She Was The Real Deal
Known best for her iconic role as Emily Hartley on the popular 1970s sitcom, The Bob Newhart Show, Suzanne Pleshette was just as alluring off screen as she was on—but a whole lot bawdier. While her TV marriage was picture perfect, her real-life marriages were more soap opera than sitcom. Emily may have had one of the most legendary send-offs in TV history, but Suzanne’s own ending was utterly tragic.
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1. She Was Destined For Stardom
Suzanne Pleshette was born an only child in 1937 Brooklyn to Geraldine and Eugene Pleshette. Her mom was a dancer and artist, while her dad was a stage manager at Paramount Theaters. His work led to young Suzanne being on a first name basis with legends like Frank Sinatra and Danny Kaye. After college, she was ready to take on the world—and boy, did she.
United Artists, Wikimedia Commons
2. She Was Gorgeous
Suzanne proved that good things come in small packages. She was 5’4, but her beauty was larger than life. She was short, dark, and beautiful. One writer even declared that Suzanne “was so stunningly beautiful, it was almost like she was in color and everyone else was in black in white…And all she did was just stand there”. The actress stunned everyone even more when she opened her mouth.
3. She Had A Unique Voice
Beauty was dime-a-dozen, but Suzanne’s voice wasn’t. She had one of the deepest and most distinctive voices Hollywood had ever heard. And it wasn’t an act: she’d always spoken like that. Adults were even calling Suzanne “sir” and mistaking her for her father at four-years-old. Suzanne had all the ingredients to be a star, but putting it all together was tougher than she expected.
ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons
4. She Became A Broadway Star
By 20 years old, Suzanne Pleshette took to theater like a fish to water. She debuted in theater and Broadway in 1957. A year later, she dipped her toes in film with a minor role in Geisha Boy. But she felt more comfortable in front of theater audiences than studio cameras. Suzanne found her calling on Broadway. Well, the up-and-coming star thought she did. And soon enough, she even found something more.
Screenshot from The Geisha Boy, Paramount Pictures (1958)
5. She Had A Fling
Enter, Tom Poston. While working on the Broadway comedy The Golden Fleecing together, the stars noticed they had chemistry both on and off stage. However, their relationship turned out to be short and sweet. The pair decided they were better off as friends, and with other people. But the story of Suzanne and Tom wasn’t over yet. It was just on hold.
General Artists Corporation-GAC. Photographer- "Bruno of Hollywood", Wikimedia Commons
6. She Was Overworked
Suzanne Pleshette always loved theater, but it didn’t always love her back. Her schedule of back-to-back night shows became brutal on her health. Her doctor prescribed not only a vacation, but more “normal” working hours. Hollywood had come calling before, but Suzanne was always reluctant to pick up—until she got an offer she couldn’t refuse.
7. She Couldn’t Resist
The 1962 film Rome Adventure was everything the now 25-year-old could’ve wanted and then some. It was a big budget Warner Bros. production. The filming was in Europe, so to her it was like a paid vacation. And her co-star was none other than heartthrob Troy Donahue. But this wasn’t their first time meeting. Turns out, they had a messy history.
Screenshot from Rome Adventure, Warner Bros. Pictures (1962)
8. She Felt Chemistry
Sparks flew when Suzanne and Troy first crossed paths in 1960. She was the sultry siren, while he was the golden boy. But the actors couldn’t act on their attraction. Troy was dating Lili Kardell, another actress, at the time. It was the right person at the wrong time. But this wasn’t the end—everything changed in Europe.
Silver Screen Collection, Getty Images
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9. She Mixed Work And Play
The co-stars had chemistry on screen and off. To the delight of the press and movie fans, they soon began dating. The stars seemed like a power couple both on paper and in the papers. The 26-year-old dreamboat seemed like the perfect guy. But some people knew better and couldn’t stand by as Suzanne made a dangerous mistake.
