RIP: Film, Stage, and Television Actress Dody Goodman
June 23, 2008 by Chandra
Versatile actress Dody Goodman, born Delores Goodman, passed away in New Jersey on Sunday, June 22, at the age of 93 (although some reports claim she was 92) following a battle with illness. For the last eight months, she had resided in the Actors Fund Home located in Englewood, New Jersey.
Younger people probably know the talented entertainer with the distinctive comportment best for her role as Blanche Hodel, the principal’s assistant, in the movies Grease and Grease 2. Older fans will recall her larger body of work, however, which included the mother character Martha Shumway on the mid-1970s soap-opera parody Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman and numerous memorable guest appearances on talk shows, ranging from The Jack Paar Tonight Show to The Merv Griffin Show. A formally trained dancer, she also performed regularly in Broadway musicals, such as Something for the Boys and Wonderful Town.
Goodman, who never married, is survived by seven nieces and nephews, eleven great nieces and nephews, and fifteen great-great nieces and nephews, according to family friend Joan Adams.
A video clip from the 1978 film musical Grease follows. Goodman is the actress at the very beginning, wearing the black-and-white polka-dot dress.