Lee Meriwether Explained

Lee Meriwether
Birth Name:Lee Ann Meriwether
Birth Date:27 May 1935
Birth Place:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Education:George Washington High School
Alma Mater:City College of San Francisco
Known For:Barnaby Jones
Batman
The Time Tunnel
Years Active:1954–present
Miss San Francisco 1954
Miss California 1954
Miss America 1955
Predecessor:Evelyn Margaret Ay
Successor:Sharon Ritchie
Spouse:
    Children:2

    Lee Ann Meriwether (born May 27, 1935)[1] is an American actress, former model, and the winner of the 1955 Miss America pageant. She has appeared in many films and television shows, notably as Betty Jones, the title character's secretary and daughter-in-law in the 1970s crime drama Barnaby Jones starring Buddy Ebsen. The role earned her two Golden Globe Award nominations in 1975 and 1976, and an Emmy Award nomination in 1977. She is also known for her portrayal of Catwoman, replacing Julie Newmar in the TV version of Batman (1966), and for a co-starring role on the science fiction series The Time Tunnel. Meriwether had a recurring role as Ruth Martin on the daytime soap opera All My Children until the end of the series in September 2011.

    Early life

    Meriwether was born in Los Angeles, California, to Claudius Gregg Meriwether and Ethel Eve Mulligan. She has one brother, Don Brett Meriwether. She grew up in San Francisco after the family moved there from Phoenix, Arizona. She attended George Washington High School, where one of her classmates was Johnny Mathis. She later attended City College of San Francisco, where one of her classmates was fellow actor Bill Bixby.[2]

    After winning Miss San Francisco, Meriwether won Miss California 1954,[3] then was crowned Miss America in 1955 with her recital of a John Millington Synge monologue. She then appeared that Sunday on What's My Line?, hosted by John Charles Daly (who also emceed the pageant that year). [4] Following her reign as Miss America, she joined the Today show.[5]

    An August 1, 1956, international news wirephoto of Meriwether and Joe DiMaggio announced their engagement. According to DiMaggio biographer Richard Ben Cramer, however, it was a rumor started by Walter Winchell.[6]

    Career

    1950s

    Meriwether was a "Today Girl" on NBC's The Today Show from 1955 to 1956. Her feature film debut came in 1959 as Linda Davis in 4D Man, starring Robert Lansing. She appears in The Phil Silvers Show episode, "Cyrano de Bilko".

    1960s

    In 1961, Meriwether guest starred once as Gloria in the episode "Buddy and the Amazon" on her first husband's (Frank Aletter) one-season CBS sitcom, Bringing Up Buddy. She also appeared in Leave It To Beaver episode "Community Chest" in season four. In 1962, she was cast as Martha Elweiss in the episode "My Child Is Yet a Stranger" on the CBS anthology series, The Lloyd Bridges Show. She played Nurse Dickens in a 1962 episode of the ABC sitcom, I'm Dickens, He's Fenster. From 1963 to 1965, she was cast in different roles in eight episodes of the NBC medical drama, Dr. Kildare. In 1964, she played the character Jeanelle in "This Is Going to Hurt Me More Than It Hurts You" on the CBS adventure series, Route 66. In 1965, she appeared in an episode on The Jack Benny Program as The Secretary. In a 1965 episode of 12 O'Clock High, "Mutiny at Ten Thousand Feet", she played Lieutenant Amy Patterson, and in the episodes "The Idolator" (also 1965) and "The Outsider" (1966), she played Captain Phyllis Vincent. She also guest starred in the season 2 episode "Big Brother". She was a regular on the single season science fiction television series The Time Tunnel with James Darren and Robert Colbert in 1966–1967.

