Clara Peller, Wendie Jo Sperber and Fred Willard. It was directed by Neal Israel...
, director Neil Israel allowed her to do many stunts herself, including being lifted into a window and falling head first onto the floor. Volz's last acting role was in The Great White Hype
The Great White Hype
The Great White Hype is a 1996 film directed by Reginald Hudlin. It stars Samuel L. Jackson, Peter Berg, Damon Wayans, Jeff Goldblum, Jon Lovitz, Cheech Marin, John Rhys-Davies, Salli Richardson and Jamie Foxx....
in 1996.
Personal life
In 1944, at the age of 36, Volz married Oren Volz. The marriage produced three children, Edward Volz, Linda Defenderer, and Barbara Lee Volz (1939–1992). Oren Volz died in 1987. Nedra lived in Upland, California through the 1980s and 1990s. She was a volunteer Official Celebrity Spokesperson for D.A.R.E., in Ontario, California.Death
On January 20, 2003, Volz died of complications from Alzheimer's diseaseAlzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
in Mesa, Arizona
Mesa, Arizona
According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%...
.