Cathy Lewis
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Cathy Lewis, birth cited as 12-27-1916, 1-1-1917 or generically as 1918 in Spokane, Washington. Died 11-20-1968 (Obituary states she was 50, making 1918 the most likely), was an American radio, film and television actress.
According to Ron Lackmann's book, The Encyclopedia of American Radio, Lewis moved from Spokane to Chicago and found work on The First Nighter program. Lewis then moved to Hollywood where she met and married radio actor Elliott Lewis (they shared the common surname) in 1943. Cathy Lewis was a staple on American Radio during the "golden age" and appeared in several minor supporting roles for MGM. Cathy and Elliott were extremely popular and both were known for their versatility - able to play multiple roles on a single show. Cathy is best known as the "logical" roommate to Marie Wilson's daffy Irma in the 1947 - 1954 radio classic "My Friend Irma".
The show moved to television in 1952 where Lewis recreated her role as Jane Stacey for the first season. Her character moved to Panama and a new roommate was introduced in the second and final season of the show. Lewis did not appear in the two screen versions based on the radio show: My Friend Irma (1949) - known today for being the first screen appearance of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, and a second film, My Friend Irma Goes West, again with Martin and Lewis. The roommate in the film versions was played by Diana Lynn.
Cathy and Elliott divorced in 1958, the same year Cathy played a supporting role as Connie Stevens' mother in The Party Crashers, a long forgotten movie notable as the final screen appearances of former child star Bobby Driscoll and Frances Farmer. In 1959, Cathy starred in the short-lived TV version of Fibber McGee and Molly. The lead roles made famous by Jim and Marian Jordan on radio were brought to television with Bob Sweeney as Fibber to Lewis' Molly.
In 1961, Lewis played a supporting role in the Spencer Tracy classic The Devil At 4 O'Clock and began a recurring role as George Baxter's sister Diedre on Hazel. Her final screen appearance was on a 1965 episode of F-Troop. Lewis died of cancer on November 20, 1968.
