Abbe Lane obit

Abbe Lane Dies: Nightclub Singer, Recording Artist & Actor Was 93

 

She was not on the list.

Abbe Lane, a nightclub singer, recording artist and actor whose popularity in the 1960s and ’70s made her a familiar presence on late night talk shows and variety series, died April 25 of natural causes in Los Angeles. She was 93.

Her death was reported by her son Steven Leff to Deadline’s sister publication The Hollywood Reporter.

Born Abigail Francine Lassman on December 14, 1932, in Brooklyn, Lane began her show business career as a child actor and singer who landed on Broadway as a dancer while still in her teens (she also performed on stage under the name Abbe Marshall). It was during a live performance that she was noticed by big band leader Xavier Cugat, who hired her to sing for his Latin-style band for a European tour.

The two married in 1952, when she was 19 and he was 52, divorcing 12 years later (she later said he mentally abused her; The divorce came two year’s prior to Cugat’s marriage to a young flamenco guitarist named Charo).

In 1992, Lane wrote a semi-autobiographical novel titled But Where Is Love?, which included a teenage girl character who had been unhappily married to a much older man.

Due to the European tour, Lane’s popularity overseas surged, and she made more than 20 Italian films through the mid-1960s while continuing her career as a singer and recording artist.

In the States, she was a Las Vegas headliner and appeared frequently on television from the late ’50s and well into the ’70s. She appeared frequently on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show (under various hosts), The Red Skelton Show, The Milton Berle Show, The Hollywood Palace, The Dean Martin Show and many others. She was a regular presence on the game shows of the era, including Password, The Match Game, To Tell The Truth and What’s My Line, and as an actress had guest roles on such TV fare as Burke’s Law, F Troop, The Flying Nun, The Brady Bunch, Love American Style, Hart to Hart and Amazing Stories.

In the troubled 1983 feature The Twilight Zone: The Movie, she appeared as a stewardess in director George Miller’s segment that remade the classic tv episode “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet,” with John Lithgow in the gremlin-spotting William Shatner role.

Following her divorce from Cugat, Lane married CMA agent Perry Leff, who died in 2020. She is survived by sons Steven and Andrew and a granddaughter.

Actress

Kevin Costner, Harvey Keitel, Charlie Sheen, Christopher Lloyd, and John Lithgow in Amazing Stories (1985)

Amazing Stories

7.4

TV Series

Enchantress

1985

1 episode

 

Hart to Hart (1979)

Hart to Hart

6.7

TV Series

Eleanor Bracken

1983

1 episode

 

Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983)

Twilight Zone: The Movie

6.5

Sr. Stewardess (segment "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet")

1983

 

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

Vega$

6.9

TV Series

Elizabeth Kyle

1979

1 episode

 

Stuart Margolin and Julie Newmar in Love, American Style (1969)

Love, American Style

6.8

TV Series

Evelyn Carson

1973

1 episode

 

Eve Plumb, Florence Henderson, Susan Olsen, Robert Reed, Ann B. Davis, Christopher Knight, Mike Lookinland, Maureen McCormick, and Barry Williams in The Brady Bunch (1969)

The Brady Bunch

6.8

TV Series

Beebe Gallini

1970

1 episode

 

Sally Field in The Flying Nun (1967)

The Flying Nun

6.5

TV Series

Felicia Fiero

1968

1 episode

 

Dick Martin and Dan Rowan in Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1967)

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

8.0

TV Series

Guest Performer

1968

1 episode

 

Roddy McDowall, Marlo Thomas, Ed Ames, Hans Conried, and Paul Frees in Cricket on the Hearth (1967)

Cricket on the Hearth

5.4

TV Movie

Moll (voice)

1967

 

Danny Thomas in The Danny Thomas Hour (1967)

The Danny Thomas Hour

7.1

TV Series

Moll the Bar Maid (voice)

1967

1 episode

 

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964)

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

7.7

TV Series

Ayesha

1966

1 episode

 

Red Skelton in The Red Skelton Hour (1951)

The Red Skelton Hour

8.1

TV Series

Guest VocalistPresident's Wife

1954–1966

2 episodes

 

Ken Berry, Melody Patterson, Larry Storch, and Forrest Tucker in F Troop (1965)

F Troop

7.4

TV Series

Lorelei Duval

1966

1 episode

 

Burke's Law (1963)

