Pamela Britton

Above, Pamela Britton with Edmond O'Brien in D.O.A. (1950).

Pamela Britton - Actress; born Armilda Jane Owen on March 19, 1923 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Best known for appearing as Lorelei Brown in the television series "My Favorite Martian" (1963–1966)

Britton's mother was Ethel Owen (1893–1997), a prominent stage, radio, and early television actress. Her father, Raymond G. Owen, was a doctor who died when the actress was 20 years old. Britton graduated from Milwaukee's Holy Angels Academy (Divine Savior Holy Angels high school) in 1941. She then attended the Milwaukee State Teachers College (formerly the Milwaukee State Normal School. N/K/A University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee).

Taking leads in school plays, by the age of nine Britton was doing summer stock, and Hollywood came calling at age ten, though her mother rejected the advances, saying she wanted her to be an actress, not a child star. Britton started making the rounds at 15, using the name "Gloria Jane Owen", but found, that as soon as people knew who her mother was, they expected her to be as accomplished as her mother. As a consequence, she chose a pseudonym to audition under: Pamela (from a British book) and Britton (to emphasize the source).

After college, Britton went to New York City where she was discovered by bandleader Don McGuire and became his singer. Her big break came when she was cast as Celeste Holm's understudy in the Broadway company of "Oklahoma!." When the play reached Chicago, Britton was signed by MGM to appear in the movie musical "Anchors Aweigh", her first role in a major production as Frank Sinatra's girlfriend (The Girl From Brooklyn). Subsequent movie roles were of lesser quality, so Britton returned to Broadway where she originated the role of 'Meg Brockie' in the 1947 production of "Brigadoon."

Britton returned to the Hollywood opposite Clark Gable in "Key to the City" (1950), and then went on to make her most significant film appearance in the film noir classic "D.O.A.", also in 1950. Britton then went on to make "Watch the Birdie" with Red Skelton in 1951. It would be 19 years before Britton returned to the big screen.

In 1957, Britton portrayed the title role of the TV version of the Chic Young newspaper comic strip "Blondie", opposite Arthur Lake as her husband, Dagwood Bumstead.

Britton reprised her role in "Brigadoon" in 1954; appeared in "Annie Get Your Gun" at the Santa Barbara Bowl; and then returned to Broadway to replace an ailing Janis Paige in "Guys and Dolls".

In what is perhaps her signature role, Britton appeared as the nosy and ditzy landlady, Mrs. Lorelei Brown, in the TV series, "My Favorite Martian" (1963 -1966).

After "My Favorite Martian" ended, Britton went on to appear in the movies, "If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium" and "Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came".

For more information on Pamela Britton, visit Wikipedia.

↩  Back to Famous Wisconsinites