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Betty Harford, Paper Chase Actress, Dies at 98

Published 10 November 2025

Betty Harford, the veteran actress best known for her roles as the efficient secretary Mrs. Nottingham on the legal drama The Paper Chase and as the loyal cook Hilda Gunnerson on the soap opera Dynasty, died on November 2 in Santa Barbara, California. She was 98.

Her death was confirmed by friend Wendy Mitchell, who posted on Facebook that Harford passed away peacefully at noon with family by her side. Mitchell had expressed concern about Harford's well-being in a prior social media update, noting that the actress had been recovering from the flu and had not responded to recent visits or calls.

Born on January 27, 1927, in New York City, Harford built a prolific career spanning radio, television, film and theater over more than four decades. She began in the early 1950s with radio appearances on programs such as Gunsmoke and Crime Classics, transitioning to television with guest roles on anthology series including Fireside Theatre, Luv Video Theatre and Alfred Hitchcock Presents, where she appeared in two episodes between 1955 and 1957.

Throughout the 1960s, Harford accumulated credits on popular shows like The Twilight Zone, Gunsmoke, Richard Diamond, Private Detective,...

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