Burke's Law

7.4

TV Series

Tashua AmilMelissa Hammer

1965

2 episodes

 

Ed Sullivan in The Ed Sullivan Show (1948)

The Ed Sullivan Show

7.9

TV Series

Singer

1958–1965

6 episodes

 

Vittorio De Sica, Vittorio Gassman, Walter Chiari, Peppino De Filippo, Alberto Sordi, Ugo Tognazzi, Totò, and Raimondo Vianello in Risate all'italiana (1964)

Risate all'italiana

4.8

1964

 

Das Feuerschiff (1963)

Das Feuerschiff

6.3

1963

 

Caesar Against the Pirates (1962)

Caesar Against the Pirates

5.0

Plauzia

1962

 

Naked City (1958)

Naked City

8.2

TV Series

Estelle Reeves

1961

1 episode

 

My Friend, Dr. Jekyll (1960)

My Friend, Dr. Jekyll

5.7

Mafalda

1960

 

I baccanali di Tiberio (1960)

I baccanali di Tiberio

4.6

Cinthia O'Connor

1960

 

Roulotte e roulette (1959)

Roulotte e roulette

4.6

Rossana Possenti

1959

 

Marinai, donne e guai (1959)

Marinai, donne e guai

5.6

Manuela

1959

 

Louis de Funès, Abbe Lane, and Totò in Totò, Eva e il pennello proibito (1959)

Totò, Eva e il pennello proibito

6.0

Eva

1959

 

Maracaibo (1958)

Maracaibo

5.7

Elena Holbrook

1958

 

A sud niente di nuovo (1957)

A sud niente di nuovo

4.2

Jane

1957

 

Vittorio De Sica, Abbe Lane, and Totò in The Lady Doctor (1957)

The Lady Doctor

5.7

Dottoressa Brigitte Bellomo

1957

 

Xavier Cugat, Abbe Lane, and Georges Rivière in Susana y yo (1957)

Susana y yo

5.2

Susana Garcés

1957

 

Parola di ladro (1957)

Parola di ladro

6.1

Adelaide L'Amour detta 'Lalla'

1957

 

Time of Vacation (1956)

Time of Vacation

6.5

Dolores

1956

 

I girovaghi (1956)

I girovaghi

6.7

Dolores

1956

 

Gabriele Ferzetti and Elsa Martinelli in Donatella (1956)

Donatella

6.4

Se stessa

1956

 

Quando tramonta il sole (1956)

Quando tramonta il sole

5.8

Eugenia Fougère

1956

 

Alberto Sordi in Lo scapolo (1955)

Lo scapolo

6.5

Sé stessa

1955

 

Allison Hayes, Abbe Lane, and Dennis O'Keefe in Chicago Syndicate (1955)

Chicago Syndicate

6.5

Connie Peters

1955

 

The Americano (1955)

The Americano

5.6

Teresa

1955

 

Audie Murphy, Dan Duryea, and Susan Cabot in Ride Clear of Diablo (1954)

Ride Clear of Diablo

6.8

Kate

1954

 

Van Heflin, Julie Adams, and Abbe Lane in Wings of the Hawk (1953)

Wings of the Hawk

6.2

Elena Noriega

1953

 

Fame and the Devil (1949)

Fame and the Devil

5.9

1949

 

Soundtrack

Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon (1966)

Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon

6.8

TV Series

performer: "Pigalle", "Mimi", "Valentine"

1977

1 episode

 

Sally Field in The Flying Nun (1967)

The Flying Nun

6.5

TV Series

performer: "The Look of Love" (1967)

1968

1 episode

 

Roddy McDowall, Marlo Thomas, Ed Ames, Hans Conried, and Paul Frees in Cricket on the Hearth (1967)

Cricket on the Hearth

5.4

TV Movie

performer: "Fish and Chips"

1967

 

Dean Martin in The Dean Martin Show (1965)

The Dean Martin Show

8.1

TV Series

performer: "I Love Paris", "Milord", "C'est Magnifique", "C'est si bon", "Take Me Out to the Ball Game", "Bless Them All"

1967

1 episode

 

Ed Sullivan in The Ed Sullivan Show (1948)

The Ed Sullivan Show

7.9

TV Series

performer: "I Will Follow Him" (Chariot)performer: "Love is Like Champagne" (Mon Manège à Moi)performer: "Les Enfants du Pirée / Never on Sunday" (Ta Pedia tou Pirea) ...

