Brenda Benet (born Brenda Ann Nelson; August 14, 1945 – April 7, 1982) was an American actress. She was best known for her roles on the soap operas The Young Marrieds (1965–1965) and Days of Our Lives (1979–1982). She was also featured in an episode of Hogan's Heroes in 1968.
Early life Benet was born Brenda Ann Nelson in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California; later, her family moved to South Gate. She graduated from South Gate High School, attended Los Angeles City College, then studied at the University of California at Los Angeles, majoring in languages. She studied with San Francisco Ballet, was featured in several productions of the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera, was a musician who played piano, flute and violin, and was fluent in five languages.
Career
Her first acting roles were in 1964, with appearances on Shindig! and The Young Marrieds. She eventually became an actress very much in demand for roles in episodic primetime television in the 1960s and 1970s, including I Dream of Jeannie, McHale's Navy, Daniel Boone, Mannix, The Green Hornet (TV series), My Three Sons, Hogan's Heroes, Love, American Style, Wonder Woman, The Love Boat, and The Courtship of Eddie's Father. She also had a major role in the feature film Walking Tall (1973).
She portrayed Lee DuMonde on the daytime serial Days of Our Lives, a role she played from 1979 until her death in 1982.
Personal life Benet's first marriage was to The Donna Reed Show actor Paul Petersen in 1967. In 1969, Benet left Petersen for actor Bill Bixby.
After her divorce from Petersen became final, Benet married Bixby in 1971. The couple had a child, Christopher Sean, in September 1974, and then divorced in 1980.
Benet became lovers with her 17-year-old personal secretary, Tammy Bruce. Later, Benet and Bruce lived together for nearly a year before Bruce moved out in 1982.
Benet experienced a number of personal and professional challenges after her divorce from Bixby. Her role on Days of Our Lives made her extremely unpopular with fans; Benet's character was breaking up one of the show's popular couples, Doug and Julie, and fans were outraged. However, Benet's most personal challenge occurred when her six-year-old son Christopher died in March 1981. While they were on a weekend ski trip at Mammoth Lakes, Christopher suffered acute epiglottitis, going into a coma and cardiac arrest after doctors subsequently carried out a tracheotomy.
Death Benet was devastated by her son's death and sank into a severe depression. On April 7, 1982, she died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at her home in Los Angeles. She was 36.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1965 Beach Ball Samantha Harum Scarum Emerald Alternative title: Harum Holiday 1967 Track of Thunder Shelly Newman 1973 Walking Tall Luan Paxton Listed in credits as Brenda Benét Television Year Title Role Notes 1964 Wendy and Me Shamir 1 episode 1965 McHale's Navy Karema 1 episode 1965–1966 The Young Marrieds Jill McComb #4 Unknown episodes 1966 The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. Gizelle 1 episode Daniel Boone Princess Little Fawn 1 episode 1966–1970 My Three Sons ElyseMaureen 2 episodes 1967 The Iron Horse Kitty Clayborne 1 episode The Green Hornet Girl 1 episode I Dream of Jeannie Eleanor 1 episode 1968–1969 It Takes a Thief NicoleAngela Peters 2 episodes 1968–1970 Hogan's Heroes Janine RobinetMarie Bizet 3 episodes 1969 The High Chaparral Anita de Santiago y Amistad 1 episode To Rome With Love Tina 1 episode The F.B.I. Stewardess 1 episode 1969–1972 Love, American Style 3 episodes 1970 Death Valley Days Chela 1 episode Paris 7000 1 episode 1971 The Most Deadly Game Mindy 1 episode The Courtship of Eddie's Father Brenda 1 episode The Men From Shiloh, the rebranded name of The Virginian Susan Masters 1 episode 1971–1975 Mannix Ellen Parrish (S4-Ep16)Edie 2 episodes 1972 Wednesday Night Out Television movie Search Carol Lesko 1 episode 1973 The Horror at 37,000 Feet Sally Television movie The Magician Joanna Marsh / Osborne 1 episode 1976 Tattletales Herself 5 episodes 1977 The Love Boat Maureen Mitchell 1 episode 1978 Wonder Woman Morgana 1 episode Fantasy Island Ginny Winthrop 1 episode 1979 Carter Country Natalya 1 episode 1979–1982 Days of Our Lives Lee DuMonde Carmichael Williams 255 episodes 1980 The Incredible Hulk Annie Caplan 1 episode 1982 Father Murphy Rachel Hansen 1 episode, (final appearance)
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