“Suzanne Pleshette is the sort to make truck drivers whistle and wolves come running, but there’s a lot more than that. There’s intrigue and delicate sophistication, sound balance, and a keen mind along with star talent.” That’s how columnist Hedda Hopper described the young actress in 1962. She had already made a big splash on Broadway as Anne Bancroft’s replacement in “The Miracle Worker” and was doing tons of work on television and in mostly forgettable films (her early work in Hitchcock’s “The Birds” being an exception). In an era of sexpots and bubbleheads, Pleshette was the beauty with the brains so of course Hollywood wasn’t sure what to do with her. As another reporter wrote that year, “Beauty and sex aren’t everything in the land of make-believe, it’s just that no one can remember what comes next. Suzanne Pleshette might be the answer.”
For her part, Pleshette had an awareness of herself that belied her twenty-five years. “I think my personality precedes my looks. I’m candid to a fault without being cruel. I have a faculty for saying what I think without editing what I say. I have a great zest for life. I look forward to every day and the people that I meet. I love any situation that affords humor and I’ll respond to it.”
Can’t ask for more than that. She caught a break in films with “If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium” (I remember watching that zany farce at the Chicago’s Granada Theatre in June 1969) and then three years later entered the pantheon of immortal TV wives when she nabbed the role of Emily Hartley on the old “Bob Newhart Show.” Like Mary Tyler Moore’s Laura Petrie before her, Pleshette’s Emily started out as a straight man and foil for her befuddled psychologist husband, but her comic timing and acting chops were so apparent that soon whole episodes were centered around her character. Her TV immortality was assured when she appeared on the final episode of Newhart’s second TV series. The entire series, in which Newhart and actress Mary Frann played Vermont innkeepers, was passed off a dream when Bob woke up in bed next to Suzanne Pleshette in their old Chicago apartment. Newhart starts describing his crazy life at the New England Inn causing Suzanne’s Emily Hartley to quip, “That’s the last time you eat Japanese food before bed.” The best series ending in the history of television.
Suzanne Pleshette died this weekend after a battle with lung cancer. She was hoping to be able to attend the ceremony on Hollywood Boulevard next Thursday (on what would have been her 71st birthday) to receive her long overdue star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She will be remembered for her husky voice, her bawdy mouth (she could out-swear a sailor), and her many close friendships. She married another Newhart regular, Tom Poston, in 2001 after they were both widowed and it was a great love match. Poston died last year, and then Pleshette got sick herself.
At a Newhart reunion gathering a few months ago, she talked about the time she told Bob that she and Poston had been lovers years earlier, when they were appearing in a play on Broadway in 1959. “I told Bob I used to fuck him,” Pleshette recalled. “And Bob, as usual, said ‘That's more information than I need.’” Someone asked how she thought Newhart and Pleshette might have fared as a real-life married couple. “Suzanne and Bob?” she asked, aghast. “He would have killed himself!” Newhart had to agree. “I would have spent most of my time apologizing to people for her language.”
Thanks for this great remembrance of one of my favorite actresses, Danny. I own every available episode of the original Bob Newhart Show on DVD. Last night I got out the set and reviewed a few episodes. I had been looking forward to hearing more about her star ceremony on Jan. 31, which I first read about in Army Archerd's column just a few weeks ago. I'm so sorry that she's gone, although I knew she'd been very ill. In today's world, 70/71 years is not very old at all. Your quote from Hedda Hopper is wonderful and certainly apt.
Posted by: Pam G | January 21, 2008 at 10:06 AM
What a great tribute!
Of course, in addition to just loving the hell out of The Bob Newhart Show, period, I remember being stupidly proud that it was set in Chicago, and always thrilled to see their condo on Sheridan Road on my way to school each morning.
And I suspect I'm not the only one who obsessed like that.
Posted by: communicatrix | January 21, 2008 at 10:41 AM
I'm so sad about this. She always felt like one of us, somehow... reminded me, back in the Newhart days, of my mom. Same style, same basic age, same set of balls.
Bums me out.
Thanks for this wonderful tribute.
Posted by: Roberta | January 21, 2008 at 12:44 PM
Classy woman. I thought the last episode of Newhart was one of the best, and most unexpected, television moments ever. Thanks for the tribute.
