Lynne Marta obit

Lynne Marta, Actress in ‘Joe Kidd,’ ‘Footloose’ and ‘Love, American Style,’ Dies at 78

She also made multiple appearances on such shows as ‘The F.B.I.,’ ‘Medical Center,’ ‘Barnaby Jones’ and, notably, ‘Starsky & Hutch.’ 

She was not on the list.

Lynne Marta, the actress who appeared in films including Joe Kidd and Footloose, as a regular on Love, American Style and as a guest star on dozens of other TV shows, has died. She was 78.

Marta died Thursday in her Los Angeles home after a battle with cancer, her friend Chris Saint-Hilaire told The Hollywood Reporter.

The New Jersey native also showed up on episodes of such Aaron Spelling-produced series as The Mod Squad, The Rookies, Starsky & Hutch, Charlie’s Angels, Vega$ and Matt Houston and on Quinn Martin productions like The F.B.I., Dan August, Cannon, The Streets of San Francisco, Barnaby Jones, The Manhunter and Caribe.

As the companion of a wealthy landowner (Robert Duvall), Marta caught the eye of a bounty hunter (Clint Eastwood) in John Sturges’ Joe Kidd (1972), and she portrayed Lulu Warnicker, the aunt of Kevin Bacon’s Ren, in the Herbert Ross-directed Footloose (1984).

The younger of two daughters, Marta was born on Oct. 30, 1945, in Somerville, New Jersey. Her father, George, was commissioner of air and water pollution for the State of New Jersey.

She started her career on the syndicated teen dance program The Lloyd Thaxton Show, landed on episodes of Gidget and The Monkees in 1966 and worked on 18 episodes of the first season (1969-70) of the ABC anthology series Love, American Style.

Marta starred on a 1973 pilot for an ABC sci-fi series, Genesis II, that was written by Gene Roddenberry, but the show was not picked up.

Her TV résumé also included Then Came Bronson, Gunsmoke, Kojak, Medical Center, Marcus Welby, M.D., The Rockford Files, Knight Rider, Designing Women and Law & Order and work on the soap operas Passions, The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives.

And she appeared in the films Red Sky at Morning (1971), Help Me … I’m Possessed (1974), Blood Beach (1980) and Three Men and a Little Lady (1990).

Marta had what People in 1983 described as an “open relationship” with Starsky & Hutch star David Soul while he was married to actress Karen Carlson. “All through the Starsky & Hutch years, David and Lynne lived together but spent time with other people,” the magazine noted.

She appeared with him in 1977 on his David Soul and Friends TV special.

Survivors include her sister, MJ, and her cat, Mr. Peaches.

In July 1989, Marta was in her apartment a few feet down the hall from where young actress Rebecca Schaeffer was fatally shot by obsessed fan Robert John Bardo.

“The door shook, the wall shook,” she said in testimony reported by the Los Angeles Times. “The cat went up into the air. I fell to my knees and crawled into the bedroom. Then, I heard Rebecca’s first scream.

“She was still screaming while I was talking to 911,” she continued. “By the time I got to the door, she was wailing. I opened the small hatch in my door. There was a smell I’ll never forget: the smell of gunfire. It was quiet except for light moaning.”

 

Actress

American Dreams (2002)

American Dreams

7.7

TV Series

Attendant

2004

1 episode

 

Days of Our Lives (1965)

Days of Our Lives

5.2

TV Series

Fortune Teller

Zantra

Charlene Higgins

1983–2003

24 episodes

 

Nick Mancuso in Time of Fear (2002)

Time of Fear

4.8

Mrs. LeDoux

2002

 

Patricia Richardson and Rosa Blasi in Strong Medicine (2000)

Strong Medicine

6.7

TV Series

Mrs. Callender

2002

1 episode

 

George Clooney, Anthony Edwards, Julianna Margulies, Ming-Na Wen, Noah Wyle, Laura Innes, Alex Kingston, Eriq La Salle, Kellie Martin, Paul McCrane, Michael Michele, Erik Palladino, Maura Tierney, and Goran Visnjic in ER (1994)

ER

7.9

TV Series

Midwife

2002

1 episode

 

Jill Hennessy in Crossing Jordan (2001)

Crossing Jordan

7.0

TV Series

Celia Brackett

2002

1 episode

 

Passions (1999)

Passions

5.9

TV Series

Waitress

2000

1 episode

 

Dick Van Dyke and Barry Van Dyke in Diagnosis Murder (1993)

Diagnosis Murder

6.8

TV Series

Bernetta Cole

2000

1 episode

 

Lea Thompson and Eric Lutes in Caroline in the City (1995)

Caroline in the City

6.2

TV Series

Customer #2

1998

1 episode

 

