Suzanne Pleshette

 

Suzanne Pleshette, born January 31, 1937, passed away January 19 in 2008. She was an American voice actress, actor film, and television actor. Pleshette began her career in theater, and appeared in films towards the end of the 1950s. Later, she appeared in a number of notable films, including Rome Adventure (1962), Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds (1963), or Spirited Away (192001). She then appeared in several television productions, often as a guest actor, and played Emily Hartley on The Bob Newhart Show from 1972 until 1978. She was awarded several Emmy Award nominations for her performance. Pleshette was the daughter of Geraldine (nee Kaplan), and Eugene Pleshette. She was born in Brooklyn Heights, New York on January 31, 1937. Her parents were Jewish, children of Austria-Hungarian immigrants and Russians. Her mother was an artist and dancer who performed under Geraldine Rivers. Her father was a stage manager, director of the Paramount Theater in New York City, of the Paramount Theater in Brooklyn and later, a network executive. After graduating from the Manhattan's High School of Performing Arts and then attending Syracuse University for a semester before transferring to Finch College. Then, she graduated from Manhattan's top acting school, the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre. She was taught by Sanford Meisner, a well-known actor. The Boston Globe described her demeanor and voice as sardonic and her voice as charming. She started her career at the age of 20 and was a stage actress. Her Broadway debut was in Meyer Levin's 1957 production of Compulsion. It was adapted from a novel by Loeb and Leopold.