Posted by: Dan | January 21, 2008 at 01:29 PM
I didn't know Suzanne Pleshette except peripherally, but she was a great great friend of Madlyn Rhue, who I did know, and when Madlyn's career was pretty much stalled into oblivion by MS, Suzanne P. could not have been a better friend...they had a great BFF type friendship and used to walk down the street, (back when Madlyn could still walk) hand in hand...There was something quite touching about that and about the way Suzanne Pleshette was there for her friend till the day she died.
Sometime in 2003-early 2004, I was having dinner at Orso's with a dear dear old friend, Gary Belkin, who was a comedy writer....Tom Poston, who Gary knew very very well, and Suzanne P. sat down at the table next to us. A lot of laughs were had that evening there in Orso's....Now, all three of those people are dead. Gary of Emphysyma...another lifeolong smoker, like Suzanne P. Very Very sad.
Suzanne Pleshette was a great GREAT dame!
Lovely tribute, Danny....and well deserved, too!
Posted by: OldOldLady Of The Hills | January 21, 2008 at 08:43 PM
Thanks for your beautiful tribute. I remember her well. She was a favorite actress of mine. I wanted to be like her since her early days on tv. She seemed so sophisticated. Very sad, I wish everyone could stop smoking. Too many good people have died from smoking. WAKE UP People, quit now.
Posted by: Judy | January 22, 2008 at 10:51 AM
I always loved Suzanne Pleshette. She was a role model for me. Such a beautiful woman who didn't put up with the BS! How does it get any better than that?
Thanks, Danny.
Good bye, Suzanne.
Posted by: Wanda | January 22, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Oh, I hadn't heard. how sad. I loved her when I was a kid. I love the fact that she was such a bawdy dame.
Posted by: churlita | January 23, 2008 at 08:50 AM
My favorite Suzanne Pleshette story happened on the Johnny Carson show. Johnny asked her a, "What is the most difficult thing you have ever had to do in your life?" She answered without missing a beat (of course) house break my Yorkies." Carson was non-plussed. I, who had a Yorkie at the time, was delighted. So mine wasn't the only one who went where and when she wanted!
Fast forward some years: I was in line behind Suzanne at Pier One on Little Santa Monica and I had to tell her how much comfort I got from that story. She was charming and gracious and gave me the update that she had at last succeeded in housebreaking the current Yorkie.
I wonder who has her dogs now...
Posted by: ByJane | January 23, 2008 at 11:08 AM
Suzanne was truly someone special. Beautiful of course, a wonderful actress, but she also seemed terribly normal.
I never had the opportunity to meet her, but from her performances, her appearances on talk and vareity shows, she just seemed as though a meeting with her, even a chance meeting, would be like chatting up an old friend.
ByJane's experience (above) is exactly what I would have hoped. But now she's gone. And so are too many talented people.
As always Danny, a great tribute. Thanks for the wonderful words!
Posted by: Dave | January 25, 2008 at 01:15 AM
You paid tribute much better than I did at http://youknowtheface.blogspot.com/2008/01/this-might-be-in-bad-taste-but-i-really.html.
Great piece, man.
Posted by: yourfiend, mr. jones | February 14, 2008 at 09:58 AM
i went to camp with suzanne pleshette...she played the lead part in south pacific at camp when she was 16...she was marvelous...she borrowed a purple turtleneck shirt from me to go to a dance...when i saw that she was famous i was going to ask her for my sweater back...i recently bumped into her boyfriend at camp here in florida...we had fun reminiscing...it was a sad day when she passed away
Posted by: marjorie | December 16, 2008 at 05:47 PM
so TRUE - That was indeed the best ending 4 a TV show in history! Sad that wonderful dame passed from smoking, though. I LOVE 2 smoke. Oh well ~ c-est la vie, eh?
:D--
Posted by: Lonster6 | January 12, 2009 at 04:00 AM
Suzanne was my hope of what my life would be like as a woman. I watched "The Bob Newhart Show" from its first airing to its last; from my 12th through 16th year I observed and learned and was delighted and entertained. She and Bob's interaction seemed like a real marriage. Suzanne thank you for being my example and part of my childhood. You have been missed, rest in peace.
Love, Nancy
Posted by: Nancy KLontz | May 10, 2013 at 03:05 PM
Woops!! That was from my 12th through 18th year!!***!!! NK
Posted by: Nancy KLontz | May 10, 2013 at 03:08 PM