Beatrice Pons

Beatrice Pons (née Posner; January 28, 1906 – June 17, 1991) was an American character actress whose career spanned stage, radio, television, and film across more than four decades. Born in 1906, she trained as a teacher before turning to performance, beginning her Broadway career in 1934 in chorus and minor roles. Her stage work continued through 1975 and included productions such as Panic, Trial by Jury, The Pirates of Penzance, Paris Is Out!, and Have I Got a Girl for You!, among others. Alongside her theatrical work, Pons developed a nightclub act built around impressions of well-known actresses, comedians, and singers.

Radio provided another early avenue for Pons, with work in the medium beginning in the mid-1930s. She joined the cast of the Dick Tracy radio series in January 1938 and later appeared on The Goldbergs, a long-running American series that transitioned from radio to television.

Pons made her first television appearance on the NBC anthology series Goodyear Television Playhouse. She became widely recognized for two recurring sitcom roles: Mrs. Emma Ritzik on The Phil Silvers Show and Lucille Toody on Car 54, Where Are You? In both series, her character's husband was portrayed by comedian Joe E. Ross. Additional television credits include The United States Steel Hour and the CBS prime time drama The Nurses.

Her film career began in 1964 with the comedy Diary of a Bachelor. In 1980 she appeared as "Mother" in the cult horror film Mother's Day, for which she chose the screen name Rose Ross, derived from the surname of her husband. Later film appearances included Rachel, Rachel and Forever, Lulu.

Pons was married to radio personality David Ross, born David Rosenthal (July 7, 1891 – November 12, 1975), with whom she had a son, Jonathan. She died on June 17, 1991, in New York City at the age of 85 and was buried at Riverside Cemetery in Saddle Brook, New Jersey.