Brett Somers
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brett Somers (born Audrey Sommers on July 11, 1924, in New Brunswick, Canada) is an actress, singer, and comedienne. Somers is perhaps best known for her time as a panelist on the 1970s CBS game show Match Game.
Somers was born in Canada, but grew up near Portland, Maine. She became a U.S. citizen after many decades of living in the U.S., and currently resides in Westport, Connecticut.
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[edit] Personal life
Somers was married to actor Jack Klugman. The couple married in 1953 and separated in 1974, but never divorced. Their union produced three children: Adam, David, and daughter Leslie.
[edit] Career
[edit] 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". [1]
Her Broadway debut, in the play "Maybe Tuesday", was a flop; the show closed after 5 performances. [2] She also appeared in "Happy Ending", "Seven Year Itch", and "The Country Girl" with "Odd Couple" co-star (and spouse) Jack Klugman.
Somers amassed a number of film credits, including "Getting There", "Bone", "Bus Riley's Back in Town", and "The Great American Beauty Pageant".
[edit] Television credits
Somers made a number of appearances on episodic primetime television, including Love American Style, The Defenders, Have Gun Will Travel, Ben Casey, ChiPs, Love Boat, Barney Miller, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and The Fugitive.
Somers had recurring roles as the ex-wife of Oscar Madison (who was 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.
[edit] "Match Game"
Somers is perhaps 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.
Ironically, she 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. [3]
[edit] Recent career
- Somers was part of a Match Game reunion" an episode of CBS' The Early Show (2002), when she was joined by Nelson Reilly and White Somers on-screen. She would appear with Nelson Reilly later that year on The Hollywood Squares.
- Somers appeared in an ongoing cabaret show in 2003 and 2004. [4]
[edit] Trivia
- 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 blank."
