Sheree North, the veteran character actress who began her career in the mid-'50s as a blonde ingenue in the mold of Marilyn Monroe, but soon proved herself capable in several roles beyond that archtype later in her career, died on November 4 in her native Los Angeles. The cause was complications from cancer surgery. She was 72.

She was born Dawn Bethel in downtown Los Angeles on January 17, 1933. She expressed an interest in dance from a very young age, and for a time, performed as a youngster with USO shows during World War II. Later, when still in high school, she took odd jobs, such as floorsanding and valet, to pay for ballet lessons. Eventually, she found work dancing on local nightclubs, and even had a small part as a dancer in an MGM comedy Excuse My Dust (1951) starring Red Skelton.

As with most tales of Hollywood success, Dawn needed a break, and it came in the form of a talent agent who spotted her in a Santa Monica nightclub. He recommended her to the producers for an upcoming Broadway musical called Hazel Flagg, based on the classic Fredric March-Carole Lombard comedy Nothing Sacred (1937). Her debut in the production, highlighted by a sexy, wild dance number, created a sensation. She won a Theatre World award for Best Newcomer in 1953, and was offered the chance to repeat her role in the Dean Martin-Jerry Lewis musical comedy film version of the stage show, retitled Living It Up (1954).

Having changed her name to Sheree North, 20th Century Fox offered her a contract, to serve specifically as a "blonde bombshell" who could substitute for an increasingly unreliable Marilyn Monroe. Soon enough, Monroe's personal troubles led her to cancel out of the charming comedy How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955). Although the film starred Betty Grable, North's presence easily outshone the veteran, particularly when she performed a jubilant dance routine to Bill Haley and the Comets' "Shake, Rattle and Roll" at a University commencement ceremony (trust us, this scene has to be seen to be believed)!

North received some good film parts over the next few years in comedies: The Best Things in Life Are Free, The Lieutenant Wore Skirts (both 1956); dramas: No Down Payment (1957); and musicals: Mardi Gras (1958), but she never quite broke out from second-tier status during her tenure at Fox. By the '60s, she found solace in television, a medium that gave her roles that tested her range in a string of good programs: The Big Valley, The Fugitive, Gunsmoke, The Untouchables, and The Virginian.

By the end of the decade, she returned to films with more depth and experience and it showed in her performances, especially in Don Siegel's police thriller Madigan (1969) as a tough prostitute; and the John Frankenheimer drama The Gypsy Moths (1969) playing a wry, sexy waitress who flirts with Burt Lancaster. Her best work would be in the '70s: The Organization (1971) with Sidney Poitier; Charley Varrick (1973) opposite Walter Matthau; The Outfit (1973) co-starring Robert Duvall; and The Shootist (1976) alongside the legendary John Wayne. She also made a memorable turn on television when she had a recurring guest role during the fifth season of The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1974-75). Playing Lou Grant's (Ed Asner) saloon singer girlfriend, Sheri, North's performance fleshed out a potentialy one-note role with sultry wit and endearing grit.

Not much was heard from North by the turn of the '80s, save for a few television movies and stage appearances. However, she made a stellar return to television when she played Kramer's (Michael Richards) mother, Babs, during the final season of Seinfeld (1997-98), and although her last film appearance was a lamentable John Landis' farce about a murder for hire, Susan's Plan (1998), her nimble comic timing made her the only saving grace in the movie. Indeed, she proved toward the very end that despite being given inferior material, she was a true professional. She is survived by her husband, Phillip Norman; her daughters, Dawn Bessire and Erica Torrablas; and a stepdaughter, Jessica Youd.

by Michael T. Toole