Rhoda Williams: Movies & Box Office

Rhoda Elaine Williams (July 19, 1930 – March 8, 2006) was an American actress whose career spanned the Golden Age of radio, classic Hollywood cinema, and the early days of television. Born in Denver, Colorado, she displayed an extraordinary aptitude for language, learning to read at age three and quickly moving into radio where she hosted her own weekly program on KMPC called “We Who Are Young.” By fourteen she had already graduated from Hollywood High School and earned a degree in theatre arts from the University of California, a remarkable achievement that set the foundation for a lifelong devotion to performance and speech. Williams’ early screen work included uncredited appearances in such classics as National Velvet (1944) and All the King’s Men (1949), but her most memorable role came in 1950 when she provided the iconic voice of Drizella Tremaine, Cinderella’s cunning stepsister, in Walt Disney’s Cinderella. She continued to lend her versatile vocal talents to numerous projects, dubbing Brigitte Bardot in the American version of The Night Heaven Fell, voicing alien characters in Star Trek IV and V, and even contributing uncredited dialogue for an episode of The Twilight Zone. Beyond acting, Williams pursued academic excellence, earning a Master of Arts in Theatre from California State University, Northridge in 1972, and subsequently teaching dialects and speech at CSUN and the Estelle Harman Actor’s Workshop. Her commitment to the profession extended into union leadership; after joining SAG in 1937 and AFTRA in 1939, she served in numerous elected positions, edited the local publication DIALLOG, and championed employment initiatives for performing‑arts professionals through CETA. In her later years, after relocating to Eugene, Oregon, Williams remained active on stage, performing in local productions such as “Pirates” at the Lord Leebrick Theater. She passed away on March 8, 2006 from cardiac arrest, leaving behind a legacy of artistic excellence, pedagogical dedication, and tireless advocacy for entertainers’ rights.