10. She Was Warned
It looked like a joke, but no one was laughing. Especially not Suzanne Pleshette. One day, Suzanne received a mysterious package she wasn’t expecting. She opened it to find a pair of mini boxing gloves. No, the sender wasn’t telling her to take up boxing. They were telling Suzanne that her new man was bad news. The 6-foot-3 actor was a giant, but he wasn’t gentle.
11. She Dated The Villain
Troy wasn’t just a bad boy—he was a bad person. He had a type: actresses he treated like dirt. One of them was Judi Meridth, who met him on set and began a romance in 1956. Their studio encouraged it for publicity, even though they played siblings. A year later, he cheated on her with actress Nan Morris. But the final straw was much worse.
12. She Was In Danger
Judi and Troy split in 1958 because he was “too rough and too possessive”. He proved her point when she began dating a mutual friend. Troy, who was engaged to Nan at one point, couldn’t control himself. He raced to his ex’s home and stormed inside. He then pushed Judi’s face into a glass-covered picture. Troy’s reign of terror was just beginning.
13. She Was With A Bad Guy
Nan tried saving their relationship, but Troy didn’t want to be saved. He kept cheating, drinking, and getting physical. He even threw Nan into a pool. They broke up in 1959, and Troy started dating Lili Kardell in 1960. This is also when Suzanne and Troy crossed paths. The official story? Nothing happened, and Troy and Lili got engaged in 1961. The unofficial story? An absolute mess.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
14. She Was Allegedly The Other Woman
Lili and Troy’s engagement ended the same year—in a disastrous way. One day, Lili came home to find Troy in bed with another woman. According to rumors, the other woman was Suzanne Pleshette herself. Lili had caught him red-handed. And Troy saw red. In a fit of rage, Troy charged at his fiancée, and things went from bad to worse.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
15. She Still Married Him
Lili didn’t stand back and take it. In fact, the pair got into a fistfight, with Lili hitting back in defense. That is, until he struck her face, and knocked her to the ground. Of course, Troy denied Lili’s version of the event. The only thing he admitted to was that their argument did get physical.
Even after witnessing this horrifying incident, Suzanne went on to marry Troy in 1964. They had a Beverly Hills wedding attended by Hollywood’s who’s who. By the time she saw the light, it was too late.
16. She Wanted A Divorce
It took 17 days of not-so-wedded bliss for Suzanne Pleshette to realize her mistake. It then took her six months to file for divorce. But there was a catch: no-fault divorce wasn’t a thing yet. This meant that you couldn’t divorce your spouse for just any reason. You had to show that they wronged you. This wasn’t ideal for a famous couple like Suzanne and Troy.
17. She Told Her Truth
Suzanne knew what she had to do: tell the truth. She filed for divorce and cited mental cruelty. For once, Troy didn’t try to fight her, so she won uncontested. But her private business still became public entertainment. Photographers captured and immortalized her leaving court victorious. People couldn’t wait to hear her story.
18. She Was Too Nice
Troy was a touchy subject for years. When interviewers asked Suzanne Pleshette about him, she was evasive: “Was I really married to him? Yes, I think—for about a year”. No one would blame her for being furious, but Suzanne later insisted, “Troy was a sweet, good man. We just were never destined to be married. We just didn’t have the same values. But I’m not bitter. He taught me to laugh”.
Without a man on her arm, Suzanne put her energy into her work.
19. She Was A Disney Star
To most people, she will always be Emily Hartley. But for Disney super fans, Suzanne was way more than that. She worked on many Disney productions. Her most notable role was as the love interest of Dean Jones in a comedy trilogy between 1966 and 1975. The first one, The Ugly Dachshund, led her to crossing paths with Walt Disney himself. And there were fireworks between them.
20. She Befriended A Legend
Suzanne Pleshette was infamous for being risqué. Walt was famous for family-friendly movie magic, so their friendship didn’t make sense on paper. But it revealed a different, non-G-rated side of Walt. He joked that hiring Suzanne was the end of Disney’s wholesomeness. A revealing moment—in more ways than one—showed it wasn’t entirely a joke.
