Sunset

Actress Suzanne Pleshette

Suzanne Pleshette, a favorite growing up in our household as one the stars of the film "Rome Adventure" but a favorite in many households as Emily Hartley from "The Bob Newhart Show" lost her battle to lung cancer last week.

Pleshette was often passed over in casting due to her husky voice, but never seemed to mind. She was a natural as an actress and happy to settle into obscurity than take lesser roles or just being a "star." Pleshette quoted in a 1999 interview:

"I'm an actress, and that's why I'm still here," she said. "Anybody who has the illusion that you can have a career as long as I have and be a star is kidding themselves."

Most convincing as "the girl next door", her dry wit brought such life to her "Newhart" character that Bob Newhart chose later to pay tribute to the woman he considered his only TV wife. In what remains one of the most inventive and endearing ends to a long running sitcom, Newhart chose to wrap all the happenings of his later long running series as a dream, awaking to Emily Hartley (Pleshette) in their bedroom from his earlier series. In presenting the idea to Pleshette, she stated that: "If I'm in Timbuktu, I'll fly home to do that." Although not sharing a set for many years, Pleshette seemed as if she never left, Emily as dry as ever telling Bob to go back to sleep.