- published: 03 Mar 2013
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Brett Somers (July 11, 1924 – September 15, 2007) was an American actress, singer, and comedienne who was born in Canada and raised in Maine. She was best known as a panelist on the 1970s game show, Match Game and for her recurring role as Blanche Madison opposite her real life husband Jack Klugman on The Odd Couple.
Born Audrey Johnston in Saint John, New Brunswick. Somers grew up near Portland, Maine. She ran away from home at age 17 and moved to New York City to pursue a career in acting. There she settled in Greenwich Village. She changed her first name to "Brett" after the lead female character in Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises, and the surname "Somers" was her mother's maiden name. She became a U.S. citizen late in life. After moving to New York City, Somers married and had a daughter, Leslie, before divorcing her first husband. In 1953, she married actor Jack Klugman; they had two sons: Adam and David. The couple separated in 1974, but never divorced.
Somers began her career in theater, and made many of her initial television appearances in dramatic programs such as "The Philco Television Playhouse", "Kraft Television Theatre", "Playhouse 90" and "Robert Montgomery Presents". Her Broadway debut, in the play "Maybe Tuesday", was a flop; the show closed after five performances. She appeared in Happy Ending, The Seven Year Itch and The Country Girl with her husband, Jack Klugman. She also amassed a number of film credits, including A Rage to Live, Getting There, Bone, Bus Riley's Back in Town and The Great American Beauty Pageant.
Brett Somers vs. the buzzer guy
BRETT SOMERS Queen of Match Game 1924-2007 Tribute
Match Game - Brett Somers laugh attacks
Brett Somers Interveiw Part 1
Match Game '74: "Brett Left Her _____ in San Diego."
Match Game '78: Jack Klugman & Brett Somers II
Hollywood Squares | Game Show Week I, pt. 1
Brett Somers Dedicates this to Gene Rayburn
Brett Somers Interview Part 2
Brett Somers "Comes Out" On Match Game