- The pioneering comedian died of natural causes Wednesday at Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills.
- Coates was best known with George Reeves in the black and white series The Adventures of Superman which aired from 1952 to 1958.
- She only starred in all 26 episodes of the show’s first season, but was later replaced by Noel Neill.
- The show had been on the air for six seasons and a seventh was planned, but was canceled after Reeves’ death at the age of 45 in 1959.
Phyllis Coatess, a pioneering actress who played the original role of Lois Lane on television in the 1950s, has died at age 96.
The pioneering actress died of natural causes Wednesday at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, Calif., her daughter Laura Press confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter THURSDAY.
Coates was best known with George Reeves in the black and white series The Adventures of Superman which aired from 1952 to 1958.
However, she only appeared in 26 episodes of the first season of the series, before being replaced by Noel Neill.
The show had been on the air for six seasons and a seventh was planned, but was canceled after Reeves’ death at the age of 45 in 1959.
Icon: Phyllis Coatess, a pioneering actress who played the original role of Lois Lane on television in the 1950s, has died at age 96.
Dynamic Duo: Coates was best known alongside George Reeves in the black-and-white series The Adventures of Superman which aired from 1952 to 1958.
Season 1 of Adventures Of Superman was a bit of an overnight success and had sudden success. Coates was asked to reprise her role, but she had already signed on to star in a pilot that was to star Jack Caron and Allen Jenkins that was never cast. came to fruition.
This wasn’t the first time she played Superman’s love interest as she played Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane in the 1951 film Superman And The Mole Men.
Coates was born Gypsie Ann Evarts Stell on January 15, 1927, in Wichita Falls, Texas, before moving with her family to Hollywood and her Tinseltown career began in the 1940s.
Earlier in her career, she often toured with the United States Organizations (USO), where she entertained U.S. armed forces and their family members.
Years later, she was able to land smaller supporting roles in films including 1958’s Smart Girls Don’t Talk and 1949’s My Foolish Heart.
In 1951, she landed the role in the low-budget film Superman, followed by the first year of the series.
Regardless, she went on to have a successful career with television roles in iconic series including The Abbott And Costello Show in 1953, The Lone Ranger from 1953 to 1955, Lassie in 1955, and Gunsmoke and Perry Mason from 1958 to 1964.
She also had a role alongside Barbara Hershey in the 1970s TV movie The Baby Maker.
Genesis: This wasn’t the first time she played Superman’s love interest as she played Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane in the 1951 film Superman And The Mole Men.
Hmm: Season 1 of Adventures Of Superman was a bit of an overnight and sudden success and Coates was asked to reprise her role, but she had already signed on to star in a pilot that was to feature starring Jack Caron and Allen Jenkins which never really came to fruition
Epic: She is seen on a lobby card alongside Johnny Mack Brown for the 1952 film Canyon Ambush
Coates is pictured flanked by Clyde Beatty (left) and Stanley Farrar in the 1953 film Perils Of The Jungle.
The talented actress is survived by her daughter Laura, another daughter Zoe and granddaughter Olivia; she is photographed in the 1950s
Coates enjoyed a career that included more than 140 credits, with her last television role being that of Mrs. Howard in two episodes of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman in 1994.
She was later portrayed by actress Lorry Ayers in the 2006 film Hollywoodland which was about an investigator, played by Adrien Brody, who investigates the death of his Superman co-star, Reeves (played by Ben Affleck), who was deemed suicidal.
Coates was married four times, including television director Richard L Bare, musician Robert Nelms, Leave It To Beaver director Norman Tokar and doctor Howard Press, with all four marriages ending in divorce.
The talented actress is survived by her daughter Laura, another daughter Zoe and granddaughter Olivia.
