Phyllis Coates poses as Lois Lane in The Adventures of Superman.Photo:ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Phyllis Coateshas died at age 96.
The actress died from natural causes on Wednesday while residing at the Motion Picture Home, her daughter Laura Press confirmed to PEOPLE. The death was “very peaceful,” she added.
Remembering her mother’s career, Press said, “She gave a lot to the industry and her career passed through so many genres,” recounting her time as Lois Lane, in Westerns and even starring inPanther Girl of the Congo.
George Reeves as Superman stands beside Phyllis Coates as Lois Lane in Adventures of Superman in 1952.Silver Screen Collection/Getty
Silver Screen Collection/Getty
Coates’ appeared in 26 episodes, earning $350 for each despite serious stunt work. “We were nearly blown up, beaten up, exploded, exploited — I guess it was because we were young and dumb, but we put up with a lot of stuff,” Coates recounted in an interview with Tom Weaver for the bookScience Fiction Stars and Horror Heroes. “Not too long ago I saw an episode [“Night of Terror”] where I got knocked out!”
Though season 1 was a hit — and Coates was offered five times her season 1 salary to return, she declined. “I really wanted to get out ofSuperman,” she said in the book.
Phyllis Coates blows bubbles with her dog.Acey Harper/Getty
Acey Harper/Getty
Her career came full circle when, in 1994, Coates appeared as the mother of Lois Lane in ABC’sLois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.
Coates’ last acting project was as part of a video titledHollywood: The Movie, in 1996, per IMDb.
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The Hollywood Reporterwas first to report Coates' death on Thursday. Coates leaves behind three children. Press urged fans to donate to the Humane Society of America in honor of her mother’s love of animals.
source: people.com
