Gladys Kravitz
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2009) |
| Gladys Kravitz | |
|---|---|
| Bewitched character | |
| Created by | Sol Saks |
| Portrayed by | Alice Pearce Sandra Gould |
| Information | |
| Spouse(s) | Abner Kravitz |
Gladys Kravitz is a fictional character on the American situation comedy Bewitched (1964-1972). Portrayed by Alice Pearce from the show's premiere in 1964 until Pearce's death in 1966 and then by Sandra Gould from 1966 until her last appearance in 1971, Gladys Kravitz is an across-the-street neighbor of the program's protagonists, Darrin Stephens (played by Dick York from 1964 to 1969 and Dick Sargent from 1969 until 1972) and his wife, witch Samantha Stephens (Elizabeth Montgomery). Although a relatively minor character on Bewitched, the role was memorable enough that the term "Gladys Kravitz" entered the American lexicon, and is even today used as a synonym for a nosy neighbor or colleague.
Kravitz is extremely nosy, frequently peeking through her curtains at the Stephens' home. She is convinced that there is something strange going on in their household (and indeed there is, for Samantha Stephens often uses witchcraft that creates unusual events, and the Stephens' witch-and-warlock relatives come and go from the house), although she can never adequately prove her assertions to her husband Abner (George Tobias).
Kravitz's nosiness, her frustration at never being able to convince her husband or other neighbors of the odd behavior across the street, and the difficulties she causes the Stephens are all recurring themes on Bewitched. Samantha Stephens always comes up with a fabricated reason why Gladys Kravitz had seen what she had seen, and Kravitz can never prove to others that there is anything beyond the ordinary happening at the Stephens', which causes her no end of annoyance and causes her to question her own impressions and even sanity.
Gladys is one of the few, if not only, mortal characters to see through Samantha and Darrin's ruse. She clearly knows that there is something strange going on, even if she is not entirely sure of the source of the oddities. In contrast, Darrin's boss Larry Tate has frequent contact with Samantha and Darrin and never suspects a thing. Gladys is the one mortal who is observant (or nosy) enough to notice the effects of witchcraft at the Stephens' home, even though no one in the Stephens family ever admits to Gladys that Samantha is a witch.
Alice Pearce, the first Gladys Kravitz, won a posthumous Emmy award in 1966 for her work on Bewitched.
In the 2005 film Bewitched, based on the television series, the role of Gladys Kravitz is played by Amy Sedaris.
[edit] In popular culture
- In the episode "Dammit Janet!" of the animated television series Family Guy, Lois finds her son taking down the Christmas decorations on the roof by throwing rocks at them. "Chris, stop it. What will the neighbors think?" The scene cuts to an animated version of Gladys looking through her window, yelling, "Abner! Abner! The Griffin boy just killed a plastic reindeer!"
- In an episode of The Hogan Family, Jason is trying to convince Sandra he saw something. When she warns him he is "beginning to sound like Gladys Kravitz", he notes "Yeah, but she was always right!"
- In the The Simpsons episode "Milhouse Doesn't Live Here Anymore", Gladys Kravitz has a statue in the TV Museum inside the "Hall of Nosy Neighbors".
