North began a dancing career at age 10 with USO shows during World War II. By age 13, she performed in Hollywood musical shows and Earl Carroll’s variety shows. There she was groomed as a studio glamour girl who could substitute for the more famous but often unreliable Marilyn Monroe. In fact, North was later interviewed or cast in documentaries and shows about Monroe. She may be remembered as Lou Grant's sultry girlfriend on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and Kramer's mother Babs on "Seinfeld".