Bobo Lewis (1926 - 1998)

Bobo Lewis

1926 - 1998

Born

May 14, 1926

Death

October 30, 1998

Last Known Residence

New York, New York County, New York 10021

Summary

Bobo Lewis was born on May 14, 1926. She died on October 30, 1998 at age 72. We know that Bobo Lewis had been residing in New York, New York County, New York 10021.

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Updated: August 24, 2021

Bobo Lewis Bobo Lewis (1926 - 1998)

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Introduction

Bobo Lewis Born Barbara Lewis May 14, 1926 Miami, Florida, U.S. Died November 6, 1998 (aged 72) New York, New York, U.S. Occupation Actress Years active 1962–1998 Barbara "Bobo" Lewis (May 14, 1926, Miami, Florida – November 6, 1998, New York, New York) was an American comedic actress of film, musical theatre, stage and television. Stage roles The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 (as Bernice Roth); April 6, 1987 - August 1, 1987 42nd Street (as Maggie Jones; replacement); July 21, 1987 - January 8, 1989 Working (as Fran Swenson, Grace Clements, Lucille Page and Rose Hoffman); May 14, 1978 - June 4, 1978 Lorelei (as Mrs. Ella Spofford; replacement); January 27, 1974 -November 3, 1974 The Women (as Dowager and as Olga); April 25, 1973 - June 17, 1973 Twigs (as Emily, Celia, Dorothy and Ma; standby); November 14, 1971 - July 23, 1972 Television Bobo Lewis was most famous for her role as gossip Midge Smoot on the children's television series Shining Time Station. She remained with the show for its entire run from 1989-1993. Lewis would later appear in three succeeding Shining Time Specials in 1995. Her other television appearances include roles on sitcoms such as Bewitched, The Monkees, That Girl and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.. Film Bobo was seen in a handful of well-known films including Under the Yum Yum Tree (1963), Can't Stop the Music (1980), Her Alibi (1989), Miami Blues (1990), The Paper (1994), Arthur (1981), Way...Way Out (1966), and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963). Legacy She teamed up with Working co-star Lynne Thigpen to create the Lynne Thigpen-Bobo Lewis Foundation "in order to help young actresses and actors learn how to survive and succeed in New York theater". Death Bobo Lewis died on November 6, 1998 at New York Hospital in Manhattan from cancer, aged 72.

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Biography

Bobo Lewis

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Bobo Lewis

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New York, New York County, New York 10021

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Bobo Lewis was born on May 14, 1926

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Bobo Lewis died on October 30, 1998

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Bobo Lewis Biography Showing all 12 items Jump to: Overview (3) | Mini Bio (1) | Trivia (8) Overview (3) Born May 14, 1926 in Miami, Florida, USA Died November 6, 1998 in New York City, New York, USA (cancer) Birth Name Barbara Lewis Mini Bio (1) Bobo Lewis was born on May 14, 1926 in Miami, Florida, USA as Barbara Lewis. She was an actress, known for Arthur (1981), The Paper (1994) and Miami Blues (1990). She died on November 6, 1998 in New York City, New York, USA. Trivia (8) She was nominated for a 1997 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actress in a Supporting Role in a Play for "Light Up the Sky" at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. Won a Drama Desk Award for the musical "Working" (1978). Played guest roles on several episodes of Bewitched (1964), perhaps most notably as the wife of the Giant in the episode featuring 'Jack in the Beanstalk'. Moved to New York as a teenager and changed her given name, Barbara Lewis, because Actor's Equity had another actress by that name. Performing with the Circle Repertory Company for 25 years, she played a variety of Shakespearean roles at resident theaters across the country, including the Rhode Island Shakespeare Festival, the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival and Seattle Repertory. Teamed up with the late actress Lynne Thigpen to create the Lynne Thigpen-Bobo Lewis Foundation, an organization that helped young actors learn how to succeed and survive in New York theater. Became famous for her hilarious performance as gossip Midge Smoot on the classic PBS children's TV program "Shining Time Station," winning rave reviews for her work and remaining with the show for its entire run (1989-1993). Focusing on theater work in the 1970s and 1980s, she appeared in such productions as "Twigs," "The Women," "Lorelei," "Working," "Kennedy's Children" and "42nd Street".

Personal Life

She teamed up with Working co-star Lynne Thigpen to create the Lynne Thigpen-Bobo Lewis Foundation "in order to help young actresses and actors learn how to survive and succeed in New York theater". Lynne Thigpen/Bobo Lewis Foundation Created for Actors, Writers, and Directors by BWW News Desk Apr. 26, 2005 There is a new safety net in town for actors, writers, and directors and it is The Lynne Thigpen/Bobo Lewis Foundation. This new and very needed non-profit foundation will be arriving on schedule in New York City on June 7, 2005. Established in the name of two well-known, beloved New York actresses, the foundation was created following the untimely death of Tony and Obie Award-winning actress Lynne Thigpen. Its mission is to mentor, educate and create access opportunity for artists who, at the threshold of their careers, are vulnerable due to lack of knowledge of and connection to the business. Program Director for the foundation Rozanne Gates says, "When I was Lynne's agent, Bobo Lewis was Lynne's mentor. We intend to create that kind of mentor relationship between the artists in our foundation and the established professional community. To know where the cracks are in the boards on the stage, so to speak, can rescue one from some unnecessary calamities." Ms. Gates currently teaches a class in "The Business of Acting" at Columbia University, SUNY-Purchase College, and TVI Studios in New York. She was Lynne Thigpen's agent for close to twenty years. The initial programs being offered to the foundation's artists include "Backstage Pass", "The Business of Acting" (taught by Gates), and "The Casting Director's Forum". Entry to the foundation's programs is by audition only. For information, email [contact link].

