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Phyllis Coates

Phyllis Coates

Actor · Died October 11, 2023, aged 96 · Wichita Falls, Texas, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Phyllis Coates (born Gypsie Ann Evarts Stell; January 15, 1927) was an American actress best known for her portrayal of reporter Lois Lane in the 1951 film Superman and the Mole-Men and in the first season of the television series Adventures of Superman. Coates signed a movie contract with Warner Bros. extending from 1948 to 1956. She co-starred with George O'Hanlon as the title character's wife in the studio's Joe McDoakes short-subject comedies. She acted in film serials including Jungle Drums of Africa (1953), Gunfighters of the Northwest (1953), and Panther Girl of the Kongo (1955). Her film career also included roles in Girls in Prison (1956), I Was a Teenage Frankenstein (1957), Blood Arrow (1958), Cattle Empire (1958), The Incredible Petrified World (1959), The Baby Maker (1970) and Goodnight, Sweet Marilyn (1989). Coates was one of Hollywood's most consistently employed actresses of the 1950s and '60s. She freelanced steadily, appearing in numerous low-budget features, many of them Westerns, as well as serials and a steady stream of TV appearances, both as a regular in several series and as a guest cast member in others. All this was in addition to the "McDoakes" shorts, in which she continued to appear until Warner Bros. discontinued the series in 1956.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 15, 1927
Died
October 11, 2023 (aged 96)
From
Wichita Falls, Texas, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
23 on MovieCove · 110 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 7% in 30 days

What are Phyllis Coates' films like?

Across their 10 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Power.

Genres

Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 40th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
29%
Power
22%
Survival
22%
Self
12%
Society
8%
Bonds
5%
Ideas
2%
Justice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 9 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 6 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 0 · Charged 8 · Intense 1

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 4 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 8 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 6 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 8 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
7
Melancholic
3
Thrilling
2
Dread
2
Hopeful
2
Other
7

How their films linger

Feel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet2
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Phyllis Coates' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 16 of their 23 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Phyllis Coates' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

110 credits, 23 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Hollywood: The Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Old Dora

  • Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Ellen Lane

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Howard

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Mrs. Lambert Remembers Love(1991)

    as Katherine

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Goodnight, Sweet Marilyn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Gladys Baker

  • Christine Cromwell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Friend

  • Kiss Shot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • Whisper Kill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Actor

  • The Baby Maker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Tish's Mother

  • Summer Fun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Claw Monsters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Jean Evans (archive footage)

  • U-238 and the Witch Doctor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Carol Bryant

  • The Patty Duke Show(1963)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • The Virginian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Marden

  • Gunslinger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Teresa Perez

  • The Incredible Petrified World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Dale Marshall

  • The Untouchables (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Angela Lamberto · as Ellie Morley · as Renee Sullivan

  • Hawaiian Eye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Laura Seldon

  • The DuPont Show with June Allyson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Penny

  • Black Saddle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Maggie

  • Rawhide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Elizabeth Gwynn · as Nora Sage

  • Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Cattle Empire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Janice Hamilton

  • Blood Arrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Bess Johnson

  • I Was a Teenage Frankenstein(1957)

    as Margaret

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Leave It to Beaver(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Betty Donaldson

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Perry Mason(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Frieda Crawson · as Inez Fremont · as Norma Carter

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Chicago Confidential (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Helen Fremont (uncredited)

  • Richard Diamond, Private Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Monica Freeborn

  • So Your Wife Wants to Work (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Alice McDoakes (uncredited)

  • Girls in Prison(1956)

    as Dorothy

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • So You Want to Play the Piano (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Alice McDoakes

  • So You Want to Be Pretty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Alice McDoakes aka Cynthia (uncredited)

  • Once to Every Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Marsha

  • Frontier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Medora De More

  • Navy Log (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Great Gildersleeve (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Gunsmoke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Edna · as Hattie Kelly · as Rose

  • Science Fiction Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Millionaire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Alice Sands

  • Professional Father (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Panther Girl of the Kongo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Jean Evans, Panther Girl

  • The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Martin

  • Lassie(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Miss Vernon

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • The Duke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Gloria

  • Gunfighters of the Northwest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Rita Carville

  • Public Defender (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Amberlee Tolliver

  • So You Want to Be an Heir (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Alice McDoakes (uncredited)

  • So You Think You Can't Sleep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Alice McDoakes

  • Topper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Queen

  • El Paso Stampede (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Alice Clark