1957–1964

6 episodes

 

Marinai, donne e guai (1959)

Marinai, donne e guai

5.6

performer: "La donna riccia"

1959

 

Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Joe DeRita in The Steve Allen Show (1956)

The Steve Allen Show

8.4

TV Series

performer: "All of You", "Babalú"

1957

1 episode

 

Time of Vacation (1956)

Time of Vacation

6.5

performer: "Ay que merengue"

1956

 

Alberto Sordi in Lo scapolo (1955)

Lo scapolo

6.5

performer: "Tema principal"

1955

 

Allison Hayes, Abbe Lane, and Dennis O'Keefe in Chicago Syndicate (1955)

Chicago Syndicate

6.5

performer: "One at a Time", "Cuban Mambo" (uncredited)

1955

 

Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin in The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950)

The Colgate Comedy Hour

7.7

TV Series

performer: "Whatever Lola Wants (Lola Gets)"

1955

1 episode

 

Audie Murphy, Dan Duryea, and Susan Cabot in Ride Clear of Diablo (1954)

Ride Clear of Diablo

6.8

performer: "Noche de Ronda" (uncredited), "Wanted" (?)

1954

 

Surprising Suzie

Short

performer: "Blame It on the Rhumba", "You're My Dish", "You've Gotta Have Personality"

1953

 

Self

Womens March LA for Reproductive Rights (2021)

Womens March LA for Reproductive Rights

1.9

TV Special

Self

2021

 

Amen. Il pittore che fece sognare Hollywood (2012)

Amen. Il pittore che fece sognare Hollywood

Self

2012

 

Hollywood Women

6.4

TV Mini Series

Self - Talking headSelf - soundbites

1993

2 episodes

 

Cap d'any a TV3

TV Special

Self

1985

 

Àngel Casas Show (1984)

Àngel Casas Show

6.5

TV Series

Self

1985

1 episode

 

Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon (1966)

Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon

6.8

TV Series

Self

1975–1981

5 episodes

 

The Toni Tennille Show (1980)

The Toni Tennille Show

6.4

TV Series

Self

1980

1 episode

 

Jayne Kennedy in Men Who Rate a 10 (1980)

Men Who Rate a 10

7.8

TV Special

Self

1980

 

Aplauso

TV Series

Self - Musical Guest

1980

 

Beat the Clock (1979)

Beat the Clock

6.7

TV Series

Self - Celebrity Contestant

1979

5 episodes

 

All Star Secrets (1978)

All Star Secrets

4.8

TV Series

Self

1979

5 episodes

 

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Jack Klugman (1978)

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Jack Klugman

7.7

TV Special

Self

1978

 

Jim Nabors in The Jim Nabors Show (1978)

The Jim Nabors Show

4.9

TV Series

Self

1978

1 episode

 

The Cross-Wits

6.6

TV Series

Self

1976–1977

2 episodes

 

Super Night at the Super Bowl

TV Special

Self

1977

 

Johnny Carson in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

8.5

TV Series

Self - Guest

1963–1977

15 episodes

 

Dinah Shore in Dinah! (1974)

Dinah!

7.0

TV Series

Self

1976

1 episode

 

Lee Meriwether in Rhyme and Reason (1975)

Rhyme and Reason

5.4

TV Series

Self

1976

7 episodes

 

Mike Douglas in The Mike Douglas Show (1961)

The Mike Douglas Show

7.0

TV Series

Self - Vocalist

1967–1976

5 episodes

 

You Don't Say (1963)

You Don't Say

6.8

TV Series

Self

1968–1975

6 episodes

 

Merv Griffin in The Merv Griffin Show (1962)

The Merv Griffin Show

6.6

TV Series

Self

1962–1973

14 episodes

 

Paul Lynde in The Hollywood Squares (Daytime) (1965)

The Hollywood Squares (Daytime)

6.8

TV Series

Self - Panelist

1972

1 episode

 

David Frost in The David Frost Show (1969)

The David Frost Show

7.1

TV Series

Self

1971

1 episode

 

Ed Sullivan in The Ed Sullivan Show (1948)

The Ed Sullivan Show

7.9

TV Series

Self - SingerSelf - Audience Bow

1954–1970

15 episodes

 

Nick Gilbert in The Art Linkletter Show (1963)

The Art Linkletter Show

7.3

TV Series

Self

1970

1 episode

 

