Alice Pearce (1917-1966) was an American television and film comedic actress best known for her Emmy Award winning role as the nosy neighbor Gladys Kravitz in the television sitcom Bewitched (1964-1966). Pearce was married to composer John Rox from 1948 until his death in 1957. John Rox’s most popular song was the 1953 novelty song I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas. Pearce then remarried stage manager and director Paul Davis (1922-1984) in 1964, the two remained married until Pearce’s death in 1966.

Pearce began working in nightclubs as a comedian and was cast in the original Broadway production of On the Town (1944-1946). Gene Kelly was so impressed by her that she became the only cast member to be included in the 1949 film version. Her comedic performance was well received by critics and public alike, and she was given her own television variety show, The Alice Pearce Show. More film roles followed, and Pearce made more appearances on Broadway, where she met her second husband, Paul Davis, during a production of Bells Are Ringing. Peace was cast as the nosy neighbor Gladys Kravitz in the television sitcom Bewitched in 1964. She won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series posthumously after the second season of the series. Alice Pearce died of ovarian cancer March 3, 1966.