Phyllis Avery
Encyclopedia
Phyllis Avery was an American television and film actress.
to Evelyn (née Martine) and author Stephen Morehouse Avery
. Her father hailed from Webster Groves, Missouri
, near St. Louis
. Her first role was as Marjorie in the 1951 film Queen for a Day
based on the popular radio and TV show. In 1952, she played Tracy McAuliffe, the wife of the Charlton Heston
character in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
film Ruby Gentry
.
From 1953 to 1955, Avery was cast as faculty wife Peggy McNutley in all but five of the seventy-five episodes of the CBS Television situation comedy
, Meet Mr. McNutley
, with Ray Milland
as college professor
Ray McNutley and Minerva Urecal
as Miss Bradley, the dean. The name "McNutley" was changed in the second season to McNulty.
From 1953 to 1958, Avery appeared six times on the CBS anthology series, Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
, having guest starred in such episodes as "The Unopened Letter", "Bluebeard's Seventh Wife", and "The Girl Who Scared Men Off". In the latter segment, Avery, again playing the role of a small-town schoolmarm, resents the arrival of the new pipe-smoking instructor from Great Britain
, played by Hans Conreid.
She appeared on the Charles Bronson
ABC series, Man with a Camera
as Miss Hollis in the 1958 episode "Turntable". In 1959, she was Ann Macauley in "Incident in No Man's Land" of CBS's western Rawhide
. From 1957-1959, she appeared in three different roles on the first David Janssen
series, Richard Diamond, Private Detective
.
In 1956, she appeared as Maggie Henderson in the film The Best Things in Life Are Free
, a biography of three songwriters played by Gordon MacRae
, Ernest Borgnine
, and Dan Dailey
. That same year, she and Lew Ayres
portrayed Peg and Clint Howard in "The Unrelenting Sky", the fourth episode of Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater
.
Avery was cast as the supporting actress Shelley Hayes in "Millionaire Jim Hayes" and in the title role of "The Vicki Lawson Story" in two segments of the CBS fantasy drama, The Millionaire. She played Leona Pickford Bartell in "The Baby Sitter" segment of ABC's The Rifleman
, with Chuck Connors
and directed by Sam Peckinpah
. In the story line, Avery as Bartell works in a dance hall and asks Lucas McCain
to care for her daughter in order to keep the child from the clutches of Avery's bigoted father, played by John Dehner
, who was only nine years Avery's senior.
In 1958, Avery appeared as herself singing on NBC's variety show
, The George Gobel Show, and also in several episodes in various comedy sketches as Gobel's wife "Alice" (which happened to also be the first name of the real-life Mrs. Gobel).
From 1960 to 1962, Avery appeared as Anne Selby on the CBS soap opera
The Clear Horizon
, a story of American astronaut
s and their wives. During the 1960s, continued with guest starring roles on various television series including The Deputy
, Peter Gunn
, Perry Mason
, The Red Skelton Show
, Have Gun - Will Travel, The Virginian
, The Greatest Show on Earth
, and Daniel Boone
. During the 1970s, Avery guest starred in episodes of All in the Family
, Maude
, Charlie's Angels
and Baretta
.
In the 1980s, Avery retired from acting and became a real estate
agent in Los Angeles
. She returned to acting in the 1990s with an appearances in the feature film, Made in America
(1993), and in an episode of the television series Coach
.
; the couple had two daughters, Anne Taylor Fleming and Avery Taylor Moore.
Phyllis Avery died at the age of eighty-eight on May 19, 2011 from heart failure.
Early life and career
Avery was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to Evelyn (née Martine) and author Stephen Morehouse Avery
Stephen Morehouse Avery
Stephen Morehouse Avery was an American author who wrote numerous Hollywood screenplays. His daughter is the actress Phyllis Avery....
. Her father hailed from Webster Groves, Missouri
Webster Groves, Missouri
Webster Groves is an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 22,995 at the 2010 census. The city is named after New England politician Daniel Webster....
