Phyllis Love, Prolific Stage, Theater and Television Actress
From the 1950s through the 1970s, Love was a frequent presence on episodic series, including such classics as Gunsmoke, Ironside and The Twilight Zone.
Phyllis Love a film, theater and television actress who appeared frequently on Broadway and later had roles in such features as Friendly Persuasion, as well as dozens of television series, died October 30, 2011, in Menifee, California. She was 85.
According to news reports, the cause was Alzheimer’s disease.
Love’s stage credits included The Member of the Wedding, The Rose Tattoo, The Country Girl, The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker and Bus Stop.
Her movie debut came in 1950 with a role in So Young So Bad. Six years later, in Friendly Persuasion, she played the daughter of the film’s star, Gary Cooper. In 1961 she appeared in The Young Doctors, with Fredric March.
She worked most extensively in television, beginning with several anthology shows during the medium’s so-called Golden Age. These included Actor’s Studio, Kraft Theatre, Hallmark Hall of Fame, Playhouse 90 and Studio One in Hollywood.
In addition, she had roles on episodes of such series as Have Gun—Will Travel, Ben Casey, The Untouchables, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, Gunsmoke, Perry Mason, The Fugitive, Ironside and Bonanza. Her final credit was a 1975 episode of the drama Harry O, starring David Janssen.
A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Love attended high school with actress Cloris Leachman. She later studied at what became Carnegie Mellon University, and at the Actors Studio in New York.
Love’s first marriage, to playwright James McGee, ended in divorce.
She is survived by second husband Alan Gooding.