    Meriwether appeared as Dr. Egret on the NBC series, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. ("The Mad, Mad Tea Party", 1965) and in an episode of Hazel ("How to Lose 30 Pounds in 30 Minutes", also 1965) she played Miss Wilson, the owner of an exercise studio. Meriwether portrayed The Catwoman for the Batman movie (1966), and also appeared in two episodes of the Batman TV series in 1967 as Lisa Carson, a love interest to Bruce Wayne in the episodes "King Tut's Coup" and "Batman's Waterloo". In the late 1960s and early 1970s, she had guest starring roles in numerous TV series, including The Fugitive, Mannix, Star Trek episode "That Which Survives" (1969), Perry Mason episodes #245 "The Case of the Cheating Chancellor" and "The Case of the Frustrated Folksinger" (both 1965), and the F Troop episode "O'Rourke vs. O'Reilly".

    In films, she joined John Wayne and Rock Hudson for The Undefeated,[7] and Andy Griffith in Angel in My Pocket (both 1969).[8] In the same year as those two films, she played IMF spy Tracey in six Mission: Impossible episodes during season four after Barbara Bain's departure.

    1970s

    Meriwether began her award-nominated role as secretary and daughter-in-law Betty Jones in the 1973 - 1980 CBS series Barnaby Jones, opposite Buddy Ebsen.[9] During the series' eight-year run she enjoyed an on- and off-screen chemistry with the elder Ebsen. During the series' run, she was reunited with her former classmate and best friend Bill Bixby during one episode. After her stint on Barnaby Jones, Meriwether became best friends with Ebsen, keeping in touch for many years until his death on July 6, 2003. She starred in the 1978 television movies with Warren Oates as Rooster Cogburn and Cruise Into Terror with an all-star ensemble cast, appeared on Circus of the Stars four times, and was a regular panelist on the game show Match Game.

    1980s

    Meriwether portrayed Lily Munster in the 1988–1991 revival of the 1960s television sitcom The Munsters, titled The Munsters Today, in which she starred alongside Jason Marsden, John Schuck, Howard Morton and Hilary Van Dyke.[7] She also made several guest appearances on The Love Boat and Fantasy Island.

    1990s

    In the 1990s, she appeared as herself on an episode of Space Ghost Coast to Coast. In 1993, she guest starred on Murder, She Wrote, episode "Ship of Thieves". In 1996, Meriwether took over for Mary Fickett in the role of Ruth Martin on the soap opera All My Children, Fickett having played the role since its inception in 1970.[10] After twenty-six years, Fickett wanted to go into semi-retirement as a recurring cast member. Negotiations with the network broke down and Meriwether was cast as Ruth Martin. In 1998, ABC deemed that they were at an impasse with Meriwether's agents and Mary Fickett was brought back as a recurring cast member. Fickett retired again, this time for good in December 2000. ABC decided to bring back the character of Ruth Martin in 2002, but Fickett remained in retirement. Meriwether was hence brought back and remained a featured recurring performer on the show until it ended.

    2000s

    In 2002, she appeared in the documentary film Miss America. In 2003, Meriwether appeared in the TV-Movie . She also appeared off-Broadway in the interactive comedy, Grandma Sylvia's Funeral. She voiced Big Mama in the video game for the PlayStation 3. She also appears in one of the game's opening videos as a talkshow host having an interview with David Hayter, who voices Solid Snake in the game.[11] In 2006, she joined James Garner, Abigail Breslin, Bill Cobbs and others in The Ultimate Gift. In 2008, Meriwether had a brief cameo as comic book character Battle Diva in the episode "Harper Knows" of the Disney Channel original series Wizards of Waverly Place. In 2010, she was once again reunited on screen with Hollywood veteran Bill Cobbs in . She voices President Winters in the video game Vanquish by PlatinumGames.[12]

    2010s

    Meriwether continued to work on stage, television, game voice-overs, and feature films. She has made guest appearances on Desperate Housewives, Hawaii Five-0, The League, and Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23. Most recently, she revisited her role as Miss Hastings in the sequel/prequel to The Ultimate Gift, The Ultimate Life (2013), directed by Michael Landon Jr.[13] She is also starring in the short film Kitty.

