From her recurring role on ABC’s The Odd Couple to her popular panelist spot on the 1970s game show Match Game, Brett Somers’ career was filled with success and acclaim. Born Audrey Dawn Johnston on July 11, 1924 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, Brett Somers was a multi-talented entertainer who enjoyed a long and successful career in show business spanning more than five decades.
Life and Career Beginnings
Brett Somers began singing professionally when she was just 15 years old. She moved to New York City at age 17 to pursue a career as an actress and singer. After making her Broadway debut in 1942 in the musical comedy By Jupiter alongside Alfred Drake and Patricia Morison, Brett continued to appear in a series of musicals throughout the 1940s. During this time she also performed as a vocalist with Benny Goodman’s band for several years.
Television Career Takes Off
In 1956 Brett made her television debut with an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. This marked the start of her successful television career which saw her appearing on variety shows such as The Jack Paar Program and The Dean Martin Show throughout the 1950s and 1960s. In 1964 she became part of the panel of NBC’s hit game show To Tell the Truth which she appeared on for four years until 1968 when it ended its run. Two years later Brett joined Match Game as one of its regular panelists along with Richard Dawson, Charles Nelson Reilly, Fannie Flagg, Gene Rayburn and others which would become one of her most famous roles. She remained part of this series until it ended its run in 1982 after 11 seasons.
The Odd Couple
During this time Brett also starred opposite Jack Klugman in ABC sitcom The Odd Couple where she played Blanche Madison from 1970-1975 for 115 episodes before it ended its run due to declining ratings. After The Odd Couple ended its run Brett continued acting appearing in various television shows including Diagnosis Murder (1994) and Touched by an Angel (1996). Throughout her long career Brett also appeared as a contestant on several game shows including Hollywood Squares (1977), Family Feud (1978) , Pyramid (1980) , Password Plus (1981) , Super Password (1984).
Legacy
Brett Somers passed away at 83 due to complications from throat cancer on September 15th 2007 but left behind an impressive legacy that will long be remembered by fans around the world. Her talent for creating memorable characters made her stand out among other entertainers during her time while her natural wit and charm endeared audiences everywhere who watched her performances over the years with admiration
Are Any Match Game Regulars Still Alive?
Yes, some of the original Match Game regulars are still alive. They include White, Fannie Flagg, Elaine Joyce, Jo Ann Pflug and Joyce Bulifant.
Did Richard Dawson And Gene Rayburn Get Along?
Although there are conflicting reports, it seems that Richard Dawson and Gene Rayburn did not always see eye to eye. Dawson was reportedly unhappy with the way that Rayburn ran the show, feeling that he was too lenient with the contestants and didn’t give the audience enough credit for their intelligence. This led to some tension between the two men, although they were able to put their differences aside and continue working together.
Did Brett Somers Wear A Wig?
Brett Somers was known for wearing various wigs and it is unclear which, if any, of these were real hair. However, it is possible that at least some of the wigs worn by Brett Somers were not real hair, as she was known for her over-the-top fashion sense and often wore outrageous costumes on The Odd Couple.
Who Smoked On Match Game?
During the original run of Match Game from 1973 to 1978, thre were a number of celebrities who smoked on the show. This included panellists like Brett Somers, Charles Nelson Reilly and Richard Dawson. In later years, when the show was revived, smoking was no longer allowed on the set.
Did They Drink On Match Game?
The Match Game panelists were known to drink during the show, and it was not uncommon for them to be seen with drinks in their hands. However, it is unclear if they actually consumed alcohol during the show, or if they simply held alcoholic beverages for prop purposes.
Who Won The Most Money On The Original Match Game?
Carolyn Raisner won the most money on the original Match Game, with a total of $32,600. She is the only champion to have retired undefeated.
Why Did Charles Leave Match?
Charles left match beacuse he was ill with respiratory problems.
Why Did Richard Dawson Wear Sunglasses?
Richard Dawson wore sunglasses on his final appearance on Match Game because he had scratched his eye and left a scar.
How Rich Was Charles Nelson Reilly?
Charles Nelson Reilly was an American actor, comedian, director, and drama teacher who had a net worth of $5 million. Charles Nelson Reilly was born in South Bronx, New York in January 1931 and passed away in 2007. He is best known for appearing on Match Game and The Ghost & Mrs. Muir. He is also known for voicing the character of Clayface on Batman: The Animated Series. As an actor he appeared in films including The Rat Race, How to Murder Your Wife, For Those Who Think Young, Car Wash, and The Muppet Movie. Reilly won a Golden Globe Award and a Daytime Emmy Award for his work on The Ghost & Mrs. Muir as well as a Primetime Emmy Award for his work on How to Murder Your Wife.
Why Did Gene Rayburn Leave Match Game?
When Match Game first premiered in 1962, Gene Rayburn was hosting his own show on NBC. However, by 1952 the team of Rayburn and Finch had split up when Gene was wooed away by NBC. According to Adam, this was because “they got caught up in a bidding war,” and NBC wanted to give them a shot at the big time.
