Suzanne Pleshette has Passed Away - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 01-20-2008, 02:32 AM

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LOS ANGELES—Suzanne Pleshette, the beautiful, husky-voiced film and theater star best known for her role as Bob Newhart's sardonic wife on television's long-running "The Bob Newhart Show," has died, said her attorney Robert Finkelstein. She was 70.
Pleshette, who underwent chemotherapy for lung cancer in 2006, died of respiratory failure Saturday evening at her Los Angeles home, said Finkelstein, who is also a family friend.

"The Bob Newhart Show, a hit throughout its six-year run, starred comedian Newhart as a Chicago psychiatrist surrounded by eccentric patients. Pleshette provided the voice of reason.

Four years after the show ended in 1978, Newhart went on to the equally successful "Newhart" series in which he was the proprietor of a New England inn populated by more eccentrics. When that show ended in 1990, Pleshette reprised her role—from the first show—in one of the most clever final episodes in TV history.

It had Newhart waking up in the bedroom of his "The Bob Newhart Show" home with Pleshette at his side. He went on to tell her of the crazy dream he'd just had of running an inn filled with eccentrics.

"If I'm in Timbuktu, I'll fly home to do that," Pleshette said of her reaction when Newhart told her how he was thinking of ending the show.

Born Jan. 31, 1937, in New York City, Pleshette began her career as a stage actress after attending the city's High School of the Performing Arts and studying at its

Neighborhood Playhouse. She was often picked for roles because of her beauty and her throaty voice.
"When I was 4," she told an interviewer in 1994, "I was answering the phone, and (the callers) thought I was my father. So I often got quirky roles because I was never the conventional ingenue."

She met her future husband, Tom Poston, when they appeared together in the 1959 Broadway comedy "The Golden Fleecing," but didn't marry him until more than 40 years later.

Although the two had a brief fling, they went on to marry others. By 2000 both were widowed and they got back together, marrying the following year.

"He was such a wonderful man. He had fun every day of his life," Pleshette said after Poston died in April 2007.

Among her other Broadway roles was replacing Anne Bancroft in "The Miracle Worker," the 1959 drama about Helen Keller, in New York and on the road.

Meanwhile, she had launched her film career with Jerry Lewis in 1958 in "The Geisha Boy." She went on to appear in numerous television shows, including "Have Gun, Will Travel," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Playhouse 90" and "Naked City."

By the early 1960s, Pleshette attracted a teenage following with her youthful roles in such films as "Rome Adventure," "Fate Is the Hunter," "Youngblood Hawke" and "A Distant Trumpet."

She married fellow teen favorite Troy Donahue, her co-star in "Rome Adventure," in 1964 but the union lasted less than a year. She was married to Texas oilman Tim Gallagher from 1968 until his death in 2000.

Pleshette matured in such films as Hitchcock's "The Birds" and the Disney comedies "The Ugly Dachshund," "Blackbeard's Ghost" and "The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin." Over the years, she also had a busy career in TV movies, including playing the title role in 1990's "Leona Helmsley, the Queen of Mean."

More recently, she appeared in several episodes of the TV sitcoms "Will & Grace" and "8 Simple Rules ... For Dating My Teenage Daughter."

In a 1999 interview, Pleshette observed that being an actress was more important than being a star.

"I'm an actress, and that's why I'm still here," she said. "Anybody who has the illusion that you can have a career as long as I have and be a star is kidding themselves."

Mr. Television · 01-20-2008, 02:37 AM

Oh man this is awful. They really do go in three's. She was such a great actress. I loved her on the Bob Newhart show. She's with Tom Poston now. R.I.P.

friendsfan77 · 01-20-2008, 02:38 AM

RIP to a truly talented and wonderful woman. I loved her on BNS.

Zoneboy · 01-20-2008, 02:48 AM

Allan Melvin, Lois Nettleton and now Suzanne Pleshette. Three people I enjoyed watching and all have been taken from us within a day of each other.

Suzanne

Dean Winchester · 01-20-2008, 02:53 AM

RIP. I did not see this coming

Janice · 01-20-2008, 03:42 AM

How sad. I loved her, so beautiful and talented. Once I heard lung cancer, I knew it was only a matter of time. Not many survive that. RIP Suzanne.

Madness · 01-20-2008, 04:01 AM

What a huge loss to the entertainment industry! A sad day, indeed.

R.I.P.

smokinbirdseed · 01-20-2008, 07:19 AM

This SO sucks. One of my favorite actresses.

Cheryl Harrell · 01-20-2008, 07:51 AM

So sorry to hear about her. Rip...

Brian Damage · 01-20-2008, 10:41 AM

CAJeannieFan57 · 01-20-2008, 10:52 AM

So sad, so sad. My condolences to the rest of the cast of TBNS on the loss of their friend and colleague. They were a close cast -

bingbangbaby · 01-20-2008, 10:59 AM

OH Nuts! · 01-20-2008, 11:12 AM

She was a fine actress who brought millions joy. She is at peace now and will be deeply missed.

