Also known as Betty Boyd, Elizabeth Lee Boyd (1929-2016) was born in the Panama Canal Zone to Alfred and Marian Boyd. She lived in various states before settling in Dallas, Texas, where she began studying acting and ballet. She graduated from Highland Park High School and moved to Berkeley, California where she would earn her Bachelor of Arts in 1950. She competed in Miss San Francisco and Miss Packaging that year, winning the latter of them. She rejected a lot of modeling opportunities so that she could become a stage actress.
She performed with the Oakland Ballet, starred in two movies, and appeared in various stage productions with the Oakland Community Players. It was during rehearsals of The Snob that she met Roger Altenberg, who was directing the production.
They married in 1954 and had two children. They moved to the San Francisco Bay Area shortly thereafter.
After leaving Hollywood, Elizabeth decided to teach theater instead. She was hired at California State University, East Bay, where she mentored students who became successful actors.
She was part of the Church of Religious Science as well. She retired in Honolulu, Hawaii, where she remained until her death on December 1, 2016 surrounded by her sons Lee and Wayne.
40s
