Lee Meriwether is renowned for her portrayal of Betty Jones in the 1970s crime drama “Barnaby Jones,” a character who served as both Buddy Ebsen’s secretary and daughter-in-law.
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Lee Meriwether Profile Summary
| Full Name | Lee Ann Meriwether |
| Date of Birth | May 27, 1935 |
| Age (as of 2023) | 88 |
| Place of Birth | Los Angeles, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5’7 ft |
| Profession | Actress |
| Sexual Orientation | Heterosexual |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Children | Lesley Aletter and Kyle Aletter |
| Zodiac Sign | Gemini |
Biography
Lee Ann Meriwether, born on May 27, 1935, is a renowned American actress and former model who achieved fame as the winner of the Miss America 1955 pageant. Throughout her illustrious career, she has graced both the big and small screens with her talent.
One of her most notable roles was as Betty Jones in the 1970s crime drama series “Barnaby Jones,” where she portrayed the character of the title character’s secretary and daughter-in-law, alongside Buddy Ebsen. This role brought her significant recognition, leading to two Golden Globe Award nominations in 1975 and 1976, as well as an Emmy Award nomination in 1977.
Meriwether’s versatility as an actress is further highlighted by her portrayal of Catwoman, where she stepped into the iconic role, replacing Julie Newmar in the 1966 film adaptation of “Batman.” Her portrayal left a lasting impact on the franchise.
In addition to her work in crime dramas and superhero classics, Meriwether also ventured into the realm of science fiction with a co-starring role in the series “The Time Tunnel.”
Furthermore, she graced the daytime soap opera “All My Children” with her presence, playing the recurring character Ruth Martin until the series concluded in September 2011.
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Early Life
Meriwether was born in Los Angeles, California, to Claudius Gregg Meriwether and Ethel Eve Mulligan. She has a brother named Don Brett Meriwether. Her family relocated from Phoenix, Arizona, to San Francisco during her upbringing.
Her journey to fame began when she won the title of Miss San Francisco. From there, she went on to secure the Miss California 1954 title before achieving the pinnacle of success by being crowned Miss America in 1955. Her winning performance featured a captivating recital of a monologue by John Millington Synge.
Following her triumphant reign as Miss America, Meriwether made a memorable appearance on the television program “What’s My Line?,” which was hosted by John Charles Daly (who also served as the emcee for the pageant that year).
After her tenure as Miss America, she embarked on a new chapter in her career by joining the “Today” show.
Educational Background
She enrolled at George Washington High School and subsequently pursued her education at City College of San Francisco.
Journey To Lee Meriwether Career
Lee Meriwether embarked on her entertainment journey with a role on NBC’s ‘The Today Show’ during the mid-1950s. Her debut in the world of film came in 1959 when she portrayed Linda Davis in the science fiction movie ‘4D Man’.
In 1961, she made a guest appearance on her then-husband Frank Aletter’s sitcom ‘Bringing Up Buddy’. This was followed by additional guest roles in series such as ‘The Lloyd Bridges Show’ and ‘I’m Dickens, He’s Fenster’.
From 1963 to 1965, she graced the screen with her presence in eight episodes of NBC’s medical drama series ‘Dr. Kildare’, taking on various roles. During this period, she also made guest appearances in drama series like ‘Route 66′, ’12 O’Clock High’, and ‘Man from U.N.C.L.E’.
Meriwether famously portrayed The Catwoman in the ‘Batman’ movie. As the decade drew to a close, she continued to leave her mark on television with appearances in shows like ‘Mannix’, ‘The Fugitive’, ‘Mission: Impossible’, and ‘Perry Mason’.
The 1970s saw her in television films such as ‘Cruise Into Terror’ and ‘True Grit: A Further Adventure’. Additionally, she became a regular panelist on the popular game show ‘Match Game’.
In the subsequent decade, she participated in the revival of the 1960s sitcom ‘The Munsters, titled ‘The Munsters Today’. Meriwether also made guest appearances in drama series like ‘Fantasy Island’ and ‘The Love Boat’.
In 1993, she graced an episode of ‘Murder, She Wrote’, titled “Ship of Thieves”. Three years later, she took over the role of Ruth Martin in the sitcom ‘All My Children’, replacing Mary Fickett.
Her career continued to flourish in 2002 when she starred in the documentary ‘Miss America’. The following year, she had a role in the TV film ‘Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt’.
Meriwether’s versatility extended to voice acting in the video game ‘Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots’. She joined a talented ensemble cast, including Bill Cobbs, Abigail Breslin, and James Garner, in the drama film ‘The Ultimate Gift’, which premiered in 2006. She later reprised her role in the movie’s 2013 sequel ‘The Ultimate Life’.
The actress reunited with Cobbs onscreen in the direct-to-video release ‘No Limit Kids: Much Ado About Middle School’ in 2010.
Continuing her passion for acting, she remains active in the world of films, television shows, and stage productions. A notable highlight includes her role in Chloë Sevigny’s short fantasy-drama movie ‘Kitty’, which received recognition at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.
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Nominations for Awards:
- In 1975, she received a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best TV Actress in a Drama.
- In 1976, she earned another Golden Globe Award nomination for Best TV Actress in a Drama.
- In 1977, she garnered an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
Lee Meriwether’s Involvement In Various Movies And TV shows Throughout Her Career
| Year | Movies |
|---|---|
| 1959 | 4D Man |
| 1963 | The Courtship of Eddie’s Father |
| 1966 | Batman, Namu: The Killer Whale |
| 1968 | The Legend of Lylah Clare |
| 1969 | Angel in my Pocket, The Undefeated |
| 1973 | The Brothers O’Toole |
| 2005 | Gone Postal |
| 2007 | Say it in Russian |
| 2011 | Secret Identity |
| 2012 | Silent But Deadly, Sunset Stories |
| 2015 | A Horse for Summer, In Memory, Sunny in the Dark |
| 2016 | Kitty, A Christmas in New York |
| 2017 | Diary of a Lunatic, Batman vs. Two-Face, Breaking Legs |
| 2018 | Still Waiting in the Wings, Hell’s Kitty, Love & Debt |
| Years | TV Shows |
|---|---|
| 1954-1955 | The Philco Television Playhouse |
| 1956 | Matinee Theatre |
| 1957 | The Alcoa Hour, Men of Annapolis |
| 1958 | The Millionaire, The Phil Silvers Show, Dragnet, Omnibus |
| 1960-1962 | The Clear Horizon |
| 1963-1965 | Dr. Kildare |
| 1964 | Route 66, The Young Marrieds |
| 1967 | Batman, Iron Horse |
| 1971 | Love, American Style, The New Andy Griffith Show, Dan August |
| 1972 | Longstreet |
| 1973 | The Doris Day Show |
| 1973-1980 | Barnaby Jones |
| 1988-1991 | The Munsters Today |
| 1996-2011 | All My Children |
| 2012-2014 | Project: Phoenix |
| 2015 | The Ultimate Legacy |
| 2017 | Suspense |
| 2018 | Rise of the Catwoman, Kaplan’s Korner |
Lee Meriwether’s Personal Life
Between 1958 and 1974, Lee Meriwether shared her life with Frank Aletter in matrimony. Their union brought forth two daughters, Kyle Aletter-Oldham and Lesley A. Aletter, both of whom followed in their mother’s footsteps and pursued careers in acting.
Following her divorce from Aletter, several years down the road, Meriwether found love again and married Marshall Borden.
Lee Meriwether’s Net Worth
Lee’s estimated wealth stands at approximately $200 million.
