Lee Meriwether Biography

(Actress and Former Model Best Known for Her Role as ‘Betty Jones’ in Crime Drama ‘Barnaby Jones’)

Birthday: May 27, 1935 (Gemini)

Born In: Los Angeles, California, United States

Lee Meriwether is an American actress and former model known for winning the title of Miss America in 1955. As an actress, she is known for appearing in the long-running 1970s drama series ‘Barnaby Jones’ as Betty Jones, a role that earned her an Emmy Award nomination along with two Golden Globe Award nominations. Known for her seductive deep voice and light blue eyes, Meriwether was one of the most popular television actresses in the 1970s. Born in Los Angeles, California, she studied at George Washington High School and City College of San Francisco. After winning Miss San Francisco, she won Miss California 1954 and was eventually crowned Miss America in 1955. On the personal front, she is a mother of two daughters, Lesley A. Aletter and Kyle Aletter-Oldham, both of whom are also actresses. She is a long-time friend of actor Bill Bixby with whom she studied in college

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Quick Facts

Also Known As: Lee Ann Meriwether

Age: 89 Years, 89 Year Old Females

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Marshall Borden (m. 1986), Frank Aletter (m. 1958–1974)

father: Claudius Gregg Meriwether (October 13, 1904 – July 15, 1954)

mother: 1903 – May 21, 1996, Ethel Eve Mulligan (March 25, Los Angeles)

siblings: 1938), Don Brett Meriwether (born May 14

children: Kyle Aletter, Lesley Aletter

Born Country: United States

Actresses American Women

Height: 5'9" (175 cm), 5'9" Females

Grouping of People: Beauty Pageant Winners

U.S. State: California

City: Los Angeles

  • 1

    What is Lee Meriwether known for?

    Lee Meriwether is known for her acting career, particularly for her role as Catwoman in the 1966 film "Batman: The Movie."
  • 2

    Has Lee Meriwether appeared in any TV shows?

    Yes, Lee Meriwether has appeared in numerous TV shows, including "Barnaby Jones," "The Munsters Today," and "Mission: Impossible."
  • 3

    Did Lee Meriwether ever compete in beauty pageants?

    Yes, Lee Meriwether won the Miss America pageant in 1955, representing California.
  • 4

    What Broadway show did Lee Meriwether star in?

    Lee Meriwether starred in the Broadway production of "The Odd Couple" in the role of "Cecily Pigeon."
  • 5

    Did Lee Meriwether have any notable roles in science fiction?

    Yes, Lee Meriwether had a notable role in science fiction as Dr. Ann MacGregor in the TV series "The Time Tunnel."
Childhood & Early Life
Lee Meriwether was born on May 27, 1935, in Los Angeles, California, USA, to Claudius Gregg Meriwether and Ethel Eve Mulligan. She has one brother named Don Brett Meriwether.
She studied at George Washington High School and later graduated from City College of San Francisco where one of her colleagues was fellow actor Bill Bixby.
She took part in beauty pageants as a young girl. After winning Miss San Francisco, she won the title of Miss California 1954. A year later, Meriwether was crowned Miss America.
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Career
Lee Meriwether began her entertainment career with NBC's ‘The Today Show’ in the mid-1950s. Her film debut came in the year 1959 when she was cast as Linda Davis in the sci-fi film ‘4D Man’.
In 1961, she made a guest appearance on her then-husband Frank Aletter’s sitcom ‘Bringing Up Buddy’. This was followed by her guest roles in ‘The Lloyd Bridges Show’ and ‘I'm Dickens, He's Fenster’.
From 1963 to 1965, the actress played various characters in eight episodes of NBC’s medical drama series ‘Dr. Kildare’. During this time, she also guest-starred in the drama series ‘Route 66’, ‘12 O'Clock High’ and ‘Man from U.N.C.L.E.’
Meriwether played The Catwoman in the ‘Batman’ movie. She ended the decade with appearances in a number of television programs including ‘Mannix’, ‘The Fugitive’, ‘Mission: Impossible’ and ‘Perry Mason’.
During the 1970s, she featured in the television films ‘Cruise Into Terror’ and ‘True Grit: A Further Adventure,’ and also appeared as a regular panelist on the popular game show ‘Match Game’.
The next decade saw her in the revival of the 1960s sitcom ‘The Munsters,’ titled ‘The Munsters Today’. Meriwether also had guest appearances in the drama series ‘Fantasy Island’ and ‘The Love Boat’.
In 1993, she appeared in an episode of ‘Murder, She Wrote,’ titled "Ship of Thieves". Three years later, the actress replaced Mary Fickett in the role of Ruth Martin in the sitcom ‘All My Children’.
In 2002, 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’.
Following a voice role in a video game titled ‘Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots’, Meriwether joined Bill Cobbs, Abigail Breslin, James Garner and others in the drama film ‘The Ultimate Gift,’ which released 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 ‘No Limit Kids: Much Ado About Middle School’ in 2010.
She continues to act in films, television shows, and stage productions. Recently, she starred in Chloë Sevigny’s short fantasy-drama movie ‘Kitty’ which was screened at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.
Major Works
From 1973 to 1980, Lee Meriwether starred alongside Buddy Ebsen in the television detective series ‘Barnaby Jones’. In the series, she played Betty Jones who runs a private detective firm alongside her father-in-law (who played the titular role).
Family & Personal Life
From 1958 to 1974, Lee Meriwether was married to Frank Aletter. They have two daughters, Kyle Aletter-Oldham and Lesley A. Aletter (both actresses).
Several years after her divorce from Aletter, Meriwether married Marshall Borden.
Facts About Lee Meriwether
In addition to her acting career, Meriwether is a talented singer and has performed in various stage productions and cabaret shows.
She has made guest appearances on popular TV shows over the years, showcasing her versatility as an actress.
Meriwether is a proud advocate for animal rights and has been involved in various charitable causes throughout her career.

How To Cite

Article Title
- Lee Meriwether Biography
Author
- Editors, TheFamousPeople.com
Website
- TheFamousPeople.com
URL
https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/lee-meriwether-44048.php

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