I’d like to wish everyone a wonderful, happy, healthy, safe and joyous Holiday Season.
I wanted to write this month about a dear and precious friend of mine. Her name is Karolyn Grimes (that’s us in the photo).
Karolyn is a wonderful actress and can best be remembered for the iconic line: “Every time a bell rings, an Angel gets its wings.” That was in one of the most famous and revered films of all time; the 1946 film “It’s a Wonderful Life” starring Jimmy Stewart, Lionel Barrymore and Donna Reed.
Karolyn played the little girl “Zuzu,” the daughter of Stewart and Reed. It was said that they named her Zuzu after a Ginger snap cookie called Zuzu.
The strange thing is that when the movie first came out it was considered a flop! Hard to believe because now it is truly one of the most beloved films of all time.
It was directed by Frank Capra and not only is it an iconic film in America but is also considered the second most loved Christmas film of all time in the U.K.
In the 1990s the Target store chain chose “It’s a Wonderful Life” as its marketing theme for Christmas. Because of that, Karolyn was able to tour the country to promote it and was asked to be one of the stores ambassadors .
Additionally, every year, she and Jimmy Hawkins (who was the little boy in the film) appear at the Seneca Falls Festival in New York where people from all over come to celebrate.
Karolyn was also in other films such as The Bishops Wife (with Loretta Young) and Hans Christian Andersen along with various TV shows, but it is “A Wonderful Life” for what she is best known.
She also has a podcast called “Zuzu: All Grown Up.” I was honored to be her recent guest.
To say Karolyn is a delight would be an understatement for sure. I truly love her as she is a wonderful person through and through and I am blessed to call her my friend.
Until next time remember… You’ll never have this day again, so make it count.
