Sandra Gould

Sandra Gould (July 23, 1916 – July 20, 1999) died at the age of 83. Among her many credits was a regular role as Gladys Kravitz on the sitcom Bewitched debuting in the third season.

In September 1966, Gould replaced her friend Alice Pearce, who was battling ovarian cancer during the second season of the ABC-TV situation comedy Bewitched. When Pearce died in March, 1966, actress Mary Grace Canfield was first brought in to play Harriet Kravitz, Abner Kravitz's sister, who would be keeping him company while Gladys was visiting her mother. (The producers were undecided on what to do with the character.) Soon after, Sandra Gould got the role of Mrs. Kravitz, when actress-comedienne Alice Ghostley turned down the role. (Ironically, a few years later, Ghostley would become a semi-regular on the series playing Esmeralda, a well-meaning but inept witch.)

In the role of Gladys, Gould's over-the-top performance and shrill voice were popular with viewers, ultimately making the character her own. She remained with the series through its 7th season. The Kravitzes were referenced once in the final/8th season (ep 241 Three Men and a Witch on a Horse) but the characters did not appear. After Bewitched was cancelled in 1972, Gould reprised the role of Gladys five years later in a spin-off of the series, Tabitha. Gould also made appearances on Columbo, The Brady Bunch, Adam-12, Punky Brewster, Friends and Veronica's Closet.