Claudia Bryar ( Hortense Rizley; May 18, 1918 – June 16, 2011) was an
American actress. She portrayed
Emma Spool in the film ''
Psycho II'' (1983).
Early years
Bryar was one of seven children of Ruby Elaine (née Seal) and
Ross Rizley, a congressman and federal judge.
Career
Active from the 1950s to the 1980s, she gained early acting experience with the
Pasadena Playhouse.
She appeared in such television series as ''
Wanted Dead or Alive'', ''
Gunsmoke
''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centered on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central charact ...
'', ''
Bonanza
''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 12, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 431 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running Western, the second-longest-running Western series on ...
'', ''
The Guns of Will Sonnett'', ''
The Real McCoys'', ''
The Bob Newhart Show'', ''
The Twilight Zone'', ''
Leave It to Beaver'', ''
Dennis the Menace'', ''
The Andy Griffith Show'', and ''
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.'' Her last television role was in an episode of ''
Hill Street Blues''. She appeared in such films as ''
I Was a Teenage Frankenstein'' (1957), ''
Bad Company'' (1972), ''
Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid'' (1973), and as Mrs.
Emma Spool in ''
Psycho II'' (1983) and ''
Psycho III'' (1986). She appeared in such made-for-TV movies as ''
The Family Nobody Wanted'' (1975) and ''
Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn'' (1977).
Personal life
Bryar was married to actor
Paul Bryar
Paul Bryar (born Gabriel Paul Barrere; February 21, 1910 – August 30, 1985) was an American actor. In a career spanning nearly half a century, he appeared in numerous films and television series.
Career
Bryar appeared in nearly 220 fil ...
(born Gabriel Paul Barrere) until his death in 1985. The couple had three children, including
Paul Barrere, guitarist and singer with the rock band
Little Feat
Little Feat is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California formed by lead vocalist and guitarist Lowell George, bassist Roy Estrada (both formerly of the Mothers of Invention), keyboardist Bill Payne, and drummer Richie Hayward in ...
.
On June 16, 2011, Bryar died in Los Angeles at the age of 93.
Selected filmography
*''
The Houston Story'' (1956) as Clara Phelan (uncredited)
*''
Giant
In folklore, giants (from Ancient Greek: ''wiktionary:gigas, gigas'', cognate wiktionary:giga-, giga-) are beings of humanoid appearance, but are at times prodigious in size and strength or bear an otherwise notable appearance. The word ''gia ...
'' (1956) as Older Beauty Operator (uncredited)
*''
The Wrong Man'' (1956) as Small Role (uncredited)
*''
I Was a Teenage Frankenstein'' (1957) as Arlene's Mother
*''
The True Story of Lynn Stuart'' (1958) as Nora Efron (uncredited)
*''
Official Detective'' (1958, Episode: "The Deserted House") as Melissa Falcon
*''
Wanted Dead or Alive (TV series)'' (1960) season 3 episode 2 (''The Cure'') as Emily Kendrick
*''
The Andy Griffith Show'' (1961) Episode 18 season 1. "Andy the Marriage Counselor"
*''
Leave It to Beaver'' (1962) Season 5 Episode 22 (''Three Boys & A Burro'') as Mrs. Bates
*''
A Big Hand for the Little Lady'' (1966) as Mrs. Price (uncredited)
*''
The Ride to Hangman's Tree'' (1967) as Mrs. Harmon
*''
The Shakiest Gun in the West'' (1968) as Mrs. Remington (uncredited)
*''
Angel in My Pocket'' (1969) as Mrs. Axel Gresham
*''
Gaily, Gaily'' (1969) as Mother
*''
Bad Company'' (1972) as Mrs. Clum
*''
Ace Eli and Rodger of the Skies'' (1973) as Ann
*''
Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid'' (1973) as Mrs. Horrell
*''
Psycho II'' (1983) as Mrs.
Emma Spool
*''
Psycho III'' (1986) as Mrs. Emma Spool (flashback, uncredited)
References
External links
*
Pictures of Claudia Bryar as Mrs. Emma Spool, Cinemorgue.com
Obituary latimes.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bryar, Claudia
1918 births
2011 deaths
American film actresses
American television actresses
American soap opera actresses
People from Guymon, Oklahoma
Actresses from Oklahoma
21st-century American women