- Born
- Died
- Birth nameNoel Darleen Neill
- Height5′ 4″ (1.63 m)
- Minnesota-born Noel Neill's ambition was to be a journalist like her father, the editor of a Minneapolis newspaper. However, she was hired by Bing Crosby to sing at the Turf Club at the race track in Del Mar, California (Crosby was one of the owners). Shortly thereafter, in 1941, she was signed to a contract by Paramount Pictures. She got early experience in television by hosting and performing on several experimental programs broadcast locally in Los Angeles in the late 1940s, and it was around that time that she began appearing in serials, first at Columbia and then for Republic. While she is best known for playing Lois Lane in the TV series Adventures of Superman (1952) beginning in the second season in 1953, she actually first played Lois in the 1948 serial Superman (1948). She replaced Phyllis Coates in the part when the series went on hiatus and Coates accepted a leading part in another TV series before the hiatus ended. When the series ended in 1957, Neill retired from the industry.- IMDb Mini Biography By: A. Nonymous
- SpousesJoel J. Taylor(November 6, 1962 - August 1969) (divorced)William Behrens(August 27, 1953 - 1962) (divorced)Hal Lierley(October 3, 1943 - May 25, 1944) (divorced)
- ChildrenNo Children
- ParentsLavere GorsbothDavid Holland Neill
- She appeared with Betty Hutton in four films: Let's Face It (1943), Here Come the Waves (1944), The Stork Club (1945) and The Greatest Show on Earth (1952).
- Arguably the most prolific actor or actress in Superman's live-action legacy, she played Lois Lane in the two Superman serials, replaced Phyllis Coates as Lane in Adventures of Superman (1952) during the second season, had a cameo in Superman (1978), guest-starred on Superboy (1988) and appears in Superman Returns (2006).
- A trained singer and dancer, before entering films she had a nightclub career, performing in such well-known Hollywood clubs as Ciro's, the Mocambo and the Trocadero.
- She appeared in two Best Picture Academy Award winners in consecutive years: An American in Paris (1951) and The Greatest Show on Earth (1952). Her Adventures of Superman (1952) co-star George Reeves also appeared in two Best Picture winners: Gone with the Wind (1939) and From Here to Eternity (1953).
- In her teens, she was a popular photographic model. While Betty Grable's pin-up was #1 among GIs during World War II, Neill ranked next. She worked as a professional singer and dancer, under contract to Bing Crosby.
- [Referring to the extent of her role as Lois Lane and Jack Larson's as Jimmy Olsen on Adventures of Superman (1952)] We spent most of our time bound, gagged, and waiting for the bomb to go off.
- [Speaking of George Reeves] In between takes, he would look into the camera, lift up his glasses and wink. He was our hero.
- [About George Reeves' death] I am not aware of anyone who wanted George dead. I never said I thought George was murdered. I just don't know what happened. All I know is that George always seemed happy to me, and I saw him two days before he died and he was still happy then.
- [on fans] Fame has never been an issue for me. I can honestly say that I have never, ever had any unpleasant encounters with fans or autograph collectors. I guess I just attract the mature, respectful fan.
- [on working on the "Teenagers" series of films for Monogram Pictures in the late 1940s] I don't care, you can say there were 20 for all I care. June Preisser was stuck up anyway. Only because she'd been in vaudeville 50 years before that, she thought she was a star. I didn't like her much. And vice-versa, I guess.
- Adventures of Superman (1952) - $225 /episode
- Adventures of Superman (1952) - $225 /week
- Campus Sleuth (1948) - $150 /week
- Sarge Goes to College (1947) - $150 /week
- Vacation Days (1947) - $150 /week
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