Suzanne Pleshette

Actress

"We’re losing manners. We’re losing style. We’re losing kindness. A lot of it is happening as a result of the television we’re doing and the characters we’re willing to play that reflect a piece of human nature. But it’s done over and over because it gets laughs or because it’s dramatically interesting. What’s the actor’s obligation to make the world a better place?"

About This Interview

Suzanne Pleshette (1937-2008) was interviewed for two hours plus in Beverly Hills, CA. Pleshette talked about her early years as an actress in film ( The Geisha Boy), television ( Playhouse 90, One Step Beyond), and Broadway (“The Miracle Worker”). She discussed her friendship with Alfred Hitchcock that began on the feature film The Birds. She spoke candidly and in detail about her television work, including The Bob Newhart Show, in which she played Newhart’s wife “Emily Hartley.” For this series she described her character, talked about working with the other series regulars, and recounted her surprise re-appearance in the series finale of Newhart. She talked about several of her other appearances on television including Columbo, Leona Helmsley: The Queen of Mean (in which she played the title role), and 8 Simple Rules and recounted, with honesty, the personalities of many of the people she worked with throughout her career. The interview was conducted by Stephen J. Abramson on February 9, 2006.

Featured Content

Video: Full Bob Newhart Show episode "Emily in for Carol" (airdate: October 13, 1973)

Video: Full episode of Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond: "Delusion" (airdate: 9/15/59), starring Norman Lloyd, Suzanne Pleshette [listen to her recount a story about this particular episode at right], David White; written by Larry Marcus; directed by John Newland

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Highlights
Chapters
Shows
People

Highlights

Chapters

Shows

Alcoa Presents aka One Step Beyond
- Actress Suzanne Pleshette on "doubling her double" while working on the Alcoa Presents (aka One Step Beyond) episode "Delusion" (airdate: 9/15/59) (00m 52s)
Bob Newhart Show, The (1972-78, CBS)
- Suzanne Pleshette on being cast on The Bob Newhart Show; on her character "Emily Hartley" (08m 18s)
- Suzanne Pleshette on reprising her role of Emily Hartley on the final episode of Newhart (03m 44s)
Columbo
- Suzanne Pleshette on guest-starring on a problematic episode of Columbo (03m 02s)
Dr. Kildare
- Suzanne Pleshette on guest starring on an episode of Dr. Kildare (01m 05s)
F.B.I., The
- Suzanne Pleshette on guest-starring on The F.B.I. (01m 01s)
Fugitive, The
- Suzanne Pleshette on David Janssen
- Suzanne Pleshette on working with David Janssen on The Fugitive and The Invaders
  (03m 39s)
Newhart
- Suzanne Pleshette on reprising her role of Emily Hartley on the final episode of Newhart (03m 44s)
Newhart: "The Last Newhart"
- Actress Suzanne Pleshette on reprising her role of Emily Hartley on the final episode of Newhart (03m 43s)
Route 66
- Actress Suzanne Pleshette on working on location for Route 66 (01m 43s)
Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The
- Suzanne Pleshette on guest-hosting The Tonight Show (01m 40s)
Will & Grace
- Suzanne Pleshette briefly on guest starring on Will & Grace (00m 36s)

People

Johnny Carson
- Suzanne Pleshette on guest-hosting The Tonight Show
  (01m 40s)
Alfred Hitchcock
- Suzanne Pleshette on co-starring in the feature film The Birds (07m 38s)
David Janssen
- Suzanne Pleshette on David Janssen
- Suzanne Pleshette on working with David Janssen on The Fugitive and The Invaders (03m 39s)

Submitted by eggjoe122 on Sat, 2011-05-28 04:34.

1:14 smokers hack

Submitted by GECHIKID on Mon, 2011-04-18 02:29.

She was the most beautiful wife on a sitcom in the 1970's.

Submitted by roXy3tiger on Wed, 2011-03-30 17:32.

OMG her voice!! i see zira in real life!!

Submitted by pecs2006 on Tue, 2011-03-22 19:41.

Extremely serious woman and a damn sexy voice.

Submitted by fanblow on Tue, 2011-02-22 18:12.

She was a very beautiful woman.

Submitted by deathrider1974 on Tue, 2011-02-08 06:23.

i remember her in one of the maverick movies she really was beautiful ,,,,,,,,,, scary pretty!

Submitted by traxtornaxxx on Sat, 2010-12-18 00:59.

ella fue maravillosa y talentosa una excelente actriz,tiene admiradores en america dl sur,américa del centro, en europa,en asia ella murió y jamás lo supo,yo lo descubrí a través de la net acá en perú la conocemos como prudence bel de rome adventure o como acá se llamó los amantes deben aprender

Submitted by Clemburke1111 on Sat, 2010-11-27 20:31.

She is my Favorite Hollywood lady EVER!!!!!!!

Submitted by tallulah2 on Wed, 2010-11-10 04:29.

I love that Suzanne was conscious of the effect her work would have on others and on society. She was such a cool lady. Beautiful, intelligent, funny and caring.

Submitted by leftfootlouie on Mon, 2010-10-18 20:37.

@wtf66611 SO those your mother show some class ass!

Submitted by MARCBSTN on Mon, 2010-09-27 20:24.

Love her.

Submitted by BeachBoysGuy1 on Mon, 2010-09-20 04:32.

I loved her. She was Dr. kimble's girlfriend too !!

Submitted by WiltatKansas on Thu, 2010-09-16 21:21.

Mrs. Hayworth in The Birds, 1963, when she was her beauty's prime.

Submitted by wtf66611 on Sat, 2010-08-28 21:28.

@70monticarlo

She had a nice rack too !

Submitted by romeo440 on Wed, 2010-07-21 10:01.

@PringleTrain was she really?

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