Noel Neill facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Noel Neill
Neill in February 2008
Born	Noel Darleen Neill (1920-11-25)November 25, 1920 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Died	July 3, 2016(2016-07-03) (aged 95) Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1940–2016
Known for	Lois Lane in Superman (1948) Atom Man vs. Superman (1950) Adventures of Superman
Spouse(s)	Hal Lierley ​ ​ (m. 1943; annulled 1943)​ William Behrens ​ ​ (m. 1953; div. 1962)​ Joel Taylor ​ ​ (m. 1963; div. 1971)​
Awards	Inkpot Award (2008)

Noel Darleen Neill (born November 25, 1920 – died July 3, 2016) was an American actress. She is best known for playing Lois Lane. This famous character appeared in the Superman movies from 1948 and 1950. Noel Neill also played Lois Lane in the 1950s TV show Adventures of Superman. She acted in 80 films and TV shows during her career.

After finishing high school in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Noel Neill started acting and modeling in the early 1940s. She then got the role of Lois Lane. She also appeared in other Superman stories later on. For example, she had small roles in the 1978 Superman movie. She also appeared in the 1980s TV series Superboy. In 2006, she made a special appearance in the movie Superman Returns.

Noel Neill's Early Life

Noel Darleen Neill was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her father, David Holland Neill, was a news editor for a newspaper. Her mother, Lavere Gorsboth, was a stage dancer. When Noel was four years old, her parents sent her to a school for young performers.

As a teenager, Noel Neill danced, sang, and even played the banjo. She performed at county fairs across the Midwest. She went to Central High School in Minneapolis. After graduating in 1938, her first job was writing articles for Women's Wear Daily.

Her Acting Career

Starting Out in Acting

When she was a teenager, Noel Neill was a very popular model for photos. During World War II, her pictures were very popular with soldiers. She signed a contract with Paramount Pictures. This led to her appearing in many movies and short films for the studio.

In the mid-1940s, Noel Neill played a main role in movies about troubled teenagers. She became a familiar face in these films, especially as the character Betty Rogers. She also appeared in the last of the original Charlie Chan movies, Sky Dragon (1949). Noel Neill often played characters who needed rescuing in Western movies and adventure serials. She also appeared in an episode of The Lone Ranger in 1950. Noel Neill also sang with famous musicians like Bob Crosby and at clubs owned by Bing Crosby.

Becoming Lois Lane in Superman

Noel Neill as Lois Lane in Superman (1948)

In 1945, a producer named Sam Katzman gave Noel Neill the role of Betty Rogers. Betty was a determined reporter for a high school newspaper. When Katzman was looking for an actress to play Lois Lane for his Superman movie series, he remembered Noel Neill. He thought she would be perfect for the role of the smart reporter.

She played Lois Lane in the movie series Superman (1948) and Atom Man vs. Superman (1950). In these movies, Kirk Alyn played Superman and Clark Kent.

When the Adventures of Superman TV show started in 1951, George Reeves and Phyllis Coates took the main roles. But Phyllis Coates had to leave the show after the first season. So, the producers asked Noel Neill to play Lois Lane again. She continued in the role for five seasons until the show ended in 1958.

In 1954, she also appeared in a short film called Stamp Day for Superman. This film was made to teach children about buying U.S. Savings Bonds. It was shown only in schools. The TV show was supposed to have a seventh season, but it was canceled after George Reeves's death.

Noel Neill loved being associated with Lois Lane. She often gave talks at colleges in the 1970s. People loved her warm and funny personality.

Noel Neill kept appearing in projects related to Superman. She played Lois Lane's mother, Ellen Lane, in a small role in the 1978 movie Superman. In an episode of the TV show Superboy, Noel Neill appeared with her old co-star Jack Larson. He had played Jimmy Olsen on the TV show.

She also made a guest appearance in the superhero film Surge of Power: The Stuff of Heroes. In the 2006 movie Superman Returns, she played Gertrude Vanderworth. She was the elderly wife of Lex Luthor.

Noel Neill and Jack Larson, who played Jimmy Olsen, recorded comments for the DVD releases of the Superman TV episodes. In a documentary, Noel Neill said children often asked her: "Why didn't you know that Clark Kent was Superman, just wearing those darn eyeglasses?" She would joke, "I don't want to lose my job!"

On June 15, 2010, the city of Metropolis, Illinois unveiled a statue of Lois Lane. This statue is modeled after Noel Neill. She said she was very honored to be remembered with the statue.

Noel Neill's Legacy

Biography Books

In 2003, a writer named Larry Ward wrote a book about Noel Neill. It was called Truth, Justice, & The American Way: The Life And Times Of Noel Neill, The Original Lois Lane. An updated version of the book came out in 2006. In 2007, Ward wrote another book about her, Beyond Lois Lane. This book focused on her other acting and modeling work.

Awards and Recognition

In 2004, Noel Neill received a Golden Boot Award. This award recognized her work in Western films.

Noel Neill's Personal Life

Noel Neill was married several times. After her acting career slowed down, she became a homemaker. She later worked in the television department at United Artists.

In 2010, she had a fall at her home in Tucson, Arizona. She had surgery for a hip fracture.

Noel Neill's Death

Noel Neill passed away in Tucson on July 3, 2016, at the age of 95. She had been ill for some time. Her publicist and biographer, Larry Ward, honored her role as Lois Lane. Actor Mark Hamill also paid tribute to her. Noel Neill did not have any close family members surviving her.

In November 2017, the TV show Supergirl honored Noel Neill. They named a character Noel Neill in an episode called "Midvale." This character was played by Erica Durance, who also played Lois Lane in Smallville.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Noel Neill para niños