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Obituary

Bobo Lewis's obituary

Average Age

Bobo Lewis lived 3 years longer than the average Lewis family member when she died at the age of 72.

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Lynne Thigpen and Bobo Lewis created a Foundation to Help Young Actors.

Bobo Lewis by Al Hirschfeld.

Actress Bobo Lewis and Writer, Amanda S. Stevenson.

Bobo Lewis

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Bobo Lewis and Davy Jones

Bobo Lewis - Actress in Films, TV and Broadway

Bobo Lewis

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Bobo Lewis, comedienne

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Amanda S. Stevenson

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Amanda S. Stevenson commented on Jul 16, 2017

Character Actress Bobo Lewis, Drama Desk Winner, Dead at 72 NOV 16, 1998 Bobo Lewis, 72, a stage, TV and film actress whose work was seen on Broadway, in regional theatre and with Off-Broadway's Circle Repertory Company, died Nov. 6 at New York Hospital, The New York Times reported. Bobo Lewis, 72, a stage, TV and film actress whose work was seen on Broadway, in regional theatre and with Off-Broadway's Circle Repertory Company, died Nov. 6 at New York Hospital, The New York Times reported. The cause was cancer, according to The Times. Ms. Lewis won a 1978 Drama Desk Award for her performance as the teacher in the Broadway musical, Working, based on Studs Terkel's book. She appeared in several Circle Rep productions, including the CRC's 1978-79 revival of The Runner Stumbles with William Hurt. She performed with such regional theatres as Seattle Repertory Theatre, the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival and the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. In 1997 she was nominated for a best supporting actress Joseph Jefferson Award for her role as Stella in Light Up the Sky at the Goodman. She appeared on Broadway in 42nd Street, On the 20th Century and Twigs, among others. She played the manicurist in the Broadway revival of The Women. Her role in John Bishop's The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 was reportedly written for her. A film and TV actress, Ms. Lewis made regular appearances on TV's "That Girl" and "Bewitched," playing Agnes Moorehead's sister on the latter. Her most recent film appearance was in "One True Thing" with Meryl Streep, playing a neighborhood friend of Streep's character.

Marian Hailey-Moss

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Marian Hailey-Moss commented on Jul 17, 2017

I loved working with Bobo in the 1973 Broadway production of the Women. We shared a dressing room in the Philly try-out and Bobo was always upbeat, supportive and a terrific actress. She had a natural high energy that never quit. Wherever she is now she's putting her heart and soul into it.

Obituary

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Bobo Lewis Born May 14, 1926 in Miami, Florida, USA Died November 6, 1998 in New York City, New York, USA (cancer) Birth Name Barbara Lewis Mini Bio (1) Bobo Lewis was born on May 14, 1926 in Miami, Florida, USA as Barbara Lewis. She was an actress, known for Arthur (1981), The Paper (1994) and Miami Blues (1990). She died on November 6, 1998 in New York City, New York, USA. Trivia (8) She was nominated for a 1997 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actress in a Supporting Role in a Play for "Light Up the Sky" at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. Won a Drama Desk Award for the musical "Working" (1978). Played guest roles on several episodes of Bewitched (1964), perhaps most notably as the wife of the Giant in the episode featuring 'Jack in the Beanstalk'. Moved to New York as a teenager and changed her given name, Barbara Lewis, because Actor's Equity had another actress by that name. Performing with the Circle Repertory Company for 25 years, she played a variety of Shakespearean roles at resident theaters across the country, including the Rhode Island Shakespeare Festival, the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival and Seattle Repertory. Teamed up with the late actress Lynne Thigpen to create the Lynne Thigpen-Bobo Lewis Foundation, an organization that helped young actors learn how to succeed and survive in New York theater. Became famous for her hilarious performance as gossip Midge Smoot on the classic PBS children's TV program "Shining Time Station," winning rave reviews for her work and remaining with the show for its entire run (1989-1993). Focusing on theater work in the 1970s and 1980s, she appeared in such productions as "Twigs," "The Women," "Lorelei," "Working," "Kennedy's Children" and "42nd Street".Bobo Lewis passed away on October 30, 1998 at 72 years old. She was born on May 14, 1926. We know that Bobo Lewis had been residing in New York, New York County, New York 10021.

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1926 - 1998 World Events

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In 1926, in the year that Bobo Lewis was born, on November 15th, NBC was founded. It was the U.S.'s first major broadcast network. Ownership of the network was split between RCA (a majority partner at 50%), its founding corporate parent General Electric (which owned 30%), and Westinghouse (which owned the remaining 20%).

In 1945, she was 19 years old when on August 6th, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. On August 9th, an atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. At least 129,000 people were killed in the two bombings and they still remain the only use of atomic bombs in war. An invasion on mainland Japan had been planned but President Truman ordered the bombs dropped instead.

In 1963, when she was 37 years old, the British Secretary of War, 46 year old John Profumo ,was forced to resign when he lied about an affair with 19 year old Christine Keeler. Keeler was also involved with the Soviet naval attaché and charges of espionage were feared. No proof of spying was ever found.

In 1978, she was 52 years old when on July 25th, Louise Brown, the first "test-tube baby", was born at Oldham Hospital in London. Louise was conceived through IVF (in vitro fertilization), a controversial and experimental procedure at the time.

In 1998, in the year of Bobo Lewis's passing, on December 19th, the House of Representatives initiated impeachment charges against U.S. President Bill Clinton. He was subsequently acquitted of these charges by the Senate on February 12th.