AMZIE STRICKLAND

January 10, 1919

Amzie Ellen Strickland was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Her acting career began in radio where she did more than 3,000 shows, she made more than 650 television appearances, had roles in two dozen films, appeared in numerous television movies, and also worked in TV commercials.

She began her eight-decade career as a film extra in You Only Live Once (1937), just one week after she celebrated her eighteenth birthday and remained active until her 2001 retirement. She never took a year off from any project she was given, a rare feat for any actress past or present.

In 1945, she was briefly seen as a background performer in Abbott and Costello in Hollywood, in which Lucille Ball had a cameo as herself. 

In 1949, she was again an uncredited extra in the Lucille Ball film Easy Living. 

In The Fuller Brush Girl (1950), she was an uncredited dancer (!) in the Lucille Ball sequel to The Fuller Brush Man (1948). 

In 1955 she began doing television and her third appearance on the small screen was as Don Loper’s saleswoman Amzie in “The Fashion Show” (ILL S4;E20), filmed on December 23, 1954 and first aired on February 28, 1955.  

The episode was colorized in December 2017.  

Two years later she was back at Desilu to film an episode of their Western series “The Sheriff of Cochise” and appear on “December Bride”, a series that Executive Producer Desi Arnaz guest-starred on in 1956. 

In 1961, she returned to Desilu for an episode of “The Real McCoys” starring Richard Crenna (above). Alan Hale Jr. played her husband. 

From 1958 to 1962, Strickland made eight appearances on “The Danny Thomas Show” – all as different characters. The series was filmed at Desilu and did a 1958 cross-over episode with “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” and in return Lucy and Desi appeared on “The Danny Thomas Show.” 

In March 1963, she played a maid on Desilu’s hit gangster series “The Untouchables.”  

Like “The Danny Thomas Show,” Strickland was seen in seven episodes of “The Dick Van Dyke Show” (also filmed at Desilu) from 1963 to 1965 – all as different characters. 

And again, on “The Andy Griffith Show” (filmed on the Desilu back lot), Strickland did six different characters from 1960 to 1965. 

Strickland once again acted opposite Lucille Ball, again playing a saleswoman in “Lucy Bags A Bargain” (TLS S4;E17) first aired on January 17, 1966.  Instead of dresses, Strickland was selling hats. 

In February of that same year she played a Governess on “Gomer Pyle USMC” filmed at Desilu. In November Jim Nabors (Gomer Pyle) made a cameo appearance on “The Lucy Show”. 

In December 1968, Strickland made an appearance on “My Three Sons,” a series shot at Desilu, just before it was sold to Paramount.  She continued acting in films and television appearing in such features as Doc Hollywood (1991) and Pretty Woman (1990).

In 1981, she appeared on one of Lucille Ball’s favorite sitcoms, “Three’s Company” with John Ritter. 

Her final screen appearances was  in the independent film Wanderlust (2001), not to be confused with the Jennifer Aniston / Paul Rudd feature of the same name. 

From 1946 to his death in 1986, Strickland was married to actor Frank Behrens, who had appeared on the Desilu or Desilu Studios-filmed shows “The Ann Sothern Show,” “The Westinghouse-Desilu Playhouse,” “The Andy Griffith Show,” and “The Untouchables.”  The two only appeared together once – on a 1960 episode of “The Chevy Mystery Show.” 

Amzie Strickland died on July 5, 2006 in Spokane, Washington, from Alzheimer’s disease. She was 87 years old.