Agence de presse Meurisse, Wikimedia Commons
21. She Was Scandalous
Suzanne made quite the first impression when she fell into a pool on the first day of filming. Soaking wet, she asked Walt how he wanted her to climb out—should she face the camera or keep her back to it? Everyone expected him to tell her to keep it modest. Instead, Walt said, “It’s all right. Face the camera.” But their friendship didn’t last long, and the reason was tragic.
22. She Was Worried
Walt received news every lifelong smoker feared: lung cancer. He underwent the latest treatments, including surgery to remove one of his lungs. Restless as ever, he couldn’t resist visiting his studio soon after the procedure. Suzanne Pleshette was working on Blackbeard’s Ghost when he stopped by. She felt overjoyed to see her friend and boss…until she got a good look at him.
AnonymousUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
23. She Was Horrified
There was no way around it: Walt looked awful. His skin was yellow. His body was frail and weak. This wasn’t the Walt she, or anyone else on set, knew. Well, it wasn’t—until he opened his mouth. Walt poked fun at the short skirt Suzanne’s character was wearing. Now that was the Walt she knew, and Suzanne returned his energy.
24. She Felt Dread
Suzanne Pleshette played along, walking up to him, spinning, and showing off her outfit. She joked that he truly was the devil. This interaction was classic Suzanne and Walt. It cheered up the studio boss, but his energy soon plummeted again. He couldn’t stay. Suzanne, overcome by a feeling of doom, gave him a heartfelt goodbye hug. She didn’t know how much time they’d have together.
25. She Had A Premonition
Suzanne, and everyone in the studio, realized Walt didn’t have long. They couldn’t help but grieve a man who was still alive. Suzanne went home that night and had a breakdown. She cried and cried until she fell asleep. They were right: Walt soon passed from lung cancer complications. But no one knew that Suzanne was heading down a similar fate.
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26. She Was Set For Life
In 1969, Suzanne Pleshette thought she struck gold. Well, oil. She married Tommy Gallagher, a wealthy oilman. The actress had grown tired of early mornings and long stretches away from home for filming. She retired and began a life of leisure, hoping one day it would become a life of motherhood. But Suzanne’s retirement only lasted six months—and not by choice.
27. She Had To Work
Eventually, Tommy had enough of her lazing around and gave her an ultimatum. He told her, “You’re getting to be awfully boring. Go back to work”. So, she did—and it a blessing in disguise. Suzanne’s return to show biz included many appearances on Johnny Carson’s show. One episode, with Bob Newhart, changed her life forever. The producers working on Bob’s new show tuned in. They noticed not only Suzanne’s bubbly personality, but her chemistry with their star. Jackpot.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
28. She Had A Potty Mouth
Suzanne Pleshette was the life of any party. Bob said his favorite thing about her was that “She had a mouth on her like a Marine.” He wasn’t alone: people loved how bold, witty, and dirty she was—even when it was inappropriate. One of those times was at her late friend and titan Lew Wasserman’s memorial.
She was the only woman speaker in a group that included Bill Clinton, Steven Spielberg, and Barry Diller. No pressure.
29. She Was Fun
Suzanne could’ve played it safe. Instead, to the delight of the crowd, she joked about bikini waxes. The producers of the upcoming Bob Newhart Show knew they wanted the on-screen wife to be different from most TV wives. But they’d need someone unlike most actresses to play her. They had Suzanne in mind, but never dreamed she’d accept the role.
30. She Became An Icon
We can split Suzanne’s life into before and after the release of The Bob Newhart Show in 1972. After accepting the role, she played Emily Hartley, the wife of Chicago psychologist Bob Hartley. Part of the schtick was Bob being an average Joe, while Emily was a vixen. Suzanne’s ex-boyfriend Tom Poston was even a recurring guest character. The show was a hit and nabbed Suzanne two Emmy nominations. But it also stood out for a revolutionary—and heartbreaking—reason.