    She also makes appearances at Comic Cons where she speaks about her roles in Batman, Star Trek, and Time Tunnel.[14]

    Personal life

    On April 20, 1958, Meriwether married Frank Aletter. They had two daughters, actresses Kyle Aletter-Oldham and Lesley A. Aletter, and divorced in 1974. On September 21, 1986, Meriwether married Marshall Borden.[15] [16]

    Filmography

    Film

    YearTitleRoleNotes
    19594D ManLinda Davis
    1963The Courtship of Eddie's FatherLee, Tom's ReceptionistUncredited
    1966BatmanSelina Kyle / Catwoman, Kitka
    1966Namu, the Killer WhaleKate Rand
    1968The Legend of Lylah ClareYoung Girl
    1969Angel in My PocketMary Elizabeth Whitehead
    1969The UndefeatedMargaret Langdon
    1973The Brothers O'ToolePaloma Littleberry
    2005Gone PostalFranShort film
    2006The Ultimate GiftMiss Hastings
    2007Say It in RussianParty guest
    2008Touching HomeGrandma Eleanor
    2008Twisted FaithMother ClareShort film
    2010KatieDirect-to-video
    2011Secret IdentityFaye FlorenceShort film
    2012Sunset StoriesMarie
    2012Silent But DeadlyVivian
    2013Remember to BreatheAliceShort film
    2013Birthday CakeOpal Hunt
    2013The Ultimate LifeMiss Hastings
    2013The Curse of the Un-Kissable KidGypsyShort film
    2014Waiting in the Wings: The MusicalEthel
    2014AbaddonOld Ana
    2014Heaven Help UsHelenShort film
    2015A Horse for SummerPatsy
    2015Sunny in the DarkDorothy
    2015In MemoryBeth SawyerShort film
    2016KittyMrs TinsleyShort film
    2016A Christmas in New YorkIrene Burgess
    2017Diary of a LunaticTrew's Mother
    2017Breaking LegsGG
    2017Batman vs. Two-FaceLucilee DiamondVoice, direct-to-video[17]
    2018Hell's KittyGrandma Kyle
    2018Still Waiting In The WingsEthel
    2018Love & DebtMrs Markson

