Suzanne Pleshette

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.