Cathy Lewis

Cathy Lewis, (birth cited as December 27, 1916; January 1, 1917; or as 1918 in Spokane, Washington-November 20, 1968 [obituary states she was 50, making 1918 most likely] , was an American actress remembered best for numerous radio appearances but making a number of film and television appearances in the last decade of her life.

According to Ron Lackmann's book, "The Encyclopedia of American Radio", Lewis moved from Spokane to Chicago and found work on "The First Nighter Program"; other accounts say she first hoped to make it as a singer. Eventually, she moved to Hollywood, attended the Pasadena Playhouse, and met and married radio actor/writer/director Elliott Lewis (they shared the common surname) in 1943.

Both Lewises were staples of vintage American radio; radio historians Gerald Nachman and John Dunning have written of their numerous, genre-spanning works in comedy and drama, especially their co-creation of the respected anthology series "On Stage" and their stewardship (with Elliott Lewis directing and both of the couple acting) of the venerable mystery series "Suspense".

But as her husband would often be remembered most for his comic role in "The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show" (as bumbling buddy Frank Remley), she would be most identified as the sensibly droll Jane Stacy rooming with scatterbrained Irma Peterson (Marie Wilson) in the 1947-54 comedy "My Friend Irma". She recreated the role on television for the show's first season before the cameras, but she didn't appear in two films based on the show, the first known best for being the film debut of Martin & Lewis".

In the same year as she landed a support role in "The Party Crashers" (1958)---a film now most noted for being the final screen appearances of troubled legend Frances Farmer and former child star Bobby Driscoll---Cathy and Elliott Lewis divorced, putting an end to their frequent image as "Mr. and Mrs. Radio." A year later, she starred as half the title of a short-lived bid to bring another radio legend, "Fibber McGee and Molly", to television, with Bob Sweeney as Fibber to Lewis' Molly.

By 1961, Lewis played a supporting role in the Spencer Tracy classic "The Devil at 4 O'Clock" and began a recurring role as George Baxter's sister Deirdre on the television hit "Hazel", which starred another one-time radio presence, Shirley Booth (once Miss Duffy in the legendary comedy "Duffy's Tavern". Her final screen appearance was on a 1965 episode of "F-Troop". However, she did have one more memorable contribution to make - the voice of "Jade," a female spy/adventurer who appeared in two episodes of the original "Jonny Quest" animated series.

Cathy Lewis died of cancer on November 20, 1968.

Listen to

*"On A Country Road" from Suspense with Cary Grant [http://ia331318.us.archive.org/2/items/SUSPENSE5/501116OnACountryRoad.mp3]

*"The House In Cypress Canyon" from Suspense with Robert Taylorhttp://ia300126.us.archive.org/3/items/SUSPENSE3/46-12-05_House_In_Cypress_Canyon.MP3

On Stage

*http://www.archive.org/details/OTRR_On_Stage_Singles