...And Cathy Lewis as Deirdre - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Leslie Eckhardt · 03-23-2012, 08:34 AM

I've always liked the episodes in which Cathy Lewis played George's snooty sister Deirdre. Amusingly, no one but Whitney Blake seemed to be able to pronounce her name correctly. (Most pronounced it "Deedra", Eleanor Audley memorably pronounced it "Durdree" in a show I recently watched.) (I've Been Singing All My Life). Cathy Lewis was a fine actress who died young in 1968 of cancer. She did only a handful of episodes of Hazel per season. (She appears in all five seasons). She also appeared in a short-lived TV version of the old radio series Fibber McGee and Molly with Bob Sweeney in the 1959-60 TV season and the early 1950s sitcom My Friend Irma opposite Marie Wilson. I do not recall any feature films with Cathy, but she may have been in some that I may have missed.

MichaelKeith · 03-23-2012, 12:14 PM

Yes, I must agree that Ms. Lewis was a fine actress. It's something for an actor/actress to play a "negative" role and still have the audience like him/her. I also enjoy every episode that she is in.

For another look at her acting abilities, she guest-starred in a season one or season 2 episode of Route 66 in which she played a working woman, a character totally different from the one she played on Hazel. It really shows her acting range and ability.

Hazel Anyday · 03-23-2012, 04:46 PM

Being an old time radio fan also, I can tell you Cathy Lewis was on many different radio comedies & dramas in the 1950's. She to me is most remembered as the voice of a variety of different girlfriends of the Great Gildersleeve when he was played by Willard Waterman. She also played in episodes of Suspense and Romance and did a radio anthology series with her husband Elliot Lewis in which they both wrote and starred in. Elliott Lewis was also an amazing versatile talent, he played in the funniest comedy radio show, Phil Harris/Alice Faye Show as Phil's friend Remley he also was in numerous dramas on radio and I believe he later married (after Cathy died) the lady who played Lucy's best friend "MaryAnn" who also played next door neighbor lady on Ozzie & Harriet. My gosh I feel like I'm playing that Kevin Bacon game.

jehobden · 03-23-2012, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hazel Anyday

Being an old time radio fan also, I can tell you Cathy Lewis was on many different radio comedies & dramas in the 1950's. She to me is most remembered as the voice of a variety of different girlfriends of the Great Gildersleeve when he was played by Willard Waterman. She also played in episodes of Suspense and Romance and did a radio anthology series with her husband Elliot Lewis in which they both wrote and starred in. Elliott Lewis was also an amazing versatile talent, he played in the funniest comedy radio show, Phil Harris/Alice Faye Show as Phil's friend Remley he also was in numerous dramas on radio and I believe he later married (after Cathy died) the lady who played Lucy's best friend "MaryAnn" who also played next door neighbor lady on Ozzie & Harriet. My gosh I feel like I'm playing that Kevin Bacon game.

Yes, Elliott Lewis married Mary Jane Croft, though according to a 1968 TV Guide profile of Mary Jane, in 1960. Wiki states that Cathy divorced Elliott Lewis in 1958. Mary Jane's character name on Lucy's sitcoms was Mary Jane Lewis, her married name.

Hazel Anyday · 03-23-2012, 05:16 PM

I had not heard that, I thought Elliott was married to Cathy till she died. I can't say that for a fact but I believe I've heard that, I do know Wiki isn't the most reliable of places to get information. But as I say, I'm not 100% positive on this.

03-23-2012, 08:34 AM	#1
Leslie Eckhardt Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 24, 2011 Posts: 293	...And Cathy Lewis as Deirdre I've always liked the episodes in which Cathy Lewis played George's snooty sister Deirdre. Amusingly, no one but Whitney Blake seemed to be able to pronounce her name correctly. (Most pronounced it "Deedra", Eleanor Audley memorably pronounced it "Durdree" in a show I recently watched.) (I've Been Singing All My Life). Cathy Lewis was a fine actress who died young in 1968 of cancer. She did only a handful of episodes of Hazel per season. (She appears in all five seasons). She also appeared in a short-lived TV version of the old radio series Fibber McGee and Molly with Bob Sweeney in the 1959-60 TV season and the early 1950s sitcom My Friend Irma opposite Marie Wilson. I do not recall any feature films with Cathy, but she may have been in some that I may have missed.

03-23-2012, 04:46 PM	#3
Hazel Anyday Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 12, 2002 Posts: 2,135	A very multi-talented actress Being an old time radio fan also, I can tell you Cathy Lewis was on many different radio comedies & dramas in the 1950's. She to me is most remembered as the voice of a variety of different girlfriends of the Great Gildersleeve when he was played by Willard Waterman. She also played in episodes of Suspense and Romance and did a radio anthology series with her husband Elliot Lewis in which they both wrote and starred in. Elliott Lewis was also an amazing versatile talent, he played in the funniest comedy radio show, Phil Harris/Alice Faye Show as Phil's friend Remley he also was in numerous dramas on radio and I believe he later married (after Cathy died) the lady who played Lucy's best friend "MaryAnn" who also played next door neighbor lady on Ozzie & Harriet. My gosh I feel like I'm playing that Kevin Bacon game.
	__________________ Haaazeelll!!

03-23-2012, 12:14 PM	#2
MichaelKeith Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2007 Posts: 1,139	Yes, I must agree that Ms. Lewis was a fine actress. It's something for an actor/actress to play a "negative" role and still have the audience like him/her. I also enjoy every episode that she is in. For another look at her acting abilities, she guest-starred in a season one or season 2 episode of Route 66 in which she played a working woman, a character totally different from the one she played on Hazel. It really shows her acting range and ability.

03-23-2012, 05:16 PM	#5
Hazel Anyday Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 12, 2002 Posts: 2,135	I had not heard that, I thought Elliott was married to Cathy till she died. I can't say that for a fact but I believe I've heard that, I do know Wiki isn't the most reliable of places to get information. But as I say, I'm not 100% positive on this.