Florence Lake, born Florence Silverlake on November 27, 1904, was a renowned American actress, notable for her leading lady roles in the majority of Edgar Kennedy's comedy shorts. Standing at a petite height, she was distinguished by her high-pitched speaking voice and a unique comical singsong delivery that established her in "dumb" roles.
Florence's on-screen presence was characterized by her embodiment of flightiness, particularly in her portrayal of the scatterbrained Mrs. Kennedy in the Kennedy comedy shorts. Following the series' conclusion after Edgar Kennedy's death in 1948, she continued to take on character roles in films and television.
Her most iconic television role was that of Jenny, the Claverton telephone operator, in the popular show Lassie, which she played for the entire ten-year "farm seasons" from 1954 to 1964. This made her the Lassie player with the longest tenure on the series.
Florence also made notable appearances in other television shows, including a 1957 episode of The Lone Ranger, titled "The Angel and the Outlaw," where she played the role of Mama Angel. She also appeared in the first color episode of the TV series Superman in 1957, portraying a cave woman.
In her later years, Florence continued to act, appearing as Elvira Norton in an episode of Dragnet, titled "Frauds." She also played a blind date for the character Lou Grant in the episode "Lou's First Date" of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Florence's final roles were in the TV series Emergency! and Baretta in 1976.
Florence Lake passed away on April 11, 1980, leaving behind a legacy as a talented and versatile actress.
