Biography: Everything you need to know about Lee Meriwether
Hollywood star, Lee Meriwether, 85 years old (as of 2020) is widely recognized for her part in the 1970s crime television series, Barnaby Jones, where she portrayed Betty Jones, Buddy Ebsen’s secretary and daughter-in-law.
Hailing from Los Angeles, California, Lee Meriwether is considered to be the eldest child in a family of two. Her parents, Claudius Gregg Meriwether and Ethel Eve Mulligan, relocated to Phoenix three years after the birth of her younger sibling, Don Brett Meriwether.
Lee Meriwether attended George Washington High School, where she was encouraged to follow a path in acting. Later, she enrolled at City College of San Francisco, majoring in Radio and TV/Theatre Arts. It was during her college years that she began participating in beauty pageants. Initially, Lee felt uncertain about competing in the Miss San Francisco 1954 pageant until her mother motivated her, followed by her college sorority ensuring her participation.
One of the pillars of support for her was her mother. Shortly after entering pageantry, Lee triumphed as Miss California 1954. However, her joy was short-lived as her father passed away soon after, breaking her heart. She became so despondent that she lost the desire to pursue anything.
One of the people who reassured her was her mother, who reminded Lee that her father would not want her to do anything that might endanger the scholarship provided by the pageants. Eventually, she gathered herself and traveled to Atlantic City for the historic Miss America 1955 competition.
The pageant was significant as it marked the first time the event was broadcast on national television, reaching millions of viewers. Lee Meriwether clinched victory again due to her stunning appearance and remarkable talent, becoming the first contestant to be crowned on nationwide television. Her tenure as Miss America transformed her into a major celebrity, altering the course of her life forever. During her first year touring as Miss America, her visibility on the show allowed her to utilize her pageant achievements to study acting, dancing, singing, and fencing with top trainers in New York.
Her appearance on The Today Show ignited her passion for pursuing a career in acting. Lee eventually landed her first role in 1954, where she appeared in three episodes of The Philco Television Playhouse.
Lee met her first spouse, Frank Aletter, in 1961, while guest-starring as Gloria in an episode of the CBS sitcom Bringing Up Buddy. In the same year, she appeared in an episode of Leave it to Beaver, season four.
In 1962, her resume expanded with her performances in the CBS series The Lloyd Bridges Show and the ABC sitcom I’m Dickens, He’s Fester.
She continued to appear in several TV series episodes from 1963 to 1966, all of which were minor non-recurring parts.
In 1966, Lee auditioned for the role of Catwoman in the 1966 Batman film and won the role after standing out among 200 other applicants, fueling her determination to excel. Unlike the rest, Lee approached the audition, sat down, curled up, and began purring. Her portrayal of Catwoman replaced Julie Newmar, who had played the character in the Batman TV series for reasons not disclosed. However, rumors suggested that Julie left due to insufficient compensation, while others claimed she simply wanted to accept different acting roles that did not require her to don distressed leather suits.
Lee Meriwether earned the role and shared the screen with villains such as The Riddler, The Joker, and Penguin, alongside notable actors like Burgess Meredith and Frank Gorshin. She relished the part but found the Catwoman costume less than comfortable.
Her role in the film also enabled her to appear in two episodes of the Batman TV series in 1967. Instead of reprising her role as Catwoman, she was cast as Lisa Carson, a love interest of Bruce Wayne.
Lee continued to secure another part in Time Tunnel the same year Batman: Her television appearances flourished through the late 1960s and early 1970s. Lee Meriwether’s exceptional talents led her to gain more roles in various shows and episodes, including Star Trek, The Fugitive, The Lloyd Bridges Show, Mission: Impossible, Perry Mason and F Troop.
In 1973, she earned a role in the well-known Barnaby Jones series. The show ultimately became the highlight of her entire career. Most people will remember her primarily thanks to this series. The series brought her closer to her on-screen partner, Buddy Ebsen, with whom she shared significant chemistry and became best friends until his passing in 2003.
Lee has had a rather unique romantic life, with her first engagement being merely a rumor that many fans believed without question, much to her surprise. This incident occurred on August 1, 1956. She was dining with one of her friends, Joe DiMaggio, when a photo was taken and circulated with speculation regarding their imminent wedding. Fortunately for her, the rumor dissipated as quickly as it arose.
She got married on April 20, 1958, to Frank Aletter, with whom she had two daughters, Kyle Aletter and Lesley Aletter. They divorced in 1974. Later, she remarried on September 21, 1986, to Marshall Borden.
Although Lee Meriwether hasn’t been active in Hollywood for at least two years, her net worth is estimated to be $200 million. Nonetheless, she has made a substantial impact on the acting industry over the years. Undoubtedly, she remains an icon that young actresses can admire.
