Barbara "Bobo" Lewis (May 14, 1926 – November 6, 1998) was an American comedic actress of film, musical theatre, stage and television.
Born in Miami, Florida, Lewis studied acting and won a Drama Desk Award in 1978 for portraying a teacher in Working on Broadway. In 1997, she was nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award.
Career Lewis appeared in numerous stage productions throughout her career. In 1965, Lewis was part of the cast of the Off-Broadway musical revue The Decline and Fall of the Entire World as Seen Through the Eyes of Cole Porter by Ben Bagley. She performed as Emily, Celia, Dorothy, and Ma as a standby in Twigs (1971 to 1972), followed by roles as the Dowager and Olga in The Women (1973). In 1974, she served as a replacement for the role of Mrs. Ella Spofford in Lorelei. She won the Drama Desk Award for her performances as Fran Swenson, Grace Clements, Lucille Page, and Rose Hoffman in Working (1978). Lewis later appeared in the 1980 world premiere of The Diviners as Norma Henshaw, also as a replacement. In 1987, she portrayed Bernice Roth in The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 of 1940 before joining the Broadway production of 42nd Street as a replacement for the role of Maggie Jones.
Bobo Lewis was most famous for her role as gossip Midge Smoot on the children's television series Shining Time Station. Lewis would later appear in the four succeeding Shining Time Specials in 1995. Her other television appearances include roles on sitcoms such as Bewitched, The Monkees, That Girl, and Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C..
Bobo was seen in a handful of well-known films such as It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), Under the Yum Yum Tree (1963), Way...Way Out (1966) Can't Stop the Music (1980), Arthur (1981) Her Alibi (1989), Miami Blues (1990) and The Paper (1994).
Death Lewis died on November 6, 1998, at New York Hospital in Manhattan from cancer, aged 72.
Legacy She teamed up with her Broadway co-star Lynne Thigpen (Working, 1978) to create the Lynne Thigpen-Bobo Lewis Foundation "to help young actresses and actors learn how to survive and succeed in New York theater".
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1962 The Interns Gwen 1963 Under the Yum Yum Tree Claudia Hoffer 1963 It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World Pilot's Wife Uncredited1964 Kiss Me, Stupid Waitress 1966 Way... Way Out Esther Davenport 1970 Which Way to the Front? Camille Bland 1975 The Wild Party Wilma 1975 Lovers Like Us Miss Mark 1980 Can't Stop the Music Breadwoman 1981 The Nesting Catherine Beasley 1981 Arthur Lady in Coffee Shop 1982 Blood Bride Mama 1987 The Adventure of the Action Hunters 1988 Running on Empty Home Ec Teacher 1989 Her Alibi Rose 1990 Miami Blues Edna Damrosch 1994 The Paper Anna 1998 One True Thing Muriel 1998 Just the Ticket Mrs. Dolmatch 1999 Hit and Runway Cousin Rosalie (final film role)
References
External links
New York Times obituary, Nov. 13, 1998