Noel Neill, the first onscreen Lois Lane, dies at 95
Noel Neill, famous for starring as Lois Lane in movie serials and TV's Adventures of Superman, died Sunday at her home in Tucson. She was 95.
Her friend and manager Larry Thomas Ward told The Hollywood Reporter she died after a long illness. Born Nov. 20, 1920, in Minneapolis, her father was an editor for the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and he wanted his daughter to become a reporter, even securing a job for her at Women's Wear Daily. Instead, Neill became a performer, and after playing the banjo in a trio, landed in Southern California. While singing in a restaurant at the Del Mar race track, Neill was spotted by Bing Crosby, who helped her land a contract with Paramount Pictures.
Neill first played Lois Lane in a 15-chapter serial for Columbia Pictures that played in theaters in 1948, and picked up the role again in 1950 for another serial, Atom Man vs. Superman. In 1953, she took over for Phyllis Coates, who played Lois Lane in the first season of the Adventures of Superman, starring in 78 episodes until the show ended in 1958. After that, she left show business, telling The New York Times in 2006 she "figured I'd worked enough." She married and moved to the beach, but did briefly appear as Lois Lane's mother in 1978's Superman and as Gertrude Vanderworth in the opening scene of 2006's Superman Returns. "She did whatever she wanted to do," Ward told The Hollywood Reporter. "That was the beauty of her skill. Ultimately, only she truly knew what was best for her, and that came out time and again. She was very smarty, quite astute about the acting business."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Biden poised to ease marijuana restrictions
Speed Read The move will reclassify it as a less dangerous drug
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
A history of student protest at Columbia University
The Explainer Anti-Israel demonstrations at NYC's Ivy League university echo protests against Vietnam War and South African apartheid
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Trump is ruled in contempt'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 Grammys
Speed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published