Lois June Nettleton was a versatile actress who appeared in American films, stage productions, radio shows, and television shows. She was recognized for her talent with three nominations for the Primetime Emmy Awards and two wins for the Daytime Emmy Awards.
Early Life & Education
Lois Nettleton was born on August 16, 1927, in Oak Park, Illinois, to Virginia and Edward L. Nettleton. Her mother’s relatives brought her up and went to Senn High School, where she shared a class with Lee Stern.
She then pursued her education at the Goodman School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago. In 1948, she was named Miss Chicago and made it to the semi-finals of the Miss America pageant.
In 1946, she received positive reviews for her performances with Geraldine Page at the New Lake Zurich Playhouse in repertory theatre. The following year, she continued to build her professional acting career with the Woodstock Players, starting in 1949.
In 1949, she had a minor role in the Broadway play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, where she served as an understudy for Barbara Bel Geddes. She also appeared on the CBS network’s Westinghouse Studio One, playing a part in the production of “Flowers from a Stranger.”
Lois Nettleton’s Career
Lois Nettleton made numerous appearances as a guest star on various television series, such as The Twilight Zone (episode “The Midnight Sun”, 1961), Naked City, Route 66, Mr. Novak, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (episode “The Dark Pool”, 1963), The Eleventh Hour, Hawaii Five-O, Dr. Kildare, Twelve O’Clock High, The Fugitive, The F.B.I., Cannon, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Virginian, and Daniel Boone.
In 1973, she appeared on The Mary Tyler Moore Show as the superior of Lou Grant. Two years later, she played the character Delonia Cantrell in the 18th and 19th episodes of the third season of Kung Fu (1972 TV series) titled “Barbary House” and “Flight To Orion”.
She also played a part in the first episode of The Eddie Capra Mysteries in 1978. She was also in popular TV shows like Washington: Behind Closed Doors and Centennial.
In 1987, Nettleton took on the role of Penny Vanderhof Sycamore in the television adaptation of the Kaufman and Hart comedic play You Can’t Take It with You, alongside Harry Morgan and Richard Sanders.
From the 1970s until 1991, Lois Nettleton appeared frequently as a celebrity guest on multiple iterations of the game show Pyramid. Throughout her career, she earned two Emmy Awards.
The first was for her portrayal of Susan B. Anthony in the TV movie The American Woman: Profiles in Courage (1977), and the second was for her performance in “A Gun for Mandy” (1983), an episode of the religious series Insight.
She was nominated for an Emmy Award for her role as a guest actress in the comedy series “Golden Girls” for the episode “Isn’t It Romantic?”.
Additionally, she received Emmy nods for her performance in the TV movie “Fear on Trial” (1975) as Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Special, and for her recurring role in the drama series “In the Heat of the Night” in 1989 as Outstanding Supporting Actress. Nettleton also starred in a Christmas TV movie special called “The Christmas Card” in 2006.
Lois Nettleton made numerous appearances in Hollywood feature films. She gained recognition for her initial major part in Period of Adjustment (1962), which was based on a Tennessee Williams play and featured her as a married woman facing difficulties.
Personal Life
Jean Shepherd’s late-night radio show on WOR received its first call from Lois Nettleton, who would eventually become his third wife. As a frequent guest, she was affectionately called “the listener” by the audience. They tied the knot on December 3, 1960, in Tarrytown, New York, but their marriage ended in a divorce in 1967.
Death
In August 2007, Lois Nettleton’s final public appearance was at a convention for Twilight Zone fans in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey. Sadly, she passed away on January 18, 2008, at the age of 80 in Woodland Hills, California due to lung cancer.