Screenshot from The Bob Newhart Show, CBS (1972–1978)
31. She Was Heartbroken
The Hartley’s weren’t like most 1970s sitcom couples, and one of the biggest reasons was that they were childless. Off screen, this was also Suzanne and Tommy’s reality—except theirs wasn’t a choice. Suzanne and Tommy suffered both a miscarriage and fertility issues, making them unable to have children. Suzanne tried coping with it—and what she confessed was heart wrenching.
32. She Made Peace With Her Life
An interviewer once dared to ask Suzanne Pleshette about why she didn’t have any children. The actress didn’t respond in her typical bubbly and bawdy manner. Instead, she quietly replied: “I’m a realist. I certainly would have liked to have had Tommy’s children. But my nurturing instincts are fulfilled in other ways. I have a large extended family; I’m the mother on every set. So, if this is my particular karma, that’s fine. There are certain givens in life that you have to accept. I’m not blonde and Swedish… I’ve managed to do OK, right?”
Her career would break her heart eventually, too.
33. She Peaked
All good things have to come to an end. The Bob Newhart Show, after six seasons, ended in 1978. Suzanne went on to have a long and consistent career, but it was bittersweet. She failed to reach the peak of stardom that everyone felt an actress of her caliber deserved. It was a tough pill to swallow for someone who was so hard on herself.
Screenshot from The Bob Newhart Show, CBS (1972–1978)
34. She Didn’t Reach Her Full Potential
Suzanne’s career didn’t pan out the way anyone expected it to. Her first love was theater, but her health pushed the actress towards film. Then she dreamed of being a movie star...only for TV to solidify her career. Suzanne confessed “When I started in movies, they said I’d be this big star, but I was only a moderate one”. But where others would’ve been bitter, she developed a refreshing perspective on it.
35. She Was Content
Suzanne Pleshette didn’t think she could’ve had it all: “Anybody who has the illusion that you can have a career as long as I have and be a star is kidding themselves”. She’d take being a consistent, long-lasting actress over a burned-out star. And she refused to lose sleep over it. “I’m just here for the ride, whatever it is. I don’t want to work too hard because I want to go home to daddy [Tommy]”.
But just when she seemed perfectly content with the path she’d chosen, Hollywood came calling again—and this time, it was Bob.
36. She Got A Crazy Role
In 1990, Suzanne got an offer to revisit The Bob Newhart Show role in a weird way. Bob followed up their sitcom with a new show called Newhart. The show was about Bob’s character, Loudon, leaving New York City with his wife to run an inn in rural Vermont. The series was coming to an end, and he knew how to nail it. But he couldn’t do it without Suzanne.
Screenshot from Newhart, CBS (1982–1990)
37. She Made A Shocking Cameo
The show filmed in front of a live studio audience, and the finale had just three minutes left. Loudon was knocked out by a golf ball and woke up in a very familiar bed. A few people cackled as they recognized the Hartley's bedroom from The Bob Newhart Show. Then they heard a mumble from under the covers and knew something was up. No one could mistake Suzanne’s octave. But nothing could have prepared them for Emily—played by Suzanne—emerging from the sheets.
What happened next was legendary.
Screenshot from Newhart, CBS (1982–1990)
38. She Had A Legendary Ending
The audience jumped to their feet and began screaming. Meanwhile, the show went on with Emily and Bob bantering like no time had passed since their show ended twelve years ago. Bob goes on to recount a crazy dream he had of owning an inn in Vermont, and having a blonde wife. Emily dismisses it as a silly dream and blames it on his dinner.
There are hits, and there’s this finale.
Screenshot from Newhart, CBS (1982–1990)
39. She Made TV History
The it-was-all-a-dream trope is a cliche today—but it was revolutionary at the time. Newhart’s ending remains one of the most legendary and unexpected finales in TV history. The episode raised the bar for how creative an ending could be. While some Newhart fans still aren’t sure how they felt about the ending, everyone knew they loved seeing Suzanne again.