, near St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. Her first role was as Marjorie in the 1951 film Queen for a Day
Queen for a Day
Queen for a Day is an American radio and television game show that helped to usher in American listeners' and viewers' fascination with big-prize giveaway shows. Queen for a Day originated on the Mutual Radio Network on April 30, 1945 in New York City before moving to Los Angeles a few months...
based on the popular radio and TV show. In 1952, she played Tracy McAuliffe, the wife of the Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston was an American actor of film, theatre and television. Heston is known for heroic roles in films such as The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, El Cid, and Planet of the Apes...
character in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
film Ruby Gentry
Ruby Gentry
Ruby Gentry is a 1952 film noir, directed by King Vidor and starring Jennifer Jones, Charlton Heston and Karl Malden.-Synopsis:A poor young girl marries a rich man she doesn't love, while carrying a torch for another man.-Cast:...
.
From 1953 to 1955, Avery was cast as faculty wife Peggy McNutley in all but five of the seventy-five episodes of the CBS Television situation comedy
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
, Meet Mr. McNutley
Meet Mr. McNutley
Meet Mr. McNutley is an American situation comedy which aired on CBS Television from 1953–1955, with Ray Milland in the role of fastidious Professor Ray McNutley, the head of the English Department at the fictitious Lynnhaven College for girls...
, with Ray Milland
Ray Milland
Ray Milland was a Welsh actor and director. His screen career ran from 1929 to 1985, and he is best remembered for his Academy Award–winning portrayal of an alcoholic writer in The Lost Weekend , a sophisticated leading man opposite a corrupt John Wayne in Reap the Wild Wind , the murder-plotting...
as college professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
Ray McNutley and Minerva Urecal
Minerva Urecal
Minerva Urecal was an American actressBorn as Minerva Holzer, Urecal was originally a radio and stage performer. She made her film debut in 1933...
as Miss Bradley, the dean. The name "McNutley" was changed in the second season to McNulty.
From 1953 to 1958, Avery appeared six times on the CBS anthology series, Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, is a weekly CBS anthology television series, was telecast on Friday nights from 1951 until 1959. Offering both comedies and drama, the series was sponsored by Schlitz beer...
, having guest starred in such episodes as "The Unopened Letter", "Bluebeard's Seventh Wife", and "The Girl Who Scared Men Off". In the latter segment, Avery, again playing the role of a small-town schoolmarm, resents the arrival of the new pipe-smoking instructor from Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, played by Hans Conreid.
She appeared on the Charles Bronson
Charles Bronson
Charles Bronson , born Charles Dennis Buchinsky was an American actor, best-known for such films as Once Upon a Time in the West, The Magnificent Seven, The Dirty Dozen, The Great Escape, Rider on the Rain, The Mechanic, and the popular Death Wish series...
ABC series, Man with a Camera
Man with a Camera (TV series)
Man with a Camera is a 1950s television crime drama starring Charles Bronson.Throughout the 1950s, Charles Bronson spent most of his early acting career in TV-shows as well as small parts in films, until he landed the lead in the ABC series The Man with a Camera.-Plot:In the series Bronson...
as Miss Hollis in the 1958 episode "Turntable". In 1959, she was Ann Macauley in "Incident in No Man's Land" of CBS's western Rawhide
Rawhide (TV series)
Rawhide is an American Western series that aired for eight seasons on the CBS network on Friday nights, from January 9, 1959 to September 3, 1965, before moving to Tuesday nights from September 14, 1965 until January 4, 1966, with a total of 217 black-and-white episodes...
. From 1957-1959, she appeared in three different roles on the first David Janssen
David Janssen
David Janssen was an American film and television actor who is best known for his starring role as Dr. Richard Kimble in the television series The Fugitive , the starring role in the 1950s hit detective series Richard Diamond, Private Detective , and as Harry Orwell on Harry O.In 1996 TV Guide...
series, Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Richard Diamond, Private Detective is an American detective drama which aired on radio from 1949 to 1953, and on television from 1957 to 1960.-Radio:...
.
