Phyllis Coates, Who Originated The Role of Lois Lane On TV, Passes Away At 96

Oct 13

Phyllis Coates, known for originating the role of Lois Lane in television on Adventures of Superman, passed away peacefully in her home on Wednesday, October 11 at the age of 96. Coates was born Gypsie Ann Evarts Stell and had been an active participant in show business before her role on the TV series Adventures of Superman. Her first appearance as Lois Lane was in the Lippert Pictures film Superman and the Mole Men in 1951.

Coates left the Adventures of Superman project after the first season, although she was offered five times her season 1 salary to return. According to Coates, “We were nearly blown up, beaten up, exploded, exploited — I guess it was because we were young and dumb, but we put up with a lot of stuff.”

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Superman and Lois Lane — Image Source: Everyeye Serie TV

In 1994, Coates returned to the superhero genre, playing Lois Lane’s mother in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Coates is also known for her work in films. She acted in I Was A Teenage Frankenstein, The Incredible Petrified World, and Blood Arrow. After her film career, Coates returned to the world of television with the majority of her screen time on This Is Alice, The Duke, and Death Valley Days. Coates is survived by her three children including Laura Press who asked fans to donate to the Humane Society of America to honor Coates’ love of animals. Speaking of Coates, Press said, “She gave a lot to the industry and her career passed through so many genres.”

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