Gail Kobe

Summary

Gail Kobe (born Gabriella Kieliszewski;[2][3] March 19, 1932[1] – August 1, 2013) was an American actress and television producer.

Gail Kobe
Kobe in 1959
Born
Gabriella Kieliszewski

(1932-03-19)March 19, 1932[1]
DiedAugust 1, 2013(2013-08-01) (aged 81)
Alma materUCLA
Occupation(s)Actress, television producer
Years active1955–1988
Spouse(s)Richard I. Kramer (April 26, 1957–19??)
Edward S. Lees (1971–1972; divorced)

Early years edit

Kobe was born Gabriella Kieliszewski in Hamtramck, Michigan (within Detroit), the younger child of Benjamin and Theresa Kieliszewski, who later Americanized their surname. She had one sibling, an older sister, Beatrice (later Mrs. Walter Adamski), who predeceased her. Kobe graduated from UCLA earning a fine arts degree in theatre and dance.[4] Kobe had polio as a child and began dancing as a form of therapy. A heart murmur that she developed in her high school years caused her to cease dancing.[2] She graduated from Hamtramck High School.[5]

Early career edit

Kobe portrayed Penny Adams on the TV series Trackdown.[6] She appeared on the Alcoa Theatre in a 1958 episode titled "Disappearance" starring Jack Lemmon and Joan Blackman. In 1965 she portrayed Doris Schuster on TV's Peyton Place.[2] She also appeared on daytime television in the NBC serial Bright Promise as Ann Boyd Jones (1970–1972).[7]

During the 1950s and 1960s, Kobe made guest appearances on Highway Patrol ("The Search"), The O. Henry Playhouse ("The Guilty Party"), The Californians, The Rebel, Mackenzie's Raiders, Blue Light, Felony Squad, Ironside, The Outer Limits, Richard Diamond, Private Detective, The Fugitive, Bourbon Street Beat, Maverick, M Squad (four episodes), Whirlybirds, Perry Mason, Hogan's Heroes, The Twilight Zone ("In His Image", "The Self-Improvement of Salvadore Ross", "A World of Difference"), Dr. Kildare, Empire, Gunsmoke (S3E25 "Dirt", S12E13 "The Moonstone" and S14E23 "The Intruder"), Cheyenne, Daniel Boone, Mission: Impossible, The Untouchables, Have Gun – Will Travel, The Mod Squad, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Bewitched and Mannix. In 1962, she portrayed Dr. Louise Amadon in the episode "A Woman's Place" on Rawhide, about a woman doctor's struggles against stereotypes in the Old West. In 1963 she appeared in Combat! as Francois.

On February 17, 1959, Kobe was cast in the episode "Disaster Town" of the series Rescue 8 in the role of Ellen Mason, a mother looking for her son in a western ghost town.

In the series, Laramie, Kobe played a saloon girl in the episode "Gun Duel" (aired December 25, 1962).

Later career edit

Kobe began to work behind the camera as supervising producer and associate producer on such daytime programs as CBS's The Edge of Night and NBC's Return to Peyton Place. From 1981 to 1982, its final year on the air, Kobe became executive producer of the NBC soap opera, Texas. From 1983 to May 1986, she was the executive producer of CBS's Guiding Light (for which she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award) and then served as a producer on CBS's The Bold and the Beautiful from its debut in 1987 through the early 1990s.[8]

Kobe taught at San Fernando Valley State College.[9]

Kobe was a member of St. Louis Church. She volunteered many hours to Eisenhower Medical Center and the Palm Springs Art Museum while she lived in Palm Springs. While she resided at the Motion Picture Television Fund Home in Woodland Hills, California, she organized the program, We've Got Mail, which airs on cable Channel 22.[citation needed]

Honors edit

In 2008, a Golden Palm Star on the Walk of Stars was dedicated in Kobe's honor.[10]

Death edit

For the last two years of her life, the twice-married Kobe resided at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills. She died on August 1, 2013, aged 81, from undisclosed causes.[11][12]

