Lynn Borden obit

Lynn Borden, Actress on TV's 'Hazel,' Dies at 77

She was not on the list.


Lynn Borden, a talented Actress, Model and Artist, has passed away peacefully after an extended illness at the age of 77. Lynn was born in Michigan, but the family soon moved to Tucson Arizona where she went on to make a large circle of life long friends and family. During her college years, Lynn won "Miss Arizona" 1957 and was runner up in in the Miss America pageant that year. After college, Lynn began modeling before going on to a career in Hollywood as an actress on the screen, stage and television. She had starring roles in the movies, "Frogs", "Breezy", and "Walking Tall, to name a few. In addition, Lynn had a leading role in the 1960's TV series, "Hazel." Her final role was on the TV drama, CSI New York. Lynn was also gifted as a fine artist painter, and had her work showcased in art galleries around the country. She also enjoyed singing, and was honored to go with her church choir to Italy to give a performance for the Pope at the Vatican. She is survived by her loving husband of 33 years, Roger Brunelle, and her brother Steve Freyse of Tucson Arizona. Memorial Mass to be held on Tues. March 10th, Our Lady of Grace Church, Encino, CA. at 1:30PM with reception to follow.

On the big screen, she was killed by an angry snapping turtle in the low-budget eco-horror film 'Frogs.'

Lynn Borden, who starred on the 1960s TV comedy Hazel and was done in by a killer turtle in the 1972 cult eco-horror film Frogs, died Tuesday after an extended illness, her family announced. She was 77.

Borden played Barbara Baxter on the fifth and final season of Hazel, which starred Shirley Booth as a live-in maid. The show had shifted from NBC to CBS, and Hazel had moved in with another family.

Frogs, distributed by American International Pictures, stars Ray Milland as a wealthy wheelchair-bound man who is polluting the swamp around his island estate. Nature soon exacts its revenge, and Borden pays the price when she is stuck in the mud and killed by a snapping turtle.

Borden also appeared in such films as Days of Wine and Roses (1962), Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969), Black Mama White Mama (1973), Walking Tall (1973), Breezy (1973), Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry (1974) and Savannah Smiles (1982). Her TV work included The Dick Van Dyke Show, My Three Sons, Get Smart, McMillan & Wife, Fantasy Island and, in her last onscreen appearance, CSI: NY.

Born in Detroit, Borden was raised in Tucson, Ariz. She was the winner of the Miss Arizona 1957 pageant and then was a runner-up in the Miss America contest. Her father, Bill Freyse, drew the newspaper comic strip Our Boarding School for three decades.

Filmography

Year       Title       Role       Notes

1962      Days of Wine and Roses                Party Guest        Uncredited

1964      The Carpetbaggers          Starlet in Restaurant       Uncredited

1964      What a Way to Go!          Minor Role          Uncredited

1964      Roustabout         College Girl         Uncredited

1969      The Wrecking Crew         Miss Long Distance          Uncredited

1969      Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice            Cutter  

1972      Frogs     Jenny Crockett

1972      The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid      Kate's Girl            Uncredited

1973      Black Mama White Mama            Matron Densmore          

1973      Walking Tall        Margie Ann        

1973      This Is a Hijack   Diane   

1973      Breezy Overnight Date

1974      Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry Evelyn  

1976      St. Ives Party Girl            

1982      Savannah Smiles               Carol Collier       

1985      Hellhole               Susan's mother