Hy Gardner Calling

TV Series

Self

1969

1 episode

 

The Joey Bishop Show (1967)

The Joey Bishop Show

7.1

TV Series

Self

1967–1969

9 episodes

 

The Steve Allen Show (1968)

The Steve Allen Show

7.3

TV Series

Self

1968–1969

2 episodes

 

Mantovani and His Concert Orchestra

TV Series

Self

1969

1 episode

 

Funny You Should Ask (1968)

Funny You Should Ask

7.2

TV Series

Self

1969

5 episodes

 

The Talk of the Town

TV Series

Self

1969

1 episode

 

Rolf Harris in The Rolf Harris Show (1967)

The Rolf Harris Show

4.6

TV Series

Self

1969

1 episode

 

David Frost in Frost on Sunday (1968)

Frost on Sunday

7.7

TV Series

Self

1968

1 episode

 

Dean Martin in The Dean Martin Show (1965)

The Dean Martin Show

8.1

TV Series

Self

1965–1968

4 episodes

 

Phil Harris and Martha Raye in Operation: Entertainment (1968)

Operation: Entertainment

TV Series

Self

1968

1 episode

 

Fred Astaire and Barrie Chase in The Hollywood Palace (1964)

The Hollywood Palace

8.1

TV Series

Self - Singer

1965–1968

4 episodes

 

Pat Boone in Pat Boone in Hollywood (1967)

Pat Boone in Hollywood

TV Series

Self

1967

1 episode

 

Benny Hill in Spotlight (1967)

Spotlight

TV Series

Self

1967

1 episode

 

Dream Girl of '67 (1966)

Dream Girl of '67

5.9

TV Series

Self - Fashion Hostess

1967

5 episodes

 

Las Vegas

5.0

TV Series

Self

1967

1 episode

 

Something Special (1967)

Something Special

TV Series

Self

1967

1 episode

 

Bennett Cerf, John Daly, Arlene Francis, and Dorothy Kilgallen in What's My Line? (1950)

What's My Line?

8.5

TV Series

Self - Mystery Guest

1958–1967

2 episodes

 

The Milton Berle Show (1966)

The Milton Berle Show

8.0

TV Series

Self

1966

1 episode

 

Red Skelton in The Red Skelton Hour (1951)

The Red Skelton Hour

8.1

TV Series

SelfSelf - Mademoiselle LaCranberryHerself ...

1954–1966

4 episodes

 

International Cabaret (1964)

International Cabaret

7.6

TV Series

Self

1966

1 episode

 

Hollywood Talent Scouts (1965)

Hollywood Talent Scouts

5.9

TV Series

Self

1966

1 episode

 

Gypsy (1965)

Gypsy

7.7

TV Series

Self - singer

1966

1 episode

 

ABC's Nightlife (1964)

ABC's Nightlife

2.6

TV Series

Self

1965

1 episode

 

The Celebrity Game

2.9

TV Series

Self

1965

2 episodes

 

The 22nd Annual Golden Globe Awards (1965)

The 22nd Annual Golden Globe Awards

TV Special

Self - Presenter

1965

 

Jack Benny in The Jack Benny Program (1950)

The Jack Benny Program

8.5

TV Series

Self

1964

1 episode

 

Bruce Forsyth, Frankie Howerd, Des O'Connor, Jimmy Tarbuck, and Norman Wisdom in Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium (1955)

Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium

7.3

TV Series

Self

1962–1963

2 episodes

 

Missing Links (1963)

Missing Links

4.4

TV Series

Self - Panelist

1963

5 episodes

 

To Tell the Truth (1956)

To Tell the Truth

7.7

TV Series

Self - Panelist

1963

5 episodes

 

Play Your Hunch

6.5

TV Series

Self

1963

1 episode

 

Gene Rayburn in The Match Game (1962)

The Match Game

7.5

TV Series

Self - Team Captain

1963

5 episodes

 

Here's Hollywood (1960)

Here's Hollywood

8.4

TV Series

Self

1962

1 episode

 

The Tonight Show (1962)

The Tonight Show

7.8

TV Series

Self - Vocalist

1962

4 episodes

 

Jack Paar in The Tonight Show Starring Jack Paar (1957)

The Tonight Show Starring Jack Paar

8.3

TV Series

Self

1957–1962

8 episodes

 

Talent Scouts (1962)

