Dody Goodman's voice was once described as sounding like "a Tweetie Pie cartoon bird strangling on peanut butter." This absurd description fittingly captured the essence of the comedienne. Her flakiness seemed so real that one wondered if it was the real Dody Goodman or just a savvy comedienne who knew exactly how to package herself. Maybe a little of both.
Born Dolores Goodman on October 28, 1914, in Columbus, Ohio, Dody's early beginnings were in dance and ballet. She eventually transitioned to Broadway, making her debut as a ballet dancer in the short-lived musical "Viva O'Brien" in 1941. She continued to gain experience in various musicals, including "Something for the Boys," "One Touch of Venus," and "Wonderful Town."
Dody's big break in comedy came when she made a guest appearance on Jack Paar's "Tonight Show" in 1957. She became a regular on the show and earned an Emmy nomination, but was later dropped due to her tendency to upstage Paar. She went on to become a popular guest on game shows and chatfests.
On stage, Dody played a variety of roles, including the Carol Burnett role in a tour of "Once Upon a Mattress" and supporting roles in "Fiorello!" and the "New Cole Porter Review." She did not return to Broadway until over a decade later with a supporting role in "Lorelei" starring Carol Channing in 1974.
Dody's ideal showcase for her loopy talents was as Louise Lasser's mother, Martha Shumway, on the TV satire "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" in 1976. She went on to appear in various TV shows and movies, including "Diff'rent Strokes," "Grease," and "Splash." She also provided a regular cartoon voiceover for "Alvin & the Chipmunks" for years.
On stage, Dody earned a Drama Desk nomination for her appearance in the O'Neill play "Ah, Wilderness!" in 1984. She spent several seasons touring in the musical farce "Nunsense," starting out as Sister Mary Amnesia and graduating to the role of Mother Superior.
At the age of 85, Dody was still kicking up her heels in one of the show's many spin-offs, "Nuncrackers," and was glimpsed occasionally as a guest on "The David Letterman Show." She continued to appear at special events past the age of 90 before passing away peacefully on June 22, 2008, at the age of 93.
