LEE MERIWETHER – 84

Lee Meriwether started her career not as an actress but as the 1955 Miss America beauty pageant winner. She appeared on What’s My Line?, which John Charles Daly hosted, and was also the emcee of the said pageant that year. Following her win as Miss America, Lee joined the Today show. This former beauty queen then worked as the famous “Today Girl” on NBC’s The Today Show in the same year. Her film debut came soon afterward, playing the role of Linda Davis in 4D Man.

Her fame reached an all-time high during the 70s. She became known for her role as Betty Jones, Buddy Ebsen’s secretary and daughter-in-law in the 1970s crime drama Barnaby Jones. This role gained her two Golden Globe Award nominations in 1975 and 1976 and an Emmy Award nomination in 1977. She certainly lived a life away from any personal loan needs, thanks to the consistent flow of projects she received over the years.