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Brett Somers
Background information
Birth name(s):	Audrey Johnston
Date of birth:	July 11, 1924(1924-07-11)
Birth location:	New Brunswick, Canada
Date of death:	September 15, 2007 (aged 83)
Death location:	Westport, Connecticut, USA
Official site:	www.brettsomers.com
Genre(s):	cabaret; comedy; game show panelist
Spouse(s):	Jack Klugman (1953-2007, separated 1974-2007)

Brett Somers (July 11, 1924 – September 15, 2007)^[1] was a Canadian-born American actress, singer, and comedienne. She was best known as a panelist on the 1970s game show, Match Game. Image File history File links Gnome_globe_current_event. ... // The following is a list of notable deaths in 2007. ... is the 192nd day of the year (193rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1924 (MCMXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_New_Brunswick. ... Motto: Spem reduxit (Hope restored) Capital Fredericton Largest city Saint John Official languages English, French (the only constitutionally bilingual province in the country) Government - Lieutenant-Governor Herménégilde Chiasson - Premier Shawn Graham (Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 10 - Senate seats 10 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st... is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Connecticut. ... Location in Connecticut Coordinates: NECTA Bridgeport-Stamford Region South Western Region Incorporated 1835 Government  - Type Representative town meeting  - First selectman Gordon F. Joseloff  - Town meeting moderator Alice H. Shelton Area  - City 86. ... For the magazine, see Genre (magazine). ... Jack Klugman (born Jacob Joachim Klugman on April 27, 1922 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American television and movie actor. ... is the 192nd day of the year (193rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1924 (MCMXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... “Quiz show” redirects here. ... The Match Game was an American television game show, most often hosted by Gene Rayburn. ...

Personal life

Born as Audrey Johnston in New Brunswick, Canada, she grew up near Portland, Maine. She ran away from home at age 17 and moved to New York City to pursue a career in acting.^[2] There she settled in Greenwich Village. She changed her first name to "Brett" after the lead female character in Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises, and the surname "Somers" was her mother's maiden name. She became a U.S. citizen late in life.^[3] After moving to New York City, Somers married and had a daughter, Leslie, before divorcing her first husband.^[2] In 1953, she married actor Jack Klugman; they had two sons: Adam and David. The couple separated in 1974, but never divorced.^[4] Motto: Spem reduxit (Hope restored) Capital Fredericton Largest city Saint John Official languages English, French (the only constitutionally bilingual province in the country) Government - Lieutenant-Governor Herménégilde Chiasson - Premier Shawn Graham (Liberal) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 10 - Senate seats 10 Confederation July 1, 1867 (1st... Nickname: Motto: Resurgam (Latin for I will rise again) Country United States State Maine County Cumberland Settled 1632 Incorporated 1786 Government  - Mayor Nicholas M. Mavodones, Jr Area  - City  52. ... New York, New York redirects here. ... Ernest Miller Hemingway (July 21, 1899 – July 2, 1961) was an American novelist, short-story writer, and journalist. ... The Sun Also Rises is considered the first significant novel by Ernest Hemingway. ... Jack Klugman (born Jacob Joachim Klugman on April 27, 1922 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American television and movie actor. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ...

Career

Early career

Somers began her career in theater, and made many of her initial television appearances in theatrical programs like "Philco Playhouse". "Kraft Theater Playhouse 90", and "Robert Montgomery Presents".^[5] Her Broadway debut, in the play "Maybe Tuesday", was a flop; the show closed after five performances. ^[6] She also appeared in Happy Ending, The Seven Year Itch and The Country Girl with her husband, Jack Klugman. She also amassed a number of film credits, including Getting There, Bone, Bus Riley's Back in Town and The Great American Beauty Pageant. This article or section seems to contain too many quotations for an encyclopedia entry. ... The Country Girl is a 1915 silent film, starring Florence La Badie a 1954 film, which tells the story of a has-been singer/actor who is given one last chance to star in a musical, only to have his alcoholism hinder his chances. ... Jack Klugman (born Jacob Joachim Klugman on April 27, 1922 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American television and movie actor. ...

Television credits

Somers made many appearances on episodic primetime television, including Love, American Style, The Defenders, Have Gun Will Travel, Ben Casey, CHiPs, The Love Boat, Barney Miller, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and The Fugitive. Opening theme of Love American Style Love, American Style was an hour-long television anthology which originally aired between September 1969 and January 1974. ... The Defenders was an American television series, a courtroom drama which ran on CBS from 1961-1964. ... Have Gun, Will Travel was a popular American television Western that aired from on CBS 1957 through 1963. ... Dr. Maggie Graham (Bettye Ackerman) and Vince Edwards as the title character Ben Casey was a medical drama series which ran on ABC from 1961 to 1966. ... CHiPs was an American television series produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios that aired on NBC from September 15, 1977 to July 17, 1983. ... The Love Boat was an American television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the ABC Television Network from 1977 until 1986. ... Barney Miller was a comedy television series set in a New York City police station that ran from January 23, 1975 to May 20, 1982 on ABC. It was created by Danny Arnold (who also did work on Gilligans Island and The Brady Bunch) and Theodore J. Flicker. ... Mary Tyler Moore is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns that aired on CBS from September 19, 1970 to March 19, 1977. ... The Fugitive is an American television series produced by QM Productions and United Artists Television that aired on ABC from 1963-1967. ...