    Television

    YearTitleRoleNotes
    1954–1955The Philco Television PlayhouseDiane3 episodes
    1956Matinee TheatreEpisode: "Sincerely Yours, Charlie Fisher"
    1957The Alcoa HourGirl in the SketchEpisode: "Protégé"
    1957Men of AnnapolisThe GirlEpisode: "The Challenge"
    1958The MillionaireNancy McKuehnEpisode: "The Rod Matthews Story"
    1958The Phil Silvers ShowNatalie RumplemeyerEpisode: "Cyrano De Bilko"
    1958DragnetVicki TearsonEpisode: "The Big Rip"
    1958OmnibusBeautiful WitchEpisode: "Mrs McThing"
    1960–1962The Clear HorizonEnid Ross
    1961Bringing Up BuddyGloria ArnoldEpisode: "Buddy and the Amazon"
    1961Leave It to BeaverYoung Woman NeighborEpisode: "Community Chest"
    1962The Lloyd Bridges ShowMartha ElweissEpisode: "My Child Is Yet a Stranger"
    1962I'm Dickens, He's Fenster2nd Hospital ReceptionistEpisode: "Nurse Dickens"
    1962Alcoa PremiereKerryEpisode: "Whatever Happened to Miss Illinois?"
    1963–1965Dr. KildareNurse Bonnie Tynes / Nurse Angela Springer / Nurse Harper / Nurse Adams / Nurse Betty Johnson8 episodes
    1964Route 66JeanelleEpisode: "This Is Going to Hurt Me More Than It Hurts You"
    1964The Young MarriedsAnn Reynolds #14 episodes
    1964–1965The Jack Benny ProgramSecretary / Mother With Baby w/ Andy Williams2 episodes
    1965Perry MasonEvelyn Wilcox / Natalie Graham2 episodes
    1965Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler TheatrePiper's SecretaryEpisode: "Double Jeopardy"
    1965The Man from U.N.C.L.E.Dr. EgretEpisode: "The Mad, Mad Tea Party Affair"
    1965HazelMiss WilsonEpisode: "How to Lose 30 Pounds in 30 Minutes"
    1965F TroopLily O'ReillyEpisode: "O'Rourke vs. O'Reilly"
    1965–1966Twelve O'Clock HighCapt. Phyllis Vincent / Lt. Amy Patterson3 episodes
    1965–1971The F.B.I.Joanna Lauren / Liz / Marian Converse / Joanna Laurens5 episodes
    1966The FugitiveWillis HempsteadEpisode: "Not with a Whimper"
    1966My Three SonsPhyllis AllenEpisode: "What About Harry?"
    1966Vacation PlayhouseDorisEpisode: "My Son, the Doctor"
    1966–1967The Time TunnelDr. Ann MacGregor30 episodes
    1967BatmanLisa Carson2 episodes
    1967Iron HorseAnne DaughertyEpisode: "Dealer's Choice"
    1967–1970Family AffairClaudia Wells / Lise Lowell2 episodes
    1969LosiraS3:E17, "That Which Survives"
    1969Land of the GiantsMother – Mrs BaraEpisode: "Rescue"
    1969MannixReva DanielsS3-Episode 05: "A Question of Midnight"
    1969–1970Mission: ImpossibleTracey / Anna Rojak8 episodes
    1970The Name of the GameBridgetEpisode: "Island of Gold and Precious Stones"
    1970My World and Welcome to ItMrs BessingerEpisode: "The Middle Years"
    1970InsightMiriamEpisode: "The 7 Minute Life of James Houseworthy"
    1970Nanny and the ProfessorMarrijane FinleyEpisode: "An Element of Risk"
    1970The ImmortalSigrid BergenEpisode: "The Queen's Gambit"
    1971The New Andy Griffith ShowLee Sawyer10 episodes
    1971Dan AugustMiranda LewisEpisode: "The Law"
    1971Love, American StyleSegment: "Love and the Sweet Sixteen"
    1972LongstreetMiss CooperEpisode: "Through Shattering Glass"
    1973The Doris Day ShowLois FrazierEpisode: "Hospital Benefit"
    1973–1980Barnaby JonesBetty Jones178 episodes
    Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama (1975–1976)
    Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (1977)
    1975CannonBetty JonesEpisode: "The Deadly Conspiracy: Part 1"
    1977Having Babies IIMartha CooperTelevision film
    1978Cruise Into TerrorLil MatherTelevision film
    1978Annie SumnerTelevision film
    1979Time ExpressVanessa CartwrightEpisode: "The Copy-Writer/The Figure Skater"
    1979Mirror, MirrorVanessa WagnerTelevision film
    1979–1980CHiPs2 episodes
    1980TouristLulu FlemingtonTelevision film
    1981–1984The Love BoatJessica Elliott / Barbara Braden / Ann Marshall3 episodes
    1983Fantasy IslandLeslie DarnellEpisode: "The Butler's Affair/Roarke's Sacrifice"
    1984Finder of Lost LovesJulia Bennett ParsonsEpisode: "Portraits"
    1985HotelAddie MeredithEpisode: "Cry Wolf"
    1985GlitterEpisode: "The Runaway"
    1985True ConfessionsEpisode: "He's So Young"
    1985–1995Murder, She WroteVanessa Thorpe / Leslie Hunter / Grace Overholtz3 episodes
    1986Mr. BelvedereDonna FlannaganEpisode: "Reunion"
    1987You Are the JuryMarjorie ForrestEpisode: "The State of Oregon vs. Stanley Manning"
    1987Jonathan Winters: On the LedgeTelevision film
    1988–1991The Munsters TodayLily Munster73 episodes
    1991Jake and the FatmanEllen KurtinEpisode: "Nevertheless"
    1992Dark JusticeLee MarshallEpisode: "Happy Mothers Day"
    1996DuckmanWidow Liebner (voice)Episode: "Pig Amok"
    1996–2011All My ChildrenRuth Martin52 episodes
    2000Touched by an AngelKarlaEpisode: "The Face on the Bar Room Floor"
    2003Waitress in DinerTelevision film
    2008Wizards of Waverly PlaceBattle DivaEpisode: "Harper Knows"
    2012Desperate HousewivesDorisEpisode: "What's to Discuss, Old Friend"
    2012Hell's KittyGrandma KyleEpisode: "Catwoman vs. Hell's Kitty"
    2012Hawaii Five-0Helen TiltonEpisode: "Mohai"
    2012Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23Marjorie MeyersEpisode: "Sexy People..."
    2012The LeagueGumma EveEpisode: "Bro-Lo El Cordero"
    2012–2014Project: PhoenixBirdie Spencer6 episodes
    2015The Ultimate LegacyMiss HastingsTelevision film
    2017SuspenseEllen KirkEpisode: "'Keepers of the Twilight'"
    2018Rise of the CatwomanNanaEpisode: "The Night Shift"
    2018Kaplan's KornerAuditionerEpisode: "He's Gone"

