Bobo Lewis Explained

Bobo Lewis
Birth Name:Barbara Lewis
Birth Date:14 May 1926
Birth Place:Miami, Florida, U.S.
Death Place:New York City, U.S.
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:1962–1998

Barbara "Bobo" Lewis (May 14, 1926 – November 6, 1998) was an American comedic actress of film, musical theatre, stage and television.

Born in Miami, Florida, Lewis studied acting and won a Drama Desk Award in 1978 for portraying a teacher in Working on Broadway. In 1997, she was nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award.[1]

Stage roles

Television

Bobo Lewis was most famous for her role as gossip Midge Smoot on the children's television series Shining Time Station. She remained with the show for its entire run from 1989 to 1993. Lewis would later appear in the four succeeding Shining Time Specials in 1995. Her other television appearances include roles on sitcoms such as Bewitched, The Monkees, That Girl, and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C..

Film

Bobo was seen in a handful of well-known films such as It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), Under the Yum Yum Tree (1963), Way...Way Out (1966) Can't Stop the Music (1980), Arthur (1981) Her Alibi (1989), Miami Blues (1990) and The Paper (1994).

Legacy

She teamed up with her Broadway co-star Lynne Thigpen (Working, 1978) to create the Lynne Thigpen-Bobo Lewis Foundation "to help young actresses and actors learn how to survive and succeed in New York theater".

Death

Lewis died on November 6, 1998, at New York Hospital in Manhattan from cancer, aged 72.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1962The Interns Gwen
1963Under the Yum Yum Tree Claudia Hoffer
1963It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World Pilot's Wife Uncredited
1964Kiss Me, Stupid Waitress
1966Way... Way Out Esther Davenport
1970Which Way to the Front? Camille Bland
1975The Wild Party Wilma
1975Lovers Like Us Miss Mark
1980Can't Stop the Music Breadwoman
1981The Nesting Catherine Beasley
1981Arthur Lady in Coffee Shop
1982Blood Bride Mama
1987The Adventure of the Action Hunters
1988Running on Empty Home Ec Teacher
1989Her Alibi Rose
1990Miami Blues Edna Damrosch
1994The Paper Anna
1998One True Thing Muriel
1998Just the Ticket Mrs. Dolmatch
1999Hit and Runway Cousin Rosalie (final film role)

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: November 13, 1998. Bobo Lewis, 72, Longtime Actress In Circle Repertory. B 14. The New York Times. June 2, 2021.