The two women who portrayed Lois Lane on Adventures of Superman

Classic television adventures

Adventures of Superman is a classic television series that ran for six seasons on ABC. There were only 104 episodes which from 1952-1954, was in Black & White. From 1954-1958 episodes were in color. MeTV is currently re-running the series at 12 noon on Saturdays. All fans may not be aware, but two different women, Phyllis Coates and Noel Neill, portrayed Ace Reporter Lois Lane.

Adventures of Superman starred George Reeves as the Man of Steel, John Hamilton played Perry White, who ran The Daily Planet Newspaper, and Jack Larson portrayed reporter Jimmy Olsen. This television series was the first time the comic book classic aired on television, and was popular with viewers.

I recall watching during the 1960s and later in the 1980s and 1990s when cable television was in its infancy. MeTV ran the classic series on Saturday mornings at 11 a.m. a few years ago. Fans are excited that it is now back on the oldies network. Part of the allure of the series was the camaraderie between the main characters, and Lois Lane was portrayed as an empowered female.

The similarities between Coates and Neil

Phyllis Coates and Noelle Neill had a few things in common. Both women had dark hair and similar body shapes, so perhaps everyone was not aware that a change had taken place after the first season. Both actresses had shorter hairstyles when they were on the Superman series, so some fans may not have recognized them in the cover photo.

The two Lois Lanes had a few other similarities. Coates died at 95, and Neill passed away at 96. Both women were married three times, and they each had roles in the early Television Westerns. Both women also had roles in later productions about the Man of Steel.

Coates portrayed Ellen Lane, Lois's mother, in an episode of season one (1994) of the television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. In 2006, Neill had a role in the film Superman Returns as Gertrude Vanderworth.

Phyllis Coates history

Coates was born Gypsie Ann Evarts Stell on January 15, 1927. Her career spanned over fifty years but she was best known for portraying Lois Lane. She first played Lois in the 1951 film Superman and the Mole Men. She reprised the role in the first season of the television series Adventures of Superman.

Using her birth name Gypsy Stell, Coates was discovered in a Hollywood and Vine restaurant by vaudeville comedian Ken Murray,[from whom she learned comic timing. She subsequently appeared as a dancer and a comedienne in skits for ten months in Blackouts, his "racy" (mildly risqué) variety show

Noell Neill facts

Noel Neill played Lois Lane in two Columbia Superman serials. She had the role in Superman (1948) and Atom Man vs. Superman (1950), Neil replaced Coates, who was unavailable for the second season of the television series due to other commitments. When interviewed Larson and Neil said they hit it off instantly because they had the same agent and already knew each other.

Neill was the number two pinup girl on posters during WWII, behind Betty Grable who was number one. That's quite an honor. On June 15, 2010, the southern Illinois city of Metropolis unveiled a statue of Lois Lane based on Neill, who was flattered to receive the honor.

With the death of Noel Neill on July 3, 2016, Coates became the last surviving regular cast member from the Adventures of Superman TV series until she died October 11, 2023. Pay close attention to see if you can tell which woman is portraying Lois the next time you enjoy an episode.