  • Topeka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Marian Harrison

  • So You Want a Television Set (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Alice McDoakes (uncredited)

  • Perils of the Jungle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Jo Carter

  • I'm the Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 2 episodes · as Heather

  • Marshal of Cedar Rock(1953)

    as Martha Clark

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Jungle Drums of Africa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Carol Bryant

  • The Maverick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Della Watson

  • Invasion, U.S.A.(1952)

    as Mrs. Mulfory

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The Abbott and Costello Show(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Millie Montrose

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Terry and the Pirates (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Wyoming Roundup (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Terry Howard

  • So You Want to Wear the Pants (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Alice McDoakes (uncredited)

  • Flat Top (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Dorothy Collier

  • Canyon Ambush (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Marian Gaylord

  • Cavalcade of America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Barbara Leland

  • Death Valley Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Virginia Arcane

  • Four Star Playhouse(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Marsha

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Adventures of Superman(1952)

    Show 26 episodes · as Lois Lane

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Fargo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Kathy MacKenzie

  • So You Never Tell a Lie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Alice McDoakes (uncredited)

  • So You Want to Go to a Convention (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Alice McDoakes

  • Scorching Fury (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Mrs. Penn

  • The Gunman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Anita Forester

  • Stage to Blue River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Joyce Westbrook

  • The Longhorn(1951)

    as Gail

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Superman and the Mole-Men(1951)

    as Lois Lane

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • So You Want to Be a Plumber (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Alice McDoakes (uncredited)

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Red Skelton Hour(1951)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • So You Want to Be a Bachelor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Alice

  • Oklahoma Justice(1951)

    as Goldie Vaughn

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Adventures of Kit Carson(1951)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Racket Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • So You Want to Be a Paper Hanger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Alice McDoakes

  • Nevada Badmen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Carol Bannon

  • So You Want to Be a Cowboy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Alice McDoakes

  • Canyon Raiders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Alice Long

  • Man from Sonora (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Cinthy Allison

  • Craig Kennedy, Criminologist (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Natalie Larkin

  • The Sun Was Setting (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Rene

  • Outlaws of Texas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Annie Moore

  • Blues Busters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Sally Dolan

  • So You Want a Raise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Actor

  • My Blue Heaven(1950)

    as Party Girl (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Cisco Kid(1950)

    Show 2 episodes · as JoAnn Doran · as Marge Lacey · as Miss Lacey

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • So You Want to Move (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Actor

  • So You Want to Hold Your Husband (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Alice McDoakes / Baby McDoakes

  • So You Think You're Not Guilty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Alice McDoakes (uncredited)

  • So You Want to Throw a Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Alice McDoakes (uncredited)

  • So You Want to Get Rich Quick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Alice

  • The Lone Ranger(1949)

    Show 1 episode · as Ann Wyman · as Jane Johnson · as Naomi Courtwright

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • So You're Having In-Law Trouble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Alice

  • So You Want to Be a Muscle Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Alice McDoakes

  • So You Want to Be Popular (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Office secretary

  • So You Want to Be a Baby Sitter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Alice McDoakes

  • So You Want to Be on the Radio (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Alice McDoakes (uncredited)

  • Smart Girls Don't Talk(1948)

    as Cigarette Girl (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • So You Want to Be in Politics (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Alice McDoakes

Career shape

Star power in the 82nd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 110 titles from 1948 to 1996.

Highest rated

Adventures of Superman (1952)

Midcredits 69th

Film career

  • 1951Screen debut· Superman and the Mole Men

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting110 of 110: 110 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score49th

By decade

1940s9 · acting1950s86 · acting1960s6 · acting1970s1 · acting1980s4 · acting1990s4 · acting

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Phyllis Coates' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 30th percentile, the median of all 10; across their 9 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 30th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

30thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Approval · how many liked their films

29thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Reach · how many have seen their films

34thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Midcredits score across 23 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up3
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th5

Shape of the crowd

10 of their 23 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

Invasion, U.S.A. (1952)

58th percentile spread · 69% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Adventures of Superman (1952)

Midcredits 69th · 80% liked

Reviewers score the acting 64/100 in their films, across 8 reviewed titles; fans 72, detractors 50. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Phyllis Coates work with?

People who share at least 2 of Phyllis Coates' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Lewis D. Collins shares the most, 2.

Directors

Actors

Composers and cinematographers

Producers