eltonfan80 · 01-20-2008, 12:17 PM

i am so sad RIP

Scoobiedoo30 · 01-20-2008, 12:50 PM

this is sad news rest in peace Suzzane

01-20-2008, 02:32 AM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,338	Suzanne Pleshette has Passed Away Link LOS ANGELES—Suzanne Pleshette, the beautiful, husky-voiced film and theater star best known for her role as Bob Newhart's sardonic wife on television's long-running "The Bob Newhart Show," has died, said her attorney Robert Finkelstein. She was 70. Pleshette, who underwent chemotherapy for lung cancer in 2006, died of respiratory failure Saturday evening at her Los Angeles home, said Finkelstein, who is also a family friend. "The Bob Newhart Show, a hit throughout its six-year run, starred comedian Newhart as a Chicago psychiatrist surrounded by eccentric patients. Pleshette provided the voice of reason. Four years after the show ended in 1978, Newhart went on to the equally successful "Newhart" series in which he was the proprietor of a New England inn populated by more eccentrics. When that show ended in 1990, Pleshette reprised her role—from the first show—in one of the most clever final episodes in TV history. It had Newhart waking up in the bedroom of his "The Bob Newhart Show" home with Pleshette at his side. He went on to tell her of the crazy dream he'd just had of running an inn filled with eccentrics. "If I'm in Timbuktu, I'll fly home to do that," Pleshette said of her reaction when Newhart told her how he was thinking of ending the show. Born Jan. 31, 1937, in New York City, Pleshette began her career as a stage actress after attending the city's High School of the Performing Arts and studying at its Neighborhood Playhouse. She was often picked for roles because of her beauty and her throaty voice. "When I was 4," she told an interviewer in 1994, "I was answering the phone, and (the callers) thought I was my father. So I often got quirky roles because I was never the conventional ingenue." She met her future husband, Tom Poston, when they appeared together in the 1959 Broadway comedy "The Golden Fleecing," but didn't marry him until more than 40 years later. Although the two had a brief fling, they went on to marry others. By 2000 both were widowed and they got back together, marrying the following year. "He was such a wonderful man. He had fun every day of his life," Pleshette said after Poston died in April 2007. Among her other Broadway roles was replacing Anne Bancroft in "The Miracle Worker," the 1959 drama about Helen Keller, in New York and on the road. Meanwhile, she had launched her film career with Jerry Lewis in 1958 in "The Geisha Boy." She went on to appear in numerous television shows, including "Have Gun, Will Travel," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Playhouse 90" and "Naked City." By the early 1960s, Pleshette attracted a teenage following with her youthful roles in such films as "Rome Adventure," "Fate Is the Hunter," "Youngblood Hawke" and "A Distant Trumpet." She married fellow teen favorite Troy Donahue, her co-star in "Rome Adventure," in 1964 but the union lasted less than a year. She was married to Texas oilman Tim Gallagher from 1968 until his death in 2000. Pleshette matured in such films as Hitchcock's "The Birds" and the Disney comedies "The Ugly Dachshund," "Blackbeard's Ghost" and "The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin." Over the years, she also had a busy career in TV movies, including playing the title role in 1990's "Leona Helmsley, the Queen of Mean." More recently, she appeared in several episodes of the TV sitcoms "Will & Grace" and "8 Simple Rules ... For Dating My Teenage Daughter." In a 1999 interview, Pleshette observed that being an actress was more important than being a star. "I'm an actress, and that's why I'm still here," she said. "Anybody who has the illusion that you can have a career as long as I have and be a star is kidding themselves."
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

01-20-2008, 02:37 AM	#2
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,125	Oh man this is awful. They really do go in three's. She was such a great actress. I loved her on the Bob Newhart show. She's with Tom Poston now. R.I.P.
	__________________ Sonny

01-20-2008, 07:51 AM	#9
Cheryl Harrell I Love You Mike 4-Ever Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Location: Pixley!!!! Actually VA--USA LOL! Posts: 6,192	So sorry to hear about her. Rip...
	__________________ RIP darling Mike. I love you forever... You are with Freddie Prinze & Jesus now. 1951-2009 "Make it your way, who can beat the Lord, the Son of God. Dear Lord, help me be strong where I am weak, if it be your will"-- The Late Freddie Prinze Sr

01-20-2008, 10:41 AM	#10
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	Attached Images
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

01-20-2008, 10:52 AM	#11
CAJeannieFan57 Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 01, 2005 Location: Central Missouri Posts: 871	So sad, so sad. My condolences to the rest of the cast of TBNS on the loss of their friend and colleague. They were a close cast -
	__________________ Donna

01-20-2008, 02:38 AM	#3
friendsfan77 - Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 02, 2004 Location: Duluth, GA Posts: 3,165	RIP to a truly talented and wonderful woman. I loved her on BNS.

01-20-2008, 02:48 AM	#4
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,338	Allan Melvin, Lois Nettleton and now Suzanne Pleshette. Three people I enjoyed watching and all have been taken from us within a day of each other. Suzanne

01-20-2008, 02:53 AM	#5
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	RIP. I did not see this coming

01-20-2008, 03:42 AM	#6
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,389	How sad. I loved her, so beautiful and talented. Once I heard lung cancer, I knew it was only a matter of time. Not many survive that. RIP Suzanne.

01-20-2008, 04:01 AM	#7
Madness I call it the rocket Senior Member Join Date: May 03, 2000 Posts: 2,047	What a huge loss to the entertainment industry! A sad day, indeed. R.I.P.

01-20-2008, 07:19 AM	#8
smokinbirdseed Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 08, 2007 Posts: 5	This SO sucks. One of my favorite actresses.

01-20-2008, 10:59 AM	#12
bingbangbaby I see you!! Senior Member Join Date: Jul 15, 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,070

01-20-2008, 11:12 AM	#13
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	She was a fine actress who brought millions joy. She is at peace now and will be deeply missed.

01-20-2008, 12:17 PM	#14
eltonfan80 RIP MJ I'LL MISS YOU FOREVER Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 11, 2005 Location: in a cloud above the sky Posts: 847	i am so sad RIP
	__________________ michael jackson 8-29-58- forever rip

01-20-2008, 12:50 PM	#15
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	this is sad news rest in peace Suzzane
	__________________ Who Dat