In 1956, she appeared as Maggie Henderson in the film The Best Things in Life Are Free
The Best Things in Life Are Free (film)
The Best Things in Life Are Free is a 1956 American musical film directed by Michael Curtiz. The film starred, Gordon MacRae, Dan Dailey, Ernest Borgnine, and Sheree North....
, a biography of three songwriters played by Gordon MacRae
Gordon MacRae
Gordon MacRae was an American actor and singer, best known for his appearances in the film versions of two Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, Oklahoma! and Carousel and films with Doris Day like Starlift.-Early life:Born Albert Gordon MacRae in East Orange, New Jersey, MacRae graduated from...
, Ernest Borgnine
Ernest Borgnine
Ernest Borgnine is an American actor of television and film. His career has spanned more than six decades. He was an unconventional lead in many films of the 1950s, including his Academy Award-winning turn in the 1955 film Marty...
, and Dan Dailey
Dan Dailey
Daniel James Dailey Jr. was an American dancer and actor.-Early life and career:Born in New York City on December 14, 1915, to James J. and Helen Dailey, both born in New York City. He appeared in a minstrel show when very young, and appeared in vaudeville before his Broadway debut in 1937 in...
. That same year, she and Lew Ayres
Lew Ayres
Lew Ayres was an American actor, best known for starring as Paul in All Quiet on the Western Front and for playing Dr...
portrayed Peg and Clint Howard in "The Unrelenting Sky", the fourth episode of Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theater
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre, sometimes simply called Zane Grey Theatre, is an American Western anthology series which ran on CBS from 1956 to 1961.-Overview:Zane Grey Theatre was created by Luke Short and Charles A. Wallace...
.
Avery was cast as the supporting actress Shelley Hayes in "Millionaire Jim Hayes" and in the title role of "The Vicki Lawson Story" in two segments of the CBS fantasy drama, The Millionaire. She played Leona Pickford Bartell in "The Baby Sitter" segment of ABC's The Rifleman
The Rifleman
The Rifleman is an American Western television program that starred Chuck Connors as homesteader Lucas McCain and Johnny Crawford as his son, Mark McCain. It was set in the 1880s in the town of North Fork, New Mexico Territory. The show, filmed in black-and-white with a half hour running time, ran...
, with Chuck Connors
Chuck Connors
Chuck Connors was an American actor, writer, and professional basketball and baseball player. His best known role from his forty-year film career was Lucas McCain in the 1960s ABC hit Western series The Rifleman....
and directed by Sam Peckinpah
Sam Peckinpah
David Samuel "Sam" Peckinpah was an American filmmaker and screenwriter who achieved prominence following the release of the Western epic The Wild Bunch...
. In the story line, Avery as Bartell works in a dance hall and asks Lucas McCain
Lucas McCain
Lucas McCain is the rancher and widowed father with a penchant for using his Winchester firearm -- as a last resort -- in the Western television series, The Rifleman, which ran on ABC from 1958-1963. The part was portrayed by the former athlete-turned-actor Chuck Connors...
to care for her daughter in order to keep the child from the clutches of Avery's bigoted father, played by John Dehner
John Dehner
John Dehner was an American actor in radio, television, and films, playing countless roles, often as a droll villain. Between 1941 and 1988, he appeared in over 260 films and television programs. Prior to acting, Dehner had worked as an animator at Walt Disney Studios, and later became a radio...
, who was only nine years Avery's senior.
In 1958, Avery appeared as herself singing on NBC's variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
, The George Gobel Show, and also in several episodes in various comedy sketches as Gobel's wife "Alice" (which happened to also be the first name of the real-life Mrs. Gobel).
From 1960 to 1962, Avery appeared as Anne Selby on the CBS soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
The Clear Horizon
The Clear Horizon
The Clear Horizon is a soap opera which ran on CBS Daytime from July 11, 1960 to March 10, 1961 and from February 26, 1962 to June 11, 1962. The show was created and head written by Manya Starr. -Premise:...
