Shirley Booth wasn't even supposed to be a sitcom star. Think about that for a second. Before she ever put on that iconic maid's uniform, she was a titan of the stage and serious film, having already scooped up an Oscar, a Tony, and a Golden Globe for Come Back, Little Sheba. So, when she signed on to play a live-action version of a single-panel cartoon from The Saturday Evening Post, people in Hollywood definitely raised an eyebrow. But the cast of tv show hazel didn’t just work; they captured a specific kind of post-war American optimism that hasn't quite been replicated since.
It’s weirdly comforting. Hazel Burke wasn't just "the help." She was basically the CEO of the Baxter household, much to the chagrin of "Mr. B." The chemistry between the leads transformed what could have been a repetitive gag into one of the most beloved shows of the 1960s.
The Unstoppable Shirley Booth as Hazel Burke
Booth was the sun that the rest of the cast orbited around. Honestly, her timing was impeccable. She had this way of making Hazel seem both incredibly intrusive and deeply loving at the exact same time. She was the first actress to win an Emmy for a lead role in a comedy series two years in a row (1962 and 1963). That’s no small feat.
She played Hazel with a sort of brassy confidence. You have to remember, in the early 60s, domestic workers on TV were often portrayed as either invisible or subservient. Hazel was neither. She was a Meddler with a capital M. Whether she was fixing the plumbing or giving George Baxter unsolicited legal advice, Booth made you believe that Hazel was the smartest person in the room.
Interestingly, Booth was quite private in real life. Unlike many of her contemporaries, she didn't crave the Hollywood limelight outside of her work. She lived a relatively quiet life in Cape Cod after the show ended. Fans often expected her to be as outgoing as Hazel, but she was actually quite reserved, a classic example of a performer leaving it all on the stage—or the set.
Don DeFore: The Perfect Foil
You can't talk about the cast of tv show hazel without diving into the frustration of George Baxter. Don DeFore had the thankless task of playing the "straight man" to a whirlwind. As a successful corporate lawyer, George wanted order. He wanted a house where the maid didn't argue with his clients. He never got it.
DeFore was a veteran actor who had already seen success on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. He brought a specific kind of 1950s masculinity to the role—authoritative but ultimately soft-hearted. The dynamic between George and Hazel was essentially a power struggle that Hazel won 90% of the time. George would bluster, he’d turn red, he’d yell "Hazel!", and then he’d eventually realize she was right.
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It’s a bit of a tragic TV footnote that DeFore and Whitney Blake (who played his wife, Dorothy) were let go when the show moved from NBC to CBS for its final season. The network wanted to "freshen up" the concept, which basically meant moving Hazel to a new house with George’s brother. Fans weren't thrilled. The original chemistry between DeFore and Booth was the engine of the show, and losing that "Mr. B" energy felt like a betrayal to many loyal viewers.
Whitney Blake and the "Missy" Factor
Whitney Blake played Dorothy Baxter, affectionately known as "Missy." She was the bridge between George’s grumpiness and Hazel’s chaos. Blake had a difficult job because Dorothy was often written as the peacemaker, which can be a boring role. However, she gave the character a sophisticated, artistic edge—Dorothy was an interior decorator, which gave her a life outside just being a "sitcom mom."
Off-camera, Whitney Blake was a powerhouse. She wasn't just an actress; she was a creator. If her name sounds familiar to younger generations, it might be because she co-created the hit sitcom One Day at a Time with her husband, Allan Manings. She was a forward-thinker who understood the industry far beyond her lines on the page.
Her daughter is Meredith Baxter, of Family Ties fame. You can definitely see the resemblance and the shared talent for grounded, relatable acting. Blake’s presence on Hazel provided a necessary warmth that balanced out the sharper comedic beats.
Bobby Buntrock: The Kid in the Middle
Then there was Harold. Bobby Buntrock played the Baxter's son, and he was one of those rare child actors who didn't feel "stagey." He and Hazel were partners in crime. While George was busy being an adult, Hazel and Harold were usually off having some sort of neighborhood adventure or making a mess in the kitchen.
Buntrock’s story is one of the more somber ones among the cast of tv show hazel. After the show ended in 1966, he struggled to find footing in an industry that often discards child stars once they hit puberty. He eventually moved away from acting and worked in construction. Sadly, he passed away in a bridge accident in South Dakota at the young age of 21. It’s a stark reminder of the fleeting nature of child stardom, but his performance as Harold remains a bright spot of 60s television.