Sleeping with the Devil (1997)

Sleeping with the Devil

5.7

TV Movie

Judge Eberhardt

1997

 

Eileen Davidson, Bryton James, Joshua Morrow, Gina Tognoni, Justin Hartley, Melissa Claire Egan, and Peter Bergman in The Young and the Restless (1973)

The Young and the Restless

5.3

TV Series

Nurse

1997

1 episode

 

Race Against Time: The Search for Sarah (1996)

Race Against Time: The Search for Sarah

5.8

TV Movie

Matron

1996

 

Message from Nam (1993)

Message from Nam

6.2

TV Movie

Nurse #2

1993

 

Jennifer Grey and Peter Berg in A Case for Murder (1993)

A Case for Murder

5.4

TV Movie

Marti Stevens

1993

 

Law & Order (1990)

Law & Order

7.8

TV Series

Debra Hill

1993

1 episode

 

Veronica Clare (1991)

Veronica Clare

8.6

TV Series

1991

2 episodes

 

Steve Guttenberg, Tom Selleck, Ted Danson, and Robin Weisman in Three Men and a Little Lady (1990)

Three Men and a Little Lady

5.5

Morgan School Teacher

1990

 

Uneasy Lies the Crown (1990)

Uneasy Lies the Crown

7.4

TV Movie

Frances

1990

 

The First Power (1990)

The First Power

5.6

Nun (as Lynn Marta)

1990

 

Annie Potts, Delta Burke, Jean Smart, and Dixie Carter in Designing Women (1986)

Designing Women

7.2

TV Series

OB Nurse

1990

2 episodes

 

Our House (1986)

Our House

7.2

TV Series

Mrs. Walsh

1986

1 episode

 

Crime of Innocence (1985)

Crime of Innocence

6.3

TV Movie

Lucille (uncredited)

1985

 

Footloose (1984)

Footloose

6.6

Lulu Warnicker

1984

 

David Hasselhoff in Knight Rider (1982)

Knight Rider

6.9

TV Series

Laura Phillips

1984

1 episode

 

Goodnight, Beantown (1983)

Goodnight, Beantown

6.8

TV Series

Linda

1983

1 episode

 

Lee Horsley in Matt Houston (1982)

Matt Houston

6.5

TV Series

Lila Durrant

1983

1 episode

 

Pernell Roberts in Trapper John, M.D. (1979)

Trapper John, M.D.

6.6

TV Series

Valerie Atwater

Donna

1980–1982

2 episodes

 

Tony Curtis, Robert Urich, Phyllis Davis, and Judy Landers in Vega$ (1978)

Vega$

6.9

TV Series

Dr. Lutness

Virginia Marshall

1979–1981

2 episodes

 

Homeward Bound (1980)

Homeward Bound

6.7

TV Movie

Mary Jo Lawson

1980

 

Blood Beach (1980)

Blood Beach

4.5

Jo

1980

 

Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson, and Jaclyn Smith in Charlie's Angels (1976)

Charlie's Angels

6.5

TV Series

Linda

Amy Waters

1978–1980

3 episodes

 

Claude Akins, Brian Kerwin, and Mills Watson in The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (1979)

The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo

6.4

TV Series

Miss Smith

1980

1 episode

 

Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox in CHiPs (1977)

CHiPs

6.4

TV Series

Beth Holmes

1978

1 episode

 

The Rockford Files (1974)

The Rockford Files

8.2

TV Series

Carrie Strayhorn

1978

1 episode

 

Starsky and Hutch (1975)

Starsky and Hutch

7.0

TV Series

K.C. McBride

Helen Carnahan

Cheryl Waite

1975–1978

4 episodes

 

In the Glitter Palace (1977)

In the Glitter Palace

5.9

TV Movie

Ricki

1977

 

Tales of the Unexpected (1977)

Tales of the Unexpected

7.2

TV Series

Anne

1977

1 episode

 

Buddy Ebsen in Barnaby Jones (1973)

Barnaby Jones

6.9

TV Series

Lorraine Whithers

Angie Ross

Sally ...

1973–1977

4 episodes

 

City of Angels (1976)

City of Angels

7.8

TV Series

Singer

1976

1 episode

 

The Streets of San Francisco (1972)

The Streets of San Francisco

7.3

TV Series

Barbara

Jill Allerman

1975–1976

2 episodes

 

James Daly in Medical Center (1969)

Medical Center

7.1

TV Series

Doris Melton

Barbara

Daphne ...