, a story of American astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
s and their wives. During the 1960s, continued with guest starring roles on various television series including The Deputy
The Deputy (TV series)
The Deputy is a 1959-1961 half-hour NBC western series featuring Henry Fonda as Chief Marshal Simon Fry of the Arizona Territory and Allen Case as Deputy Clay McCord, a storekeeper who tried to avoid using a gun.-Production:...
, Peter Gunn
Peter Gunn
Peter Gunn is an American private eye television series which aired on the NBC and later ABC television networks from 1958 to 1961. The show's creator was Blake Edwards...
, Perry Mason
Perry Mason (TV series)
Perry Mason is an American legal drama produced by Paisano Productions that ran from September 1957 to May 1966 on CBS. The title character, portrayed by Raymond Burr, is a fictional Los Angeles defense attorney who originally appeared in detective fiction by Erle Stanley Gardner...
, The Red Skelton Show
The Red Skelton Show
The Red Skelton Show is an American variety show that was a television staple for two decades, from 1951 to 1971. It was second to Gunsmoke and third to The Ed Sullivan Show in the ratings during that time. Skelton, who had previously been a radio star, had appeared in several motion pictures as...
, Have Gun - Will Travel, The Virginian
The Virginian (TV series)
The Virginian is an American Western television series starring James Drury and Doug McClure, which aired on NBC from 1962 to 1971 for a total of 249 episodes. Filmed in color, The Virginian became television's first 90-minute western series...
, The Greatest Show on Earth
The Greatest Show on Earth (TV series)
The Greatest Show on Earth is an American drama series starring Jack Palance about the American circus, which aired on ABC from September 17, 1963, to April 28, 1964...
, and Daniel Boone
Daniel Boone (TV series)
Daniel Boone is an American action/adventure television series starring Fess Parker as Daniel Boone that aired from September 24, 1964 to September 10, 1970 on NBC for 165 episodes, and was made by 20th Century Fox Television. Ed Ames co-starred as Mingo, Boone's Native American friend, for the...
. During the 1970s, Avery guest starred in episodes of All in the Family
All in the Family
All in the Family is an American sitcom that was originally broadcast on the CBS television network from January 12, 1971, to April 8, 1979. In September 1979, a new show, Archie Bunker's Place, picked up where All in the Family had ended...
, Maude
Maude (TV series)
Maude was an American television sitcom that was originally broadcast on the CBS network from September 12, 1972 until April 22, 1978.Maude starred Beatrice Arthur as Maude Findlay, an outspoken, middle-aged, politically liberal woman living in suburban Tuckahoe, Westchester County, New York with...
, Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels
Charlie's Angels is a television series about three women who work for a private investigation agency, and is one of the first shows to showcase women in roles traditionally reserved for men...
and Baretta
Baretta
Baretta is an American detective television series which ran on ABC from 1975 to 1978. The show was a milder version of a successful 1973–74 ABC series, Toma, starring Tony Musante as chameleon-like, real-life New Jersey police officer David Toma...
.
In the 1980s, Avery retired from acting and became a real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
agent in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. She returned to acting in the 1990s with an appearances in the feature film, Made in America
Made in America (film)
Made in America is a 1993 comedy film released on May 28, 1993 by Warner Bros. starring Whoopi Goldberg and Ted Danson, and featuring Nia Long, Jennifer Tilly and Will Smith.-Plot:...
(1993), and in an episode of the television series Coach
Coach (TV series)
Coach is an American television sitcom that aired for nine seasons on ABC from 1989 to 1997. The series starred Craig T. Nelson as Hayden Fox, head coach of the fictional Division I-A college football team, the Minnesota State University Screaming Eagles...
.
Personal life
From 1944 to 1955, Avery was married to actor Don TaylorDon Taylor (actor)
Don Taylor was an American movie actor and director best known for his performances in 1950s classics like Stalag 17 and Father of the Bride and the 1948 film noir The Naked City...
; the couple had two daughters, Anne Taylor Fleming and Avery Taylor Moore.
Phyllis Avery died at the age of eighty-eight on May 19, 2011 from heart failure.