Cathy Lewis
Cathy Lewis | |
---|---|
Los Angeles, California , U.S. | |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1940–1966 |
Spouse |
Elliott Lewis (m. 1943–1958) |
Catherine Lee Lewis (December 27, 1916 – November 20, 1968)[1][2]
Career
According to Ron Lackmann's The Encyclopedia of American Radio, Lewis moved from Spokane, Washington to Chicago and found work on The First Nighter Program. Other accounts say she first hoped to make it as a singer.[3]: Ch. 5 Eventually, Lewis moved to Hollywood, and performed at Pasadena Playhouse.[4]
Radio
She would be most identified as the sensibly droll secretary Jane Stacy rooming with scatterbrained Irma Peterson (
She appeared on Sam Spade and I Love a Mystery.[7]
She worked with and publicly assessed the radio performances of some of the greatest screen talents of the day, including Cary Grant[8] Gregory Peck, Joan Crawford, Joseph Cotten, June Havoc, and Humphrey Bogart.[9]
Partnership with Elliott Lewis
Lewis met actor
Both Lewises were staples of vintage American radio in numerous, genre-spanning works in comedy and drama (they were, for example, regulars among what was known as Hollywood's Radio Row group of performers, appearing often—together and separately—on such programs as The Whistler),[13] especially their co-creation of the anthology series On Stage.[14]: 512–513
Together they wrote an episode of Suspense titled "The Thirteenth Sound" that aired in 1947[15][16] and an episode of Twelve Players titled "Checkerboard" that aired in 1948.[17]
The Lewises separated on their fourteenth anniversary, and Cathy filed for divorce, on the grounds of mental cruelty. The divorce was granted on April 16, 1958.[18]
Films and television
Most of her film work in the 1940s was in uncredited bit parts. She recreated her My Friend Irma role on television for the show's first two seasons,[19] but, overworked and tired of the role, left the show in 1953.[3]: Ch. 6
She had a supporting role in
In 1961, Lewis received positive notice for her supporting role in the movie The Devil at 4 O'Clock.[23] She began a recurring role as Deirdre Thompson, the snooty sister of George Baxter, on the television hit Hazel.[24]: 168
In 1962, she appeared (voice only) in the John Wayne movie Hatari!, as the radio voice of Arusha Control.
Lewis played a widow courted by two muleskinners in the 1964 episode "Graydon's Charge" of the syndicated series Death Valley Days.[25]: 126
In 1965 Lewis played steamboat Captain Samantha Stewart in a season 8 Wagon Train episode titled ‘The Captain Sam Story’. The episode aired on March 21.
Personal life
Lewis was an avid interior decorator.[19]
She and Marie Wilson became close during the run of My Friend Irma. She called Marie "Cookie" or "Cook" for short.[3]: Ch. 6
Death
Lewis died of cancer on November 20, 1968, in Hollywood aged 51.[4]
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1940 | We Who Are Young | Office Girl | Uncredited |
1940 | Little Nellie Kelly | Western Union Operator | Uncredited |
1940 | Dr. Kildare's Crisis | Flo | Uncredited |
1941 | Model Wife | Salesgirl | Uncredited |
1941 | Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day | Nurse | Uncredited |
1941 | Double Trouble | Peggy Whitmore | |
1942 | Kid Glove Killer | Bessie Wright | |
1942 | Wings for the Eagle | Personnel Clerk | Uncredited |
1943 | Slightly Dangerous | Salesgirl | Uncredited |
1947 | The Hucksters[26] | Wanda Jean | Voice, Uncredited |
1949 | The Story of Molly X | Cy | |
1958 | The Party Crashers | Mrs. Nickerson | |
1961 | The Devil at 4 O'Clock | Matron | |
1961-66 | Hazel | Deirdre Thompson | 17 episodes |
1962 | Hatari! | Radio Operator | Voice, Uncredited |
1964-65 | Jonny Quest | Jade & others | 4 episodes |
1965 | Wagon Train | Captain Sam | Season 8, Episode 21 |
References
- ^ Ancestry.com. Social Security Death Index [database on-line]. Provo, Utah, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2009.
- ^ Cathy Lewis, 50, Actress, Is Dead", The New York Times, November 23, 1968, p. 47.
- ^ OCLC 70803507.
- ^ a b "Obituaries". Variety. Vol. 253, no. 2. November 27, 1968. p. 60 – via Proquest.
- ISBN 978-0-7864-2834-2. P. 165.
- ^ "Off Mike: S-s-s-lightly Nervous" (PDF). Radio Life. February 29, 1948. p. 11. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
- ^ Buxton, Frank; Owen, Bill; Morgan, Henry (1972). The Big Broadcast: 1920-1950: A New, Revised, and Greatly Expanded Edition of Radio's Golden Age: The Complete Reference Work (PDF). New York: Viking Press.
- OCLC 646691611, retrieved January 16, 2023
- ^ Johnson, Erskine (March 5, 1951). "In Hollywood". Portsmouth Herald. p. 7 – via Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Gordon, Shirley (November 3, 1946). "Radio A La Lewis" (PDF). Radio Life. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
- ^ Lewis, Elliott. "Young Married World". Retrieved January 30, 2020.
- ^ "Full Steam Ahead". Time. May 18, 1953. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- ISBN 978-0-19-984045-8.
- OCLC 35586941.
- ^ "What's New from Coast to Coast" (PDF). Radio Mirror. May 1947. p. 110. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
- ^ "On Mike: Sound Man's Dilemma" (PDF). Radio Life. February 9, 1947. pp. 11–12. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
- ^ "Playbacks: Twelve Players" (PDF). Radio Life. February 29, 1948. p. 11. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Ross, Mildred (August 1, 1952). "Who Am I?" (PDF). TV Radio Life. p. 3. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
- ^ "Television Reviews: Fibber McGee & Molly". Variety. Vol. 216, no. 4. September 23, 1959. p. 34 – via Proquest.
- ^ "The New NBC-TV Weekly Series". Broadcasting. September 28, 1959. p. 62 – via Proquest.
- ISBN 978-1-4766-0515-9.
- ^ "Film Review: The Devil at 4 O'Clock". Variety. Vol. 284, no. 5. September 27, 1961. p. 6 – via Proquest.
- ISBN 978-0-7864-8205-4.
- ISBN 978-0-7864-0377-6.
- ^ "The Ear Inspires the Pen" (PDF). Radio Life. October 26, 1947. p. 2. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
Listen to
- "On a Country Road" from Suspense
- "The House In Cypress Canyon" from Suspense
- "The Murderess" from Suspense
External links
- Cathy Lewis at IMDb
- Cathy Lewis on the RadioGOLDINdex
- Cathy Lewis on Find a Grave