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Post by philly on Jul 4, 2016 18:49:03 GMT -5
Superman’s first onscreen Lois Lane, Noel Darleen Neill, passed away at her home in Tuscon, Arizona, on Sunday at age 95 following an extended illness, her official biographer Larry Ward confirmed on Facebook via editor Jim Nolt. www.ew.com/article/2016/07/04/noel-neill-dies-superman-actress-lois-lane-deadPhyllis Coates, still alive at 89, preceded Noel as Lois Lane on the original Superman series. But Noel's portrayal preceded that when she was Lois in a 15 episode movie house serial of Superman (portrayed by Kirk Alyn) in 1948. |
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Post by sliderocker on Jul 4, 2016 20:08:42 GMT -5
Noel had a good, long life, and may she rest in peace, along with her "Superman" co-stars. In the 80s, she and Jack Larson first alleged that actor George Reeves' death may not have been suicide. Larson indicated they had been told his death was not a suicide, but he later backed off the claim and supported the idea that Reeves had committed suicide. I don't know that Noel ever went along with the suicide story. She and Reeves usually did personal appearances together after the series wrapped up each season. Many of Reeves' friends also never bought into the story. And with Neill's passing, that just leaves Phyllis Coates as the sole surviving cast member of the show.
Neill, Coates and Larson all made appearances in the later "Superman" movies (with Christopher Reeve or Brandon Routh) or television series like "Lois and Clark." Their appearances were considered a sign of respect and good will for the stars of the tv series and a way to bring the "Superman" generations together. Neill and Larson both made their last "Superman" appearance in "Superman Returns:" Larson as a bartender and Neill as a dying wealthy patient in a hospital, killed off by Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) so he could gain her fortune. Neill's character was bedridden, and I suspect given her advanced age at the time, she wasn't able to do much more than that. But, she was the first - and for many - the best and most memorable Lois Lane. I agree about that although Phyllis was also good in the role during the first season but still regard the gorgeous Erica Durance (from "Smallville") as the sexiest and yummiest "Lois Lane."
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