Florida Friebus (October 10, 1909 Her obituary in the Los Angeles Times gives her birth year as 1908. – May 27, 1988) was an American writer and actress of stage, film, and television. Friebus's best-known roles were Winifred "Winnie" Gillis, the sympathetic mother of Dwayne Hickman's character Dobie Gillis on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, and Mrs. Lillian Bakerman on The Bob Newhart Show. She is known for her 1932 adaptation of Alice and Wonderland.
Early years Florida Friebus was born in Auburndale, Massachusetts, to Theodore Friebus and Beatrice Flagg Mosier Friebus.Her obituary in the Los Angeles Times gives her place of birth as Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. She was known to make it clear to curious people that she was named after her mother's favorite aunt—not after the state of Florida. Her paternal grandmother was named Florida as well.
Personal life Friebus married actor Richard Waring in 1934. They had one child who died in infancy. The couple divorced in 1952. Friebus never remarried.Florida Friebus papers, 1926-1988, Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts; accessed July 9, 2015. She died in May, 1988.
Career Friebus first acted professionally in 1929 in New York City, appearing in The Cradle Song with the Civic Repertory Theater. On Broadway she starred as Maggie Wallace in The Primrose Path (1939).
She appeared on television in such programs as The Ford Theatre Hour, Perry Mason, Bachelor Father, Father Knows Best, The Rookies, Peyton Place, Ironside, Gunsmoke, Sanford and Son, Ben Casey, The Doris Day Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Room 222, The Partridge Family, Chico and the Man, Barnaby Jones, Alice, and Rhoda.
She also read stories to children on Look and Listen on KNXT in Los Angeles, California.
As a writer, Friebus collaborated with Eva Le Gallienne to dramatize Alice in Wonderland. The adaptation by Le Gallienne and Friebus was presented on Broadway and later on the Hallmark Hall of Fame on television.
Actors' Equity Friebus spent more than 16 years on the board of Actors' Equity Association. She was presented the Phil Loeb Award "for extraordinary service to her profession."
Papers Friebus's papers are housed at the New York Public Library.
Filmography Film Year Film Role Notes 1958 High School Confidential! Mrs. Staples Uncredited 1978 Jennifer Miss Tooker Television Year Title Role Notes1950 Lights Out 1 episode Escape 1 episode Pulitzer Prize Playhouse 1 episode 1950–1951 The Philco Television Playhouse 2 episodes 1950–1953 Kraft Television Theatre 3 episodes 1953 Goodyear Television Playhouse 1 episode 1954 Lamp Unto My Feet 1 episode1956 Hallmark Hall of Fame Karoline 1 episode The Alcoa Hour Mrs. Franklin 1 episode 1957 The Joseph Cotten Show Helen Fogarty 1 episode 1957–1958 Bachelor Father Mrs. BanksMrs. Marquand 3 episodes1958 Father Knows Best 1 episode Gunsmoke Mrs. Meggs 1 episode1959 Playhouse 90 1 episode The Donna Reed Show Helen Brooks 1 episode 1959–1963 The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis Winifred Gillis 87 episodes 1960 The Chevy Mystery Show Lois Halsey 1 episode 1963 Perry Mason Marian Lamont 1 episode1964 The New Phil Silvers Show Mrs. Bradshaw 1 episode Peyton Place Maggie Riggs Unknown episodes 1965 My Mother the Car Miss McFee 1 episode1966 This Is the Life 1 episode Ben Casey 1 episode 1968 Ironside Middle-Aged Woman 1 episode 1971–1972 The Mary Tyler Moore Show Mrs. MarshallNun 2 episodes1972 Sanford and Son Woman 1 episode Ghost Story Mrs. Prescott 1 episode The Doris Day Show Miss Peabody 1 episode Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law 1 episode 1972–1978 The Bob Newhart Show Mrs. Lillian Bakerman 17 episodes1973 Room 222 1 episode Cannon Julie McElroy 1 episode Gunsmoke Mrs. Tavers 1 episode The Partridge Family Mrs. Hendleman 1 episode The Rookies Sister Elizabeth 1 episode 1973–1977 Barnaby Jones Molly McMurtyConnie Graham 2 episodes 1974–1978 Rhoda Harriet StrongenEdna BrundidgeMrs. Swensen 3 episodes1975 Chico and the Man Althea Nelson 1 episode Miles to Go Before I Sleep Ruth Television movie Love Nest Jenny 1 episode Kate McShane 1 episode1976 Amelia Earhart Miss Perkins Television movie Switch Fiona 2 episodes1978 Kaz 1 episode ABC Weekend Special Miss Kelly 1 episode
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