Screenshot from Newhart, CBS (1982–1990)
40. She Went Through Tragedy
Emily and Bob Hartley got their happy ending, but Suzanne’s real-life love story was far more complicated. Her husband, Tommy was diagnosed with cancer in 1994. He survived—only for E. coli from a contaminated hamburger to take him out in 2000. Around the same time, her ex-turned-friend Tom Poston lost his wife to Lou Gehrig’s disease. Tom’s call to Suzanne to commiserate soon turned into something more.
41. She Reconnected With An Old Flame
Nothing brings people closer together like tragedy. Suzanne and Tom’s shared grief deepened their bond. Knowing how short and unfair life could be, they married the next year. Their friend and fellow actor Tim Conway later said, “They are a romantic duo. It’s almost embarrassing. You have to put cold water on them”.
Suzanne had found love again—and not just with Tom.
42. She Became A Mom
Tom already had three children, so Suzanne finally got to be a mom. She was many things, but the evil stepmother was never one of them. Suzanne truly loved the kids, and the feeling was mutual. As it turned out, they had already known and loved her for years. But this blended family wouldn’t get a happily ever after—more heartbreak was racing toward them.
43. She Was Sick
In 2006, Suzanne’s agent Joel Dean announced her lung cancer diagnosis and treatment—the same disease that had taken Walt decades earlier. A few days later, Joel reassured everyone that doctors had caught it early. The prognosis was promising, and Suzanne was in good spirits. If only the same could be said for her husband.
Marsaili McGrath, Getty Images
44. She Was Widowed Again
Suzanne and Tom were so happy it seemed like the third time was the charm. That was until 2007, when Tom passed away from respiratory failure at their home. She mourned, “He was such a wonderful man. He had fun every day of his life”. Suzanne had already endured so much, yet the heartbreak kept coming. It was the beginning of the end.
Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images
45. She Declined
That same year, Suzanne’s lung cancer turned out to be more dangerous than everyone thought. At one point, she was hospitalized for a pulmonary infection that turned into pneumonia. Then, she had surgery to remove part of her lung. Just like Walt, Suzanne wanted to play it cool.
46. She Was Strong
It was September 2007—just four days after Suzanne had been discharged from the hospital following surgery. Most importantly, it was the reunion of The Bob Newhart Show cast. She arrived in a wheelchair, raising concern among those who saw her. The moment felt eerily similar to her last day with Walt—only this time, the roles were reversed. When people asked about her health, Suzanne put on a brave face.
47. She Put On A Brave Face
Suzanne insisted on ditching the wheelchair and sitting in a normal chair for the filming, going on to insist that she was now “cancer-free”. But she also admitted that she had just been released from the hospital mere days ago. Some people had an ominous feeling about Suzanne’s health. But others, Bob in particular, didn’t feel the same way.
48. She Seemed Invincible
Bob knew Suzanne was sick, but he also knew her. He confessed “She was a pro's pro. Although we knew she was quite sick, she was one of those people that you thought would go on forever”. But Suzanne turned out to be mortal just like everyone else. In January 2008, the 70-year-old actress passed at home—and the timing couldn’t have been worse.
49. She Missed Out
Suzanne was laid to rest next to her true love, Tom. She also happened to die days before her 71st birthday, and her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony. Tina Sinatra, Frank Sinatra’s daughter, accepted it on her behalf. Her former cast members—Bob, Arte Johnson, and Marcia Wallace—spoke at the ceremony. Others mourned not only Suzanne’s life and career, but what could’ve been.
50. She’s Underrated
Film critic Richard Corliss said he preferred “to think of her as one of those stars who got away from stardom, when the old dream factory forgot how to manufacture domestic glamour. She had the goods, but at the wrong time”. Suzanne deserved more sophisticated roles—the exact kind he believed Hollywood had abandoned during her prime.
Silver Screen Collection, Getty Images
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Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27
