Lurene Tuttle (August 29, 1907 â€" May 28, 1986) was an American
character actress and acting coach, who made the transition from
vaudeville to radio, and later films and television. Her most enduring
impact was as one of network radio's more versatile actresses. Often
appearing in 15 shows per week, comedies, dramas, thrillers, soap
operas, and crime dramas, she became known as the "First Lady of
Radio".Tuttle was born August 29, 1907, at Pleasant Lake, Indiana into
a family with strong ties to entertainment. Her father, Clair Vivien
Tuttle (1883â€"1950), had been a performer in minstrel shows before
becoming a station agent for a railroad. Her grandfather, Frank
Tuttle, managed an opera house and taught drama. Her mother was Verna
Sylvia (Long) Tuttle. She discovered her own knack for acting after
moving with her family to Glendale, Arizona. She later credited a
drama coach there for "making me aware of life as it really isâ€"by
making me study life in real situations."After her family moved to
Southern California, Tuttle appeared in productions at the Pasadena
Playhouse, then joined the vaudeville troupe Murphy's Comedians. By
the time of the Great Depression, Tuttle had put her vocal versatility
to work in radio, and within a decade, she became an in-demand actress
in the medium.
character actress and acting coach, who made the transition from
vaudeville to radio, and later films and television. Her most enduring
impact was as one of network radio's more versatile actresses. Often
appearing in 15 shows per week, comedies, dramas, thrillers, soap
operas, and crime dramas, she became known as the "First Lady of
Radio".Tuttle was born August 29, 1907, at Pleasant Lake, Indiana into
a family with strong ties to entertainment. Her father, Clair Vivien
Tuttle (1883â€"1950), had been a performer in minstrel shows before
becoming a station agent for a railroad. Her grandfather, Frank
Tuttle, managed an opera house and taught drama. Her mother was Verna
Sylvia (Long) Tuttle. She discovered her own knack for acting after
moving with her family to Glendale, Arizona. She later credited a
drama coach there for "making me aware of life as it really isâ€"by
making me study life in real situations."After her family moved to
Southern California, Tuttle appeared in productions at the Pasadena
Playhouse, then joined the vaudeville troupe Murphy's Comedians. By
the time of the Great Depression, Tuttle had put her vocal versatility
to work in radio, and within a decade, she became an in-demand actress
in the medium.
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