Betty Harford, the talented actress known for her memorable appearances in “Dynasty” and “The Paper Chase,” passed away on November 2 at the age of 98. Her death was confirmed by her friend Wendy Mitchell, who shared the news on Facebook.
Harford’s career spanned decades and included a notable role as Ms. Nottingham, secretary to law school professor Charles W. Kingsfield, on the CBS drama “The Paper Chase.” She appeared in 41 episodes of the series, which originally ran for one season on CBS from 1978 to 1979. “The Paper Chase” later moved to Showtime, where it aired for three more seasons from 1983 to 1986.
For nine years, Harford was a fixture on the popular prime-time soap “Dynasty,” portraying the recurring character of cook Hilda Gunnerson from 1981 to 1989. She appeared in 34 episodes during the show’s first eight seasons and reprised her role for the 1991 reunion miniseries, “Dynasty: The Reunion.”
Born in New York City, Harford began her entertainment career in the 1950s, with early appearances on the radio Western drama “Gunsmoke” and the docudrama series “Crime Classics.” Her television credits also include episodes of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” “Dr. Kildare,” “The Twilight Zone,” “The Big Valley,” “Fireside Theatre,” and “Luv Video Theatre.”
In the 1960s, Harford acted with Houseman’s UCLA Theatre Group. She continued to work in film, playing a nurse in James Bridges’ 1977 movie “September 30, 1955,” which starred Richard Thomas. Other film roles included Ms. Forbes in “The Wild and the Innocent” (1959), as well as appearances in “Spartacus” (1960), “Signpost to Murder” (1964), “Win, Place or Steal” (1974), and “The China Syndrome” (1979). On television, she was featured in series such as “Room 222” and “Mrs. Columbo.”
Harford was married to California sculptor Oliver Andrews, with whom she had a son, Chris. After their separation in the late 1970s, she remarried Hungarian actor Alex de Naszody, who preceded her in death.
She is survived by her son Chris and her grandsons, leaving behind a legacy of remarkable performances and cherished memories for fans and loved ones alike.
https://variety.com/2025/film/news/betty-harford-dead-dynasty-the-paper-chase-actress-1236573519/