Filmography edit

Year Title Role Notes
1955 East of Eden Student Uncredited
1956 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Jessie Bridges Season 2 Episode 9: "Crack of Doom"
1956 The Ten Commandments Pretty Slave Girl
1956 Highway Patrol Susan Keefe Episode: "The Search"
1957-1958 Trackdown Penny Adams / Cindy / Beth Waislip 6 episodes
1958 Gunsmoke Polly Troyman Season 3, Episode 25, "Dirt"
1958 Gunsmoke in Tucson Katy Porter
1958-1964 Perry Mason Gertrude Lewis / Margo - Drake's Secretary 2 episodes
1960 Tales of Wells Fargo Kate Brown Episode: "The Late Mayor Brown"
1960 The Twilight Zone Sally Season 1, Episode 23, "A World of Difference"
1963 The Virginian Ruth Ferris Episode: "Run Quiet"
1962 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Virginia Carlin Season 1 Episode 9: "The Black Curtain"
1963 Combat! Francois Season 1, Episode 28, "The Sniper"
1963 Have Gun Will Travel" Francine Season 6, Episode 30, "Two Plus One"
1963 The Twilight Zone Jessica Connelly Season 4, Episode 1, "In His Image"
1964 The Twilight Zone Leah Maitland Season 5, Episode 16, "The Self-Improvement of Salvadore Ross"
1964 The Outer Limits Janet Doweling Season 1, Episode 22, "Specimen: Unknown"
1964 The Outer Limits Janet Lane Season 2, Episode 12, "Keeper of the Purple Twilight"
1966 Gunsmoke Bar Girl Madge Season 12, Episode 13, "The Moonstone"
1968 The Mod Squad Donna Season 1, Episode 8, "The Price of Terror"
1969 Bewitched Evelyn Tucker Season 5, Episode 22, "Going Ape"
1969 Gunsmoke Ellie Decker Season 14, Episode 23, "The Intruder"

References edit

  1. ^ a b Some sources have cited 1929 or 1931 as possible years of birth, but U.S. census records indicate 1932, and 1972 California divorce records from her husband, Edward S. Lees clearly states 1932 as her year of birth
  2. ^ a b c Kleiner, Dick (October 30, 1971). "Gail Kobe's Secure in Soap Opera". The Charlotte News. Newspaper Enterprise. p. 43. Retrieved May 21, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Peterson, Bettelou (April 23, 1970). "Gail Kobe of 'Bright Promise' -- Hamtramck to Hollywood". Detroit Free Press. p. 53. Retrieved May 21, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ According to the 1940 United States census records, her name is listed as "Gabriella Kobe" and her age is eight years old, indicating 1932 year of birth; it is unclear when her parents, listed as Benjamin and Theresa Kobe, changed the original surname (Kieliszewski).
    Source Information: Ancestry.com. California, Divorce Index, 1966–1984 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: State of California. California Divorce Index, 1966–1984. Microfiche. Center for Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento, California.
  5. ^ "Gail Kobe, from Hamtramck: A Farewell to Peyton Place". Detroit Free Press. March 11, 1966. p. 26. Retrieved May 21, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company. p. 1102. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  7. ^ "Bright Promise". TV Guide. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
  8. ^ Sieczkowski, Cavan (August 4, 2013). "Gail Kobe Dead: Actress And 'Bold And The Beautiful' Producer Dies At 82". Huff Post. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  9. ^ "Gail Kobe Knew How To Act, Now She Knows She Can Teach". Sunday News. Lancaster, Penn. July 19, 1970. p. 58. Retrieved May 21, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "List by date dedicated" (PDF). Palm Springs Walk of Stars. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-10-13.
  11. ^ "Actress, Emmy-Nominated Soap Producer Gail Kobe Dies At 84". KCAL News. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  12. ^ Lowe, Lindsay (August 5, 2013). "Veteran Actress and Producer Gail Kobe Dies at 82". Parade. Retrieved August 20, 2020.

External links edit

  • Gail Kobe at IMDb
  • Notice of death of Gail Kobe, deadline.com; accessed February 26, 2014.