Actress. She is best remembered for her portrayal of the faithful maid Manby in "Mr. Skeffington" (1944). Born Bergetta Peterson, she was raised within a traditional working-class family. After attaining her degree in theatrical arts from Chicago Musical College, she joined Borgony Hammer's Ibsen Repertory Company and began her professional career as a leading lady in stock companies appearing in such productions as "Subway Express," "Dracula," "God Loves Us," "Find Daddy," "Pomeroy's Past," "Cobra," and "The Fall Guy". Upon being introduced to director Hobart Henley during a dinner party at the home of actress Helen Mack, he was so impressed by her dark good looks, slim physique, and professionalism, that he took notice of her potential and arranged for her to begin a career in the film industry beginning with her appearing under his supervision in a major role in "Mother's Cry" (1930). From there, she would go on to enjoy a fruitful career as a notable character actress appearing in over 100 features; often typecast as wives, long-suffering mothers, old maids, best friends, secretaries, white-collared workers, nurses, manicurists, aristocrats, busybodies, eccentrics, curmudgeons, caregivers, dowdy matrons, literary figures, housekeepers, educators, landladies, neighbors, clergywomen, and nannies. She appeared in such feature films as "Party Husband" (1931), "Forbidden" (1932), "I'm No Angel" (1933), "Society Doctor" (1934), "Freckles" (1935), "Reunion" (1936), "Under Cover of Night" (1937), "Haunted Men" (1938), "Dark Victory" (1939), "Too Many Husbands" (1940), "Cheers for Miss Bishop" (1941), "Saboteur" (1942), "This Is the Army" (1943), "Faces in the Fog" (1944), "Sister Kenny" (1946), and "That Hagen Girl" (1947). On television, she became an even more familiar face appearing in numerous guest spots on such syndicated sitcoms as "Kraft Theatre," "Studio One," "Pulitzer Prize Playhouse," "Martin Kane," "Nash Airflyte Theatre," "Suspense," "Celanese Theatre," "Robert Montgomery Presents," "Lux Video Theatre," "Campbell Summer Soundstage," "Modern Romances," "Tales of Tomorrow," "Naked City," "Star Tonight," "Janet Dean, Registered Nurse," and "The Patty Duke Show". During her career, she was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, had been an honorary member of Actors Equity, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, had been a member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee, was a regular parishioner of the Methodist church, presided as a chairwoman for her local charters of the American Red Cross and The Girl Scouts, was a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, and she was married to fellow character actor Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams from 1943 until 1962 (their union ended upon his death and produced no children). Following her retirement in 1964, she spent the remainder of her life living in luxury within a Park Avenue suite, had been a generous benefactor for several public schools and libraries, and was involved in charitable and religious ventures, until her death.