Talent Scouts

7.8

TV Series

Self

1962

1 episode

 

Password (1961)

Password

7.4

TV Series

Self

1962

5 episodes

 

For Women Only

TV Movie

Self

1961

 

The Arthur Murray Party (1950)

The Arthur Murray Party

4.9

TV Series

Self - Singer

1958–1960

3 episodes

 

The Timex Show (1959)

The Timex Show

TV Movie

Self

1959

 

Chelsea at Nine (1957)

Chelsea at Nine

TV Series

Self

1959

1 episode

 

The Mike Wallace Interview (1957)

The Mike Wallace Interview

8.1

TV Series

Self - Actress (Mrs. Xavier Cugat)

1959

1 episode

 

The George Burns Show

7.8

TV Series

Self - Guest VocalistSelf - Dancer

1959

1 episode

 

Ed Sullivan in Friars Club Roast of Ed Sullivan (1958)

Friars Club Roast of Ed Sullivan

TV Special

Self

1958

 

The Voice of Firestone (1949)

The Voice of Firestone

6.4

TV Series

Self

1958

1 episode

 

Moe Howard, Larry Fine, and Joe DeRita in The Steve Allen Show (1956)

The Steve Allen Show

8.4

TV Series

Self - SingerSelf - Singer-Western SkitSelf - Sketch Actor

1957–1958

8 episodes

 

The Big Record (1957)

The Big Record

6.4

TV Series

Self

1958

1 episode

 

The Xavier Cugat Show

TV Series

Self

1957

2 episodes

 

Person to Person (1953)

Person to Person

8.2

TV Series

Self

1957

1 episode

 

Make the Connection

6.0

TV Series

Self - Guest Star

1955

1 episode

 

"Pantomime Quiz' Alan Young, Connie Hines c. 1958

Pantomime Quiz

7.9

TV Series

Self

1955

1 episode

 

Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin in The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950)

The Colgate Comedy Hour

7.7

TV Series

Self - Singer

1955

1 episode

 

See It Now (1951)

See It Now

7.0

TV Series

Self

1955

1 episode

 

Place the Face (1953)

Place the Face

6.9

TV Series

Self - Guest

1954

1 episode

 

Lucille Ball and Art Linkletter in House Party (1952)

House Party

6.9

TV Series

Self

1953–1954

2 episodes

 

Surprising Suzie

Short

Self

1953

 

Xavier Cugat, Abbe Lane, and Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra in Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra (1952)

Xavier Cugat and His Orchestra

Short

Self

1952

 

The Kate Smith Evening Hour (1951)

The Kate Smith Evening Hour

5.9

TV Series

Self

1952

1 episode

 

Break the Bank (1948)

Break the Bank

5.6

TV Series

Self

1951

1 episode

 

Star of the Family (1950)

Star of the Family

TV Series

Self

1951

1 episode

 

Ford Festival

TV Series

Self

1951

1 episode

 

Cavalcade of Bands

TV Series

Self - singer

1950

2 episodes

 

Toyland Casino (1938)

Toyland Casino

4.8

Short

Self (as Francine Lassman)

1938

 

Archive Footage

David Díaz in V.O.S.: Lo que NO te cuentan (2021)

V.O.S.: Lo que NO te cuentan

TV Mini Series

Self - Eva (archive footage, uncredited)

2021

1 episode

 

Gabriel Fernández-Gil, Juan Pérez, David Díaz, Luis Rodrigo, FJ García, Iñaki Reyna, Alvar Gordejuela, and Jon Koldo Etxebarria in Special Collector's Edition (2010)

Special Collector's Edition

6.9

TV Series

Eva (archive footage)

2014

1 episode

 

Raül Díaz in Memòries de la tele (2007)

Memòries de la tele

5.7

TV Series

Self (archive footage)

2008

1 episode

 

Mitomanía (1995)

Mitomanía

TV Series

Self (archive footage)

1998

1 episode

 

Ed Sullivan in The Best of the Ed Sullivan Show (1992)

The Best of the Ed Sullivan Show

8.2

TV Series

Self (archive footage)

1992

2 episodes

 

Un sorriso, uno schiaffo, un bacio in bocca (1975)

Un sorriso, uno schiaffo, un bacio in bocca

6.2

(archive footage)

1975

 

Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin in The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950)

The Colgate Comedy Hour

7.7

TV Series

Self - Singer (archive footage)

1955

1 episode