    Video games

    YearTitleRoleNotes
    2008Big Mama (EVA)
    2010VanquishPresident Elizabeth Winters

    Awards

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. News: Almanac. May 27, 2023. The Dubuque Telegraph-Herald. A3. Today's Birthdays: Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger is 100. Author John Barth is 93. Actor Lee Meriwether is 88. Actor Louis Gossett Jr. is 87.. . See also:
      • News: Almanac. May 27, 1988. The Hartford Courant. C6. Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger is 65. Actress Lee Meriwether is 53. Actor Louis Gossett Jr. is 52.. .
    2. Book: Bergman . Julia . City College of San Francisco: The Campus History Series . Mathes . Valerie Sherer . White . Austin . Arcadia Publishing . 2010 . 978-1-4396-2526-2 . Charleston, South Carolina . X . en-us . 2021-10-06.
    3. Web site: . Miss California History . August 21, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181013082256/https://www.misscalifornia.org/miss-california/history/ . October 13, 2018 . dead .
    4. Web site: What's My Line? - Lee Meriwether; Alfred Hitchcock (Sep 12, 1954) . .
    5. Web site: Lee Meriwether Biography. https://web.archive.org/web/20121102222807/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/48556/Lee-Meriwether/biography. dead. November 2, 2012. Movies & TV Dept.. The New York Times. Hal. Erickson. Hal Erickson (author). 2012. December 23, 2015.
    6. Book: Cramer, Richard Ben. Joe DiMaggio: The Hero's Life. 376–378. Simon and Schuster. New York. May 2000. 978-0-6848-5391-8. registration.
    7. News: King . Susan . August 19, 2013 . There she is .... Lee Meriwether . . December 23, 2015.
    8. News: Michalski . Jennifer . December 13, 2013 . Where Are They Now: The 22 Most Influential Former Beauty Queens . . December 23, 2015.
    9. News: Fakuda . Eiko . Gritten . David . September 22, 1980 . Lee Meriwether Lost 'Barnaby' but Gained a Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze . . December 23, 2015.
    10. News: Noland . Claire . September 12, 2011 . Mary Fickett dies at 83; longtime actress on 'All My Children' . Los Angeles Times . December 23, 2015.
    11. Hanson . Ben . February 28, 2014 . Channeling Creativity: The Story Behind Metal Gear Solid 4's Intro . https://web.archive.org/web/20140304080319/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2014/02/28/the-story-behind-metal-gear-solid-4-39-s-bizarre-intro.aspx . dead . March 4, 2014 . . December 23, 2015.
    12. Web site: Kellams . J. P. . October 25, 2010 . Narrative Design in Vanquish . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140905235422/http://platinumgames.com/2010/10/25/narrative-design-in-vanquish/ . September 5, 2014 . August 21, 2014 . PlatinumGames.
    13. News: Scheck . Frank . September 5, 2013 . The Ultimate Life: Film Review . . December 23, 2015.
    14. News: Costello . Alex . May 24, 2017 . Eternal Con Returns July 1 And 2, This Time At The Nassau Coliseum . . May 24, 2017.
    15. Web site: Lee Meriwether Biography. Actor Database. December 23, 2015.
    16. News: Photo Flash: Lee Meriwether Honored By Theatre West . . February 14, 2018 . February 14, 2018.
    17. Web site: Lee Meriwether (visual voices guide) . October 6, 2023 . Behind The Voice Actors. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.