Betty Furness
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Notes
"Betty Furness spend the first part of her television career pitching products on behalf of advertisers, and the rest of it defending consumers against some of those advertisers."--Tim Brooks ("The Complete Directory to Primetime TV Stars", 1987)
Board of directors member for the Consumers Union (1969- ).
Biography
Attractive blonde minor film actress of the 1930s (notably as the lead in "Midshipman Jack" 1933 and as featured player in "The Magnificent Obsession" 1935) who became a household name in the 1950s as a model opening refrigerator doors for Westinghouse television commercials and uttering the familiar catch phrase "You can be sure...if it's Westinghouse."
In the 1960s Furness was apppointed President Johnson's Special Assistant for Consumer Affairs and brought a new high visibility to consumer rights and corporate responsibility. In 1973 she shifted her focus to local consumer affairs when she was named commissioner of New York City's Dpeartment of Consumer Affairs and functioned as chairwoman of New York State's Consumer Protection Board. She pioneered as one of the first consumer affairs reporters in TV broadcasting, serving as correspondent for NBC News from 1974 to 1992, covering issues ranging from the underreporting calories by food companies to faulty auto tires.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Cast (Short)
Life Events
1930
Became a child model at age 14 (date approximate)
1932
Began modeling for the John Roberts Powers Agency
1932
Film debut in "Renegades of the West"
1933
Signed by RKO
1939
Ended film career
1949
Became TV's highest-paid product representative as model/spokeswoman for Westinghouse refrigerators throughout the 1950s on CBS dramatic series "Studio One"
1951
Starred in her own TV series, "Byline" playing a reporter
1972
Resumed consumer column in MCCALL'S
1973
Named New York City Commissioner of Consumer Affairs by Mayor John Lindsay
1976
Was given an on-air tryout as cohost of "Today" after the departure of Barbara Walters; the job went to Jane Pauley
1990
Successfully battled stomach cancer
1992
Let go as consumer affairs reporter by NBC; to be replaced by a more aggressive investigative reporter in March
Videos
Movie Clip
Trailer
Family
Companions
Bibliography
Notes
"Betty Furness spend the first part of her television career pitching products on behalf of advertisers, and the rest of it defending consumers against some of those advertisers."--Tim Brooks ("The Complete Directory to Primetime TV Stars", 1987)
Board of directors member for the Consumers Union (1969- ).
Served as a board of directors member to the Common Cause in 1971-75.
She was awarded honorary LLD from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1968.
She was granted honorary Doctor of Civil Law from Pace University (1973).
Received a honorary LLD from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY (1978).
She was given a honorary LLD from Marymount College (1983)