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The Great CBS Shift: Ray Fulmer and Lynn Borden
When the show jumped to CBS for the 1965-1966 season, the landscape changed. George and Dorothy were written out—sent to Baghdad for George’s work—leaving Harold and Hazel to move in with George’s brother, Steve Baxter.
Ray Fulmer stepped in as Steve, a real estate agent, and Lynn Borden played his wife, Barbara.
- Ray Fulmer: He brought a younger, slightly more modern vibe than DeFore, but the "brother" dynamic never quite replaced the "employer" dynamic of the early seasons.
- Lynn Borden: A former Miss Arizona, Borden was lovely and capable, but the audience had spent four years falling in love with "Missy." It was an uphill battle from day one.
- Julia Benjamin: She joined the cast as the young daughter Susie, adding a new "kid" element to the house alongside a teenage Harold.
The final season isn't necessarily bad, but it feels like a different show. The charm of Hazel was always rooted in the specific class tensions and mutual respect between a high-powered lawyer and his headstrong maid. When that was diluted, the magic started to fade.
Why the Supporting Cast Mattered
A show like Hazel thrived on its recurring characters. These weren't just one-off guest stars; they were the fabric of the neighborhood.
- Maudie Prickett as Rosie: Hazel’s best friend and a fellow maid. Their gossip sessions over the backyard fence provided a "downstairs" perspective on the wealthy families they worked for.
- Howard Smith as Harvey Griffin: George’s most difficult and wealthiest client. He was a blowhard who only listened to one person: Hazel.
- Cathy Lewis as Deirdre Thompson: George's snooty sister who constantly looked down on Hazel. The episodes where Hazel put Deirdre in her place were always fan favorites.
These actors brought a sense of world-building to the series. You felt like the Baxters lived in a real town with real neighbors, not just a soundstage in Culver City.
The Production Magic Behind the Scenes
People forget that Hazel was a pioneer in some ways. It was one of the few shows of its era to be filmed in color from the very beginning (though it aired in black and white for those without color sets). This gave it a vibrant, lush look that made the Baxter home feel aspirational.
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The show was produced by Screen Gems, the television arm of Columbia Pictures. They knew how to make high-quality "comfort TV." The writing staff, including creators like Ted Key (who drew the original cartoon), kept the scripts tight. They leaned into the "Hazel-isms"—those moments where she’d say "Everything’s under control!" right before something exploded.
Navigating the Legacy of the Show
Looking back at the cast of tv show hazel from a 2026 perspective, it’s easy to dismiss it as a relic of a simpler time. And sure, the social dynamics are dated. But there’s a reason it stayed in syndication for decades.
The show tapped into a universal desire for someone to take care of things. Hazel wasn't just a maid; she was the competent adult we all wish we had in our lives. She fixed the sink, she handled the tax man, and she made sure everyone was fed and loved.
The chemistry between Booth and DeFore specifically is a masterclass in comedic friction. They didn't always like each other, but they clearly loved each other. That nuance is what kept the show from becoming a caricature.
What You Can Do Next to Explore Hazel
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the world of 1960s sitcoms or the specific careers of these actors, here are a few actual steps you can take:
- Watch the transition: Find the first episode of Season 5 on a streaming service like Prime Video or Tubi. Compare it to a Season 1 episode. You can physically see the change in lighting, wardrobe, and tone that marked the shift from NBC to CBS.
- Research Shirley Booth’s dramatic work: To truly appreciate her comedy, you have to see her range. Look for clips of her in Come Back, Little Sheba. The contrast between that raw, tragic performance and her work as Hazel is mind-blowing.
- Check out the original comic strips: Ted Key’s Hazel cartoons are still available in various anthology books. Seeing the 1940s origins of the character helps you understand why she was such a "tough broad" on the TV screen.
- Explore the "Screen Gems" catalog: If you like the "feel" of Hazel, look into other shows from the same production house like Bewitched or The Donna Reed Show. They shared many of the same directors and crew members, which is why they have that specific mid-century aesthetic.
The show eventually ended because Shirley Booth was tired and her health was beginning to decline, not necessarily because the ratings had bottomed out. It went out while people still cared, which is the best any TV cast can hope for.
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