SOMERS, Brett 1924–

(Brett Somers–Klugman)

PERSONAL

Original name, Audrey Sommers; born July 11, 1924, in New Brunswick, Canada; married Jack Klugman (an actor), 1953 (separated, 1974); children: Adam (an actor), David, Leslie.

Addresses:

Contact—c/o P.O. Box 153, Greens Farms, CT 06838.

Career:

Actress. Wrote a three–act play that was performed in St. Louis, MO, 1977; performed a nightclub act in New York City, 2003; also employed as a teacher.

CREDITS

Film Appearances:

Carlotta, Bus Riley's Back in Town, Universal, 1965.

(Uncredited) Jessie Jay, A Rage to Live, United Artists, 1965.

X–ray lady, Bone (also known as Beverly Hills Nightmare, Dial Rat, Dial Rat for Terror, and Housewife), New World Pictures, 1972.

Television Appearances; Series:

(As Brett Somers–Klugman) Blanche Somers–Madison, The Odd Couple, 1970–75.

Panelist, Match Game 73 (also known as Match Game 74, Match Game 75, Match Game 76, Match Game 77, Match Game 78, Match Game 79, and Match Game), CBS, 1973–82.

Gertrude Lade, The New Perry Mason (also known as The New Adventures of Perry Mason), 1973.

Panelist, Match Game PM, syndicated, 1975–82.

Herself and guest panelist, The Match Game (also known as Match Game 90), ABC, 1990.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Miss Texas chaperone, The Great American Beauty Contest, ABC, 1973.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Herself, The T.V. Show, 1979.

Herself, Magic Moments: The Best of 50's Pop, PBS, 2004.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Rose Miller, Getting There, 1980.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

"The World to Nothing," Robert Montgomery Presents, NBC, 1955.

Cigarette girl, "The Women," Producers' Showcase, 1955.

"Teddy Bear," Kraft Television Theatre, NBC, 1956.

Sarah, "The Poker Fiend," Have Gun, Will Travel, CBS, 1960.

"Vengeance Is a Wheel," Naked City, ABC, 1961.

Barbara Thurman, "And If I Die," Ben Casey, ABC, 1962.

Maude Vega, "Poltergeist," The Defenders, CBS, 1963.

Myra, "The Eve of St. Elmo," Have Gun, Will Travel, CBS, 1963.

Mildred Larch, "Blacklist," The Defenders, CBS, 1964.

Miss Edmonds, "Cry Uncle," The Fugitive, ABC, 1964.

Amelia Gates, "Image in a Cracked Mirror," The F.B.I., ABC, 1965.

"Love and the Cheaters," Love, American Style, ABC, 1972.

"Memory of a Legend," The F.B.I., ABC, 1973.

Aunt Rose, "Rhoda's Sister Gets Married," Mary Tyler Moore, CBS, 1973.

Mrs. Stavocheck, "Stakeout," Barney Miller, ABC, 1975.

Edna Collins, "The Election," Barney Miller, ABC, 1976.

Anita Carmichael, "The Man Who Loved Women/A Different Girl/Oh, My Aching Brother," The Love Boat, ABC, 1978.

Siress Belloby, "The Magnificent Warriors," Battlestar Galactica, ABC, 1978.

Guest, Password Plus, 1979.

Herself, "Roller Disco: Part 2," CHiPs, NBC, 1979.

Sarah, "Rent a Romeo/Matchmaker, Matchmaker/Y' Gotta Have Heart," The Love Boat, ABC, 1980.

(Uncredited) Herself, "The Great 5K Star Race and Boulder Wrap Party: Part 2," CHiPs, NBC, 1980.

Herself, Hollywood Squares, syndicated, 2002.

CBS Early Show, CBS, 2002.

Herself, O2Be, 2002.

Stage Appearances:

Florence, Maybe Tuesday, Playhouse Theatre, New York City, 1958.

An Evening with Brett Somers, Danny's Skylight Room, New York City, 2003–2004.

Holiday Time with Brett, The Duplex, New York City, 2004.

Also appeared in Maybe Tuesday; Happy Ending; Mine Prince Mine King; Night Fishing in Beverly Hills; The Country Girl.

Major Tours:

Toured in Seven Year Itch.

OTHER SOURCES

Electronic:

Brett Somers Official Site,http://www.brettsomers.com/, October 14, 2004.

Somers, Brett 1924-2007 (Brett Somers Klugman)

PERSONAL

Birth name, Audrey Johnston; born July 11, 1924 in New Brunswick, Canada; died of stomach and colon cancer, September 15, 2007, in Westport, CT. Actress. Born in Canada, Somers grew up in Portland, Maine, and ran away to New York City at age 17 to pursue a career in acting. Somers settled in Greenwich Village and subsequently changed her first name to Brett after the female lead character in the Ernest Hemingway novel The Sun Also Rises. She also changed her last name of Johnston to her mother's maiden name, Somers. Somers made her Broadway debut in the short-lived play Maybe Tuesday, which lasted only five performances. Somers also appeared in productions of Happy Ending, The Seven Year Itch, and The Country Girl. She amassed many appearances as a guest star on television programs, including Ben Casey, CHiPs, The Love Boat, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Barney Miller, and Love, American Style. Somers also had a recurring role on the 1970s sitcom The Odd Couple as Blanche, the ex-wife of Oscar Madison (played by Somers's real-life spouse, Jack Klugman, whom she had married in 1953). Her appearances as a panelist on the 1970s quiz show Match Game earned Somers her greatest fame. Her wit and dry humor, paired with her on-screen presence of enormous eyeglasses and various wigs, made her an audience favorite. She sparred regularly with the other panelists, including Charles Nelson Reilly, Betty White, Fannie Flagg, and Richard Dawson. An Evening with Brett Somers, a one-woman cabaret show that Somers wrote and coproduced, opened to rave reviews in New York City in 2003. Although Somers and Klugman separated in 1974, neither ever filed for divorce.

PERIODICALS

Variety, September 24, 2007.