Theater News

Tony Award Winner Edie Adams Dies at 81

Edie Adams
Edie Adams

Tony Award winner Edie Adams died in Los Angeles on October 15 from pneumonia, according to The New York Times. She was 81.

Adams appeared only twice on Broadway, originating the role of Eileen Sherwood in the musical Wonderful Town, for which she won a Theatre World Award, and playing Daisy Mae in the musical Li’l Abner, for which she won the Tony.

The actress had a long and varied career in film and television, including earning an Emmy Award nomination as a member of her husband’s program, The Ernie Kovacs Show, playing the fairy godmother to Julie Andrews in the 1957 version of Cinderella, hosting her own variety show, Here’s Edie, and appearing in such films as Lover Come Back, The Apartment,Made in Paris, and The Best Man. She also spent nearly 20 years in commercials for Muriel cigars.

Adams was married three times and is survived by her son, Josh Mills.