Betsy Palmer on I've Got A Secret.
Posted on 09/28/2017 8:20:21 PM PDT by BenLurkin
Anne Jeffreys, the actress and opera singer who likely had her greatest impact on TV audiences as Marion Kerby “the ghostess with the mostess” in the 1950s TV series “Topper,” has died. She was 94.
Jeffreys, whose husband, actor Robert Sterling, died in 2006, died peacefully in her sleep at her Los Angeles home on Wednesday evening, her manager Don Gibble said Thursday.
More recently, she spent two decades playing Amanda Barrington on “General Hospital” She was featured in the role of the wealthy on more than 350 episodes of the soap opera from 1984 until 2004.
In “Topper,” she and Sterling starred as fun-loving husband and wife George and Marion Kerby who, after dying in a Swiss avalanche, return as ghosts to their mansion and comically haunt its new occupant, actor Leo G. Carroll as staid banker Cosmo Topper.
Each week they were introduced to viewers as George, “that most sporting spirit,” and Marion, “the ghostess with the mostess.”
They were among many varied roles in a long career in films, television, opera and on Broadway for Jeffreys, who continued to work well into her 70s. Her final on-screen appearance was on the HBO series “Getting On.”
Early in her career, she appeared opposite John Wayne in “Flying Tigers.” In later years, she appeared on such TV shows as “L.A. Law” and “Murder, She Wrote” and played David Hasselhoff’s mother on “Baywatch.”
(Excerpt) Read more at losangeles.cbslocal.com ...
She aged very well.
Classic beauty can do that.
I read on Wikipedia that she played David Hasselhof’s mother on Baywatch.
Another show we used to watch was "The Millionaire."
Maybe they will put it on Netflix one of these days.
I always thought the car looked “Buickish”. My dad’s first new car was a ‘49 Buick convertable. The curves of the Kirby’s (and later Topper’s) car looked familiar.
I will never forget the first time I saw the TV show Topper.
In 1956, we had no TV, and were at the LaFonda hotel in Santa Fe NM. The TV was a black and white pay TV. Drop in a coin and you would get so many hours of TV.
Dad dropped in a coin and we watched Disney’s Rob Roy! A little later on came Topper and right in the middle of the show the TV shut down. Dad didn’t have any more coins either. Bummer.
It was a couple of years later dad finally bought a TV and we saw Topper again.
I had such a crush on Anne Jeffreys from Topper. Good-bye, lady.
Oh, yeah, I forgot about that. What a boozer.
Me too. She was probably second only to Grace Kelly in exuding grace and beauty (maybe superior to, come to think of it).
Makes me feel old.
John Beresford Tipton, Jr
I’ve remembered that name all my life. LOL
I liked the million dollars, but I didn’t like the guy who delivered it.
He looked like the commies on other shows.
Mark
When we got our first TV, I moved into the living room. I loved all the cast in Topper, especially Neal. She was absolutely elegant. Had no idea she played in so many things. Also loved “The Millionaire” and “You Were There” “Space Cadet” “Flash Gordon” “Robert xx - the photographer?” “You Asked For It” “Sky King” “Preston of the Yukon”
Impressive Nick,impressive.
Rod Serling had a brother named Robert who was an aviation writer.
Robert Sterling was Capt Lee Crane in the film version of “Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea”.
Different spelling.
Penny hears a plane overhead and knows Uncle Sky is coming to rescue her.
“I’d know the Songbird’s engines anywhere.”
A real loss.
Loved her work
May the angels sing her home
“On King, on you Huskie!”
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.