Somers had recurring roles as the ex-wife of Oscar Madison (played by real-life spouse Klugman) on the ABC sitcom television series The Odd Couple in the early 1970s, as well as the role of "Siress Belloby" on the science fiction series Battlestar Galactica in 1978. She played Perry Mason's receptionist "Gertie" on a short-lived revival of the series in 1973 which featured Monte Markham as Perry Mason. The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) operates television and radio networks in the United States and is also shown on basic cable in Canada. ... A sitcom or situation comedy is a genre of comedy performance originally devised for radio but today typically found on television. ... A television program is the content of television broadcasting. ... The Odd Couple was a television situation comedy broadcast from September 24, 1970 to July 4, 1975 on ABC. It starred Tony Randall as Felix Unger and Jack Klugman as Oscar Madison. ... Battlestar Galactica is an American science fiction television series, produced in 1978 by Glen Larson and starring Lorne Greene, Richard Hatch and Dirk Benedict. ... Perry Mason is a fictional defense attorney who originally appeared in detective fiction by Erle Stanley Gardner. ... Monte Markham (born 21 June 1935 in Manatee, Florida, United States) is an actor. ... Perry Mason is a fictional defense attorney who originally appeared in detective fiction by Erle Stanley Gardner. ...

Match Game

Match Game '77 cast: from left to right Richard Dawson, Charles Nelson Reilly, Somers, and host Gene Rayburn

A tall woman, perhaps 5'9" or 5'10", Somers was best-known for her appearances as a panelist on the 1970s CBS game show Match Game. She and the show became known for somewhat outlandish and risque dialogue; the show has been described as having the feel of being at a game at someone's cocktail party. Somers was an iconic on-screen presence, wearing enormous eyeglasses, various wigs, and playing foil to Charles Nelson Reilly, Betty White, Richard Dawson, and Fannie Flagg, among others. Somers was often the subject of questions on Match Game, such as "You may or may not believe in reincarnation, but listen to this. In a previous life, Brett used to be a ________." Image File history File links 1977regularsrayburnshot. ... Image File history File links 1977regularsrayburnshot. ... Richard Dawson (born November 20, 1932) is a British-born American actor, comedian, game show panelist and host. ... Charles Nelson Reilly (January 13, 1931–May 25, 2007) was an American actor, director and drama teacher known for his comedic roles in movies, childrens television, animated cartoons, and as a panelist on the game show Match Game. ... Gene Rayburn (December 22, 1917 – November 29, 1999) was an Emmy-nominated American radio and television personality. ... CBS Broadcasting, Inc. ... “Quiz show” redirects here. ... The Match Game was an American television game show, most often hosted by Gene Rayburn. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Charles Nelson Reilly (January 13, 1931–May 25, 2007) was an American actor, director and drama teacher known for his comedic roles in movies, childrens television, animated cartoons, and as a panelist on the game show Match Game. ... Betty White (born January 17, 1922) is an Emmy Award-winning American film and television actress with a career spanning sixty years, sometimes referred to as The First Lady of Television and Americas Sweetheart. ... Richard Dawson (born November 20, 1932) is a British-born American actor, comedian, game show panelist and host. ... Fannie Flagg (born September 21, 1944 in Birmingham, Alabama) is an American author and actress. ...

Somers was not originally on the celebrity panel. When spouse Jack Klugman appeared on the first week of the program in 1973, he suggested that producers bring her aboard. Her wit and dry humor proved extremely successful, and she would remain a regular panelist for the remainder of the show's nine year network and syndicated run.^[7] Jack Klugman (born Jacob Joachim Klugman on April 27, 1922 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American television and movie actor. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ...

Later life

In 2002, she appeared with Charles Nelson Reilly and Betty White (via videolink) as part of a Match Game reunion on CBS's The Early Show. She also appeared with Reilly on Hollywood Squares during that show's "Game Show Week" in 2003. Also see: 2002 (number). ... Charles Nelson Reilly (January 13, 1931–May 25, 2007) was an American actor, director and drama teacher known for his comedic roles in movies, childrens television, animated cartoons, and as a panelist on the game show Match Game. ... Betty White (born January 17, 1922) is an Emmy Award-winning American film and television actress with a career spanning sixty years, sometimes referred to as The First Lady of Television and Americas Sweetheart. ... The Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City, 7 to 9 a. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 2006, she was a prominent interviewee in The Real Match Game Story: Behind the Blank on GSN, and hosted the Match Game DVD as well. Somers also appeared in a cabaret show, An Evening with Brett Somers, from 2003 to 2004. ^[8] Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... “GSN” redirects here. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Death

During a 2002 interview, Somers denied rumors that she had suffered from cancer. She would reiterate that point in future interviews.^[9] Somers had a naturally husky voice which may have caused the misperception that she suffered from a throat ailment.

Somers died on the morning of September 15, 2007 at her home in Westport, Connecticut. ^[1] Her son Adam gave the cause of her death as stomach and colon cancer, which first developed in 2004 but was held in remission until August 2007. ^[10]She was survived by her husband (Klugman) and their two sons. Her daughter, Leslie (from Somers' first marriage) died in 2003 from lung cancer. is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Location in Connecticut Coordinates: NECTA Bridgeport-Stamford Region South Western Region Incorporated 1835 Government  - Type Representative town meeting  - First selectman Gordon F. Joseloff  - Town meeting moderator Alice H. Shelton Area  - City 86. ... Stomach cancer (also called gastric cancer) can develop in any part of the stomach and may spread throughout the stomach and to other organs; particularly the esophagus and the small intestine. ... Diagram of the stomach, colon, and rectum Colorectal cancer includes cancerous growths in the colon, rectum and appendix. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

References

External links

• Official site
• Brett Somers at the Internet Movie Database
• The Final Taxi Podcast on Brett Somers