1971–1975

4 episodes

 

Carl Franklin and Stacy Keach in Caribe (1975)

Caribe

6.8

TV Series

Jodi Latimer

1975

1 episode

 

Nick Nolte and Andy Griffith in Adams of Eagle Lake (1975)

Adams of Eagle Lake

7.4

TV Series

Cindy

1975

2 episodes

 

Help Me... I'm Possessed (1974)

Help Me... I'm Possessed

4.2

Melanie Blackwood

1974

 

The Manhunter (1974)

The Manhunter

7.1

TV Series

Beth Anders

1974

1 episode

 

Kojak (1973)

Kojak

7.1

TV Series

Peggy Farrell

1974

1 episode

 

Insight (1960)

Insight

7.6

TV Series

Sharon

1973–1974

2 episodes

 

James Brolin, Robert Young, Barbara Sigel, and Elena Verdugo in Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969)

Marcus Welby, M.D.

7.0

TV Series

Patricia Lowry

1973

1 episode

 

Genesis II (1973)

Genesis II

5.9

TV Movie

Harper-Smythe

1973

 

Cannon (1971)

Cannon

6.8

TV Series

Lorna Newcomb

Julia Lorelie

1971–1973

2 episodes

 

Victor Buono in Assignment: Vienna (1972)

Assignment: Vienna

6.5

TV Series

Helen

1973

1 episode

 

James Arness, Amanda Blake, Milburn Stone, and Dennis Weaver in Gunsmoke (1955)

Gunsmoke

8.1

TV Series

Prudence Bennet (as Lynn Marta)

1973

1 episode

 

Mark Jenkins and Stephen Manley in Young Dr. Kildare (1972)

Young Dr. Kildare

6.6

TV Series

Rosemary

1972

1 episode

 

The F.B.I. (1965)

The F.B.I.

7.4

TV Series

Jennie Lee Nelson

Carol

Sheila Waters ...

1969–1972

4 episodes

 

Darren McGavin in 43: The Richard Petty Story (1972)

43: The Richard Petty Story

6.3

Lynda Petty

1972

 

Arthur Hill in Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law (1971)

Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law

7.0

TV Series

Jennie Davis

1972

1 episode

 

Kate Jackson, Georg Stanford Brown, Sam Melville, and Michael Ontkean in The Rookies (1972)

The Rookies

6.8

TV Series

Andrea

1972

1 episode

 

Joe Kidd (1972)

Joe Kidd

6.4

Elma

1972

 

The Man and the City (1971)

The Man and the City

8.5

TV Series

Maureen Alvarez

1971

1 episode

 

Peggy Lipton, Michael Cole, and Clarence Williams III in Mod Squad (1968)

Mod Squad

6.9

TV Series

Lila Fraser (as Lynn Marta)

1971

1 episode

 

Strother Martin, Desi Arnaz Jr., and Catherine Burns in Red Sky at Morning (1971)

Red Sky at Morning

7.0

Venery Ann Cloyd

1971

 

Cannon (1971)

Cannon

7.3

TV Movie

Trudy Hewett - girl at Holley's house

1971

 

Burt Reynolds and Norman Fell in Dan August (1970)

Dan August

7.2

TV Series

Jody Forbes

1970

1 episode

 

Love, American Style (1969)

Love, American Style

6.8

TV Series

Love American Style Player

1969–1970

18 episodes

 

Michael Parks in Then Came Bronson (1969)

Then Came Bronson

8.0

TV Series

Eve Bronson

1970

1 episode

 

Darren McGavin in The Outsider (1968)

The Outsider

7.8

TV Series

Kerry Palmer

1969

1 episode

 

Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork in The Monkees (1965)

The Monkees

7.5

TV Series

Party Guest Who's Swept off Her Feet (uncredited)

1966

1 episode

 

Gidget (1965)

Gidget

6.8

TV Series

Ellen

1966

1 episode

 

Additional Crew

Glenn Close in 101 Dalmatians (1996)

101 Dalmatians

5.7

adr loop group

1996

 

Soundtrack

James Spader in Starcrossed (1985)

Starcrossed

5.3

TV Movie

performer: "I'm Restless"

1985

 

Farrah Fawcett, Kate Jackson, and Jaclyn Smith in Charlie's Angels (1976)

Charlie's Angels

6.5

TV Series

performer: "Home"

performer: "Trippin' to the Mornin'"

1978–1980

2 episodes

 

Dogpound Shuffle (1979)

Dogpound Shuffle

6.8

Soundtrack ("If I'm Going To See You Tomorrow")

1979

 

Starsky and Hutch (1975)

Starsky and Hutch

7.0

TV Series

performer: "Nobody Loves You Quite Like You Do"

writer: "Nobody Loves You Quite Like You Do"

1978

1 episode

 

Darren McGavin in 43: The Richard Petty Story (1972)

43: The Richard Petty Story

6.3

performer: "I Looked for You"

1972