Adventures of Superman Star Phyllis Coates, TV’s First Lois Lane, Dead at 96

Phyllis Coates has died at the age of 96.

The actress died of natural causes Wednesday while staying at the Motion Picture Home, her daughter, Laura Press, confirmed to PEOPLE. The death was “very peaceful”, she added.

Reflecting on his mother’s career, Press said, “She gave so much to the industry and her career spanned so many genres,” recalling her time playing Lois Lane, in westerns and even starring in Congolese panther girl.

Coates was best known for her one-season role as Lois Lane in Adventures of Superman — making her the first actress to portray the iconic character on television. The TV role came after Coates stepped into the shoes of Lois for the film Superman and the Mole People in 1951.

George Reeves as Superman stands next to Phyllis Coates as Lois Lane in The Adventures of Superman 1952.

Silver Screen Collection/Getty

At the time of her death, Coates was the only surviving actor from the series. The series ran for six seasons between 1952 and 1958 and starred George Reeves, Jack Larson, John Hamilton and Robert Shayne, among others. After the first season, the role of Lois Lane was taken over by Noel Neill, who died in 2016.

Coates appeared in 26 episodes, earning $350 for each despite doing serious stunt work. “We were almost blown up, beaten, blown up, taken advantage of – I guess because we were young and stupid, but we put up with everything,” Coates said in an interview with Tom Weaver for the book. Science fiction stars and horror heroes. “I watched an episode not so long ago [“Night of Terror”] where I’m knocked out!”

Although the first season was a hit – and Coates was offered to return five times her first season salary, she declined. “I really wanted out Superman“, she said in the book.

Margot Kidder, Amy Adams and more strong women who played Lois Lane on screen

Phyllis Coates blows bubbles with her dog.

Acey Harper/Getty

Her career came full circle when, in 1994, Coates appeared as Lois Lane’s mother in the ABC film Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.

After her short stay at Adventures of Superman, Coates turned her attention to film. The actress appeared in films like I was a teenage Frankenstein, The Incredible Petrified World and Blood arrow. She returned to TV for dozens of performances, and spends most of her time on This is Alice, Duke and Death Valley Days.

Coates’ last acting project was part of a video entitled Hollywood: The Movie1996, according to IMDb.

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The Hollywood Reporter was the first to report Coates’ death on Thursday. Coates leaves behind three children. Press urged fans to donate to the Humane Society of America in honor of the mother’s love of animals.

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Source: HIS Education