Home : R.I.P. : It's Not a Bad Dream: Suzanne Pleshette Dies

R.I.P.
It's Not a Bad Dream: Suzanne Pleshette Dies

Posted Jan 20th 2008 2:45AM by TMZ Staff

TV wife Suzanne Pleshette died at her home in Los Angeles last night at age 70, after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Just last September, while undergoing treatment, she appeared at a 35th anniversary event celebrating "The Bob Newhart Show."

Suzanne was married in 2001 to "Newhart" actor Tom Poston, who died in 2007.

Pleshette got a really big break in 1963, when Alfred Hitchcock cast her in "The Birds." She married heartthrob Troy Donahue the following year. Her most unforgettable appearance, however, was in the classic final episode of "Newhart," when she rolled over and revealed that the whole show had been a dream.

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(Page 9 of 9) Previous 15 Comments

121. I thought she married George Peppard not Troy Donahue. But nevertheless she was fantastic

Posted at 10:05AM on Jan 21st 2008 by lora

122. Smoker or not a smoker, everyone dies. I just wish she could have been an exception.

Posted at 4:12PM on Jan 22nd 2008 by joekamel

123. George Utley, someone told me yesterday, thanks.

Posted at 11:47AM on Jan 21st 2008 by Kelli

124. The TMZ headline is an affectionate reference to one of the most shockingly funny scenes ever on a TV comedy show. It was the finale (of "Newhart") where Suzanne Pleshette's character wakes up in bed with Bob Newhart on the same set from a previous sit-com they were in together ("The Bob Newhart Show"). The joke was that Bob wakes up next to his wife (Pleshette from the earlier sit-com) and thinks he must have merely dreamed of being an inn keeper (the situation of the entire 5-season "Newhart" show). That was the last laugh on the finale show and threw the live audience into hysterics! As always, Pleshette's timing was impecable. I'll always remember that as one of THE most memorable moments ever on televison.
Anyway...Suzanne Pleshette was like the Jennifer Aniston's "Friends" character of her day in the 70's. Young women idolized her persona, immitating her hair styles, clothing, and mannerisms. She was a reigning style icon for modern urban women along with Mary Tyler Moore. And, she was funny as hell! She most recently had appearances on "Will and Grace" as Karen's long lost mother. She never lost her touch. Who would have thought she'd be gone so suddenly. She will be missed and long remembered. She was always right on time; sadly not this time.

Posted at 12:00PM on Jan 21st 2008 by Bobby G

125. It is a term of affection. Some believe if your not at peace, your in a hot place that is not so peaceful. lol Ok.

Posted at 12:10PM on Jan 21st 2008 by Kelli

126. Suzanne Pleshette was a real starlet back in the 1960's. She was beautiful, classy, and intelligent. I wish TMZ had taken the time to locate one of her more flattering photos so that the skank-wannabe stars TMZ usually shows on here could see what a REAL starlet is all about. Suzanne Pleshette was gorgeous!!!

Suzanne Pleshette was married to handsome 1960's beach-god Troy Donahue. Then, she married her greatest love Tom Gallagher. After his death, she married her long-time friend, actor Tom Poston. Both of them had lost their former mates and were surprised by a friendship that turned to love.

Posted at 4:35PM on Jan 21st 2008 by LH

127. Yes she was a chain smoker for years and yes, in her day she was a babe. The type of woman people would turn around and look at as she passed you by on the street. Very beautiful features. Her gift, besides her beauty, was her wicked sense of humour. Its a big loss. I for one will miss her.

Posted at 5:49PM on Jan 21st 2008 by Phillip

128. WHY WOULD THEY WAIT 200 YEARS UNTIL AFTER THE HIGHLIGHT OF HER CAREER IS OVER WITH TO GIVE HER A STAR ON THE WALK OF FAME? WHY NOT DO IT WHEN SHE KNOWS WHAT THE HELL WOULD BE GOING ON?...GEESH

Posted at 6:04PM on Jan 21st 2008 by Gobbs

129. You people keep referring to Tom Postom as her husband, holding hands in heaven, etc. She had two Toms as husbands. Her first marriage to Texas oil millionaire Tom Gallagher was just 2 years old when she lost him. She was devastated. Her next husband, Tom Postom died last year. They had a fun mature marriage.

Posted at 7:22PM on Jan 21st 2008 by Grace from Texas

130. I want to apologize if I offended anyone. Someone on J.N. said something pretty offensive that I dont appreciate. Jusy joking around, harmless.

Posted at 8:50PM on Jan 21st 2008 by o

131. #115: That was really a really nice post. The Jennifer Aniston analogy is a good one for some of our younger "viewers". And like you say, she was always on time. But to borrow that old adage, "a lady always knows when to leave". She fought the fight and just came out on the wrong end of it unfortunately. She was a trouper and a great actress.

Posted at 10:20PM on Jan 21st 2008 by annie2

132. Oops, that was one "really" too many. Was supposed to be simply "a really nice post". My bad.

Posted at 10:22PM on Jan 21st 2008 by annie2

133. "WHY WOULD THEY WAIT 200 YEARS UNTIL AFTER THE HIGHLIGHT OF HER CAREER IS OVER WITH TO GIVE HER A STAR ON THE WALK OF FAME? WHY NOT DO IT WHEN SHE KNOWS WHAT THE HELL WOULD BE GOING ON?"

Ok, aside from the poor posting etiquette ("yelling" in all caps), you are clearly ignorant, Gobbs. I'll assume that '200 years' was a typo and you meant '20 years,' but even so, that's inaccurate, as she was still acting up until just a few years ago, when she made her hilarious appearances on Will & Grace. As for your second comment, you're assuming that because she was 69, she was old and decrepit and didn't know what was happening? You are a clueless butthead. These days, 69 is barely out of middle age, and it's obvious from the clips showing her comments during the Bob Newhart reunion that she was just as feisty and sharp as ever, despite her health challenges. (My own mother is about to turn 80, and she's got a lot more on the ball than a lot of people I know who are far younger than she is.)

The world's lost an amazing, talented woman with Suzanne's passing, and I hope the posthumous star ceremony will be one of the best attended ever. R.I.P. to a classy original.

Posted at 12:04AM on Jan 22nd 2008 by LisaGM

134. I always liked watching her in everything she did The Birds, The Ugly Dachsund, Support Your Local Gunfighter, even the remake of the Shaggy D.A. in 1976, of course Emily in the Bob Newhart Show and most recently she played someone's mother on a short lived televison series based around the happenings in a Miami newsroom. I thought she was a great comic actress with superb timing and a warm, earthy elegance that is sadly missing from todays "stars". In her obituary she was quoted as having said she was an "actress not a star" and that she never would have lasted as long as she did if she was a star.
I think the tribute posted originally by Scottsdallean ( #12) was truly moving and accurate. It is strange to be so moved and choked up about the passing of someone we never knew personally, but someone who brought countless hours of enjoyment into our lives through her work. Suzanne I hope your passing was easy and that you are re-united with all your loved ones that have also passed on. The world is a less colorful place for your passing. Rest in peace.

Posted at 11:55PM on Jan 21st 2008 by nyorker

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