Trivia

Best-known in later years for her prolific television work, she played Lou Grant's spunky girlfriend on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970) and was Kramer's mom on Seinfeld (1989), who was the first to announce his first name to fans: "Cosmo". She also earned Emmy nominations for appearances on Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969) and Archie Bunker's Place (1979).

Used as a bargaining chip by Fox against an unreliable Marilyn Monroe, she was found to have Monroe's exact weight and measurements at the time. When she was pictured on the cover of the March 21, 1955, issue of Life Magazine, the headline read, "Sheree North Takes Over From Marilyn Monroe". She later played Monroe's real-life unbalanced mother, Gladys, in Marilyn: The Untold Story (1980).

Married four times, she had two daughters: Dawn Jeanette Bessire (born 1949) and Erica Eve Sommer (born 1959), from different marriages, and four grandchildren, all of whom survived her.

Born in Los Angeles, the daughter of seamstress June Bethel (née Shoard) and trained in dance, as a young woman she sanded floors and parked cars to pay for her ballet lessons. During World War II, after lying about her age, she danced in several USO shows. From her late teens, danced in nightclubs in Santa Monica. Eventually spotted by a talent scout, she ended up on Broadway doing a lively routine in the musical "Hazel Flagg" (1953), consequently winning a Theatre World Award. This directly led to her being cast for the film Living It Up (1954).

She took over for Shirley Knight in a Los Angeles production of "Dutchman," which coincided with the 1965 Watts riots. The production was controversial and was blamed by conservatives for inciting unrest. It was picketed, ads were blocked from the newspapers and North's car was set on fire. Despite that, the production ran for a year.

Marilyn Monroe was reportedly scheduled for a film, ''Pink Tights'' but disliked the script and refused to do a screen test. The studio let it be known that North was going to be tested hoping that it would persuade Marilyn to do the film. It didn't. It did, however, reportedly give a kick start to North's career.

Discovered in a Santa Monica night club by a famous choreographer who enticed her to New York for a role in a Broadway musical, which in turn began her stage career. Appeared onstage in such musicals as "Can-Can", "Irma La Douce", and "Bye Bye Birdie".

North was married to Emmy Award-winning film title designer Phillip Alan "Phill" Norman, her companion (from 1981) and husband (from 2003), until her death in 2005. By this marriage, North was stepmother to Norman's daughter, Jessica Youd.

Fun fact, at one point a Director wanted her to appear as a platinum blonde. She and her friend decided to bleach her hair at home. They left the bleach on too long and when they removed the towel, all of her hair came off with it. She said this would allow her to get out of wearing the hats that she hated during this show... Nope, he just put her in wigs.

When appearing on What's My Line? (1950) as a 'Mystery Guest' (Sheree North (1955)), she signed in as Shereë North.

Sheree North was the original Hedy Larue' In the show How to Succeed in business without really trying. She is featured on the cast Album of said show.