Antoinette Bower obit

Antoinette Bower, ‘Star Trek,’ ‘Twilight Zone’ and ‘Prom Night’ Actress, Dies at 93

Born in Germany, she started out on the CBC in Canada, appeared with Charles Bronson in ‘The Evil That Men Do’ and had a recurring role on ‘Neon Rider.’ 

She was not on the list.

Antoinette Bower, the German-born British actress who starred on an Adam & Eve-like episode of The Twilight Zone and portrayed the seductive catlike alien Sylvia on an installment of Star Trek, has died. She was 93.

Bower died April 30 in an Eagle Rock senior retirement home in Los Angeles, her friend Carlotta Glackin — great niece of famed Golden Age character actor Edward Everett Horton — told The Hollywood Reporter.

On the big screen, Bower got top billing in the Filipino-shot horror film Superbeast (1972), played the wife of Leslie Nielsen and mother of Jamie Lee Curtis in the slasher classic Prom Night (1980) and was kidnapped by Charles Bronson in the action thriller The Evil That Men Do (1984).

For three seasons (1989-92), she recurred as the kind Fox Devlin, an associate of Winston Rekert’s Dr. Michael Terry, on the Canadian TV drama Neon Rider, set on a ranch in British Columbia for troubled and abused teens.

On the Rod Serling-penned, Ted Post-directed Twilight Zone episode “Probe 7, Over and Out,” which premiered in November 1963 during the anthology show’s fifth and final season, the statuesque Bower portrayed Eve Norda, a woman stranded on a distant planet. The only other person around is an astronaut named Adam Cook (Richard Baseheart).

Bower also was memorable as the villainous Sylvia opposite Theo Marcuse as Korob on the second-season Star Trek episode “Catspaw,” which premiered in October 1967.

Antoinette Alexandra Jane Bower was born to a German mother and English father on Sept. 30, 1932, in Baden-Baden, Germany.

Educated in England, she was a field language supervisor and welfare counselor in the late 1940s with the United Nations’ International Refugee Organization, which assisted millions of people left homeless across Europe and Asia following World War II.

Bower rejoined her family in Canada in 1953 and in Toronto landed a job with the fledgling Canadian Broadcasting Corp., where she worked in public affairs, wrote scripts and conducted interviews on live TV. She also did some acting, appearing in a 1958 TV adaptation of The Tell-Tale Heart and in 1959 on the syndicated series Hudson’s Bay.

She visited L.A. and in the early 1960s decided to stick around after landing an uncredited role in Marlon Brando’s Mutiny on the Bounty (1962) and guest-star parts on such shows as Adventures in Paradise, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Hong Kong, Wagon Train, Thriller, Hawaiian Eye and Perry Mason.

She remained quite busy through the early ’80s, showing up on Combat!, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Burke’s Law, The Wild Wild West, I Spy, The Fugitive, The Invaders, The Big Valley, Bonanza, Mannix, Hawaii Five-O, Get Smart, Hogan’s Heroes, Mission: Impossible, The F.B.I., Columbo, Kojak and Murder, She Wrote and in the 1983 miniseries The Thorn Birds.

She pretty much left acting after her run on CTV’s Neon Rider.

About 10 years ago, Bower completed a documentary about chuckwagon racing in Canada that she shot, directed, edited and narrated after spending several summers with the participants.

Glackin noted that Bower, who studied carpentry at Santa Monica College, had been a valued Home Depot employee who custom-built cabinets and tall bookshelves at her home in Beverly Glen.

She added that Bower was still getting lots of fan mail from the Star Trek faithful and that William Shatner had emailed his condolences after learning of her death. (She was one of the 20 or so women to kiss Capt. Kirk on the show, according to this post.)

Bower wed Texas-born pop artist James Gill in 1963, but their marriage ended in divorce. She was pre-deceased by her half-brother, Roger.

A life celebration is scheduled for Sept. 26 in Pasadena.

 

Actress

Neon Rider (1989)

Neon Rider

6.3

TV Series

Fox Devlin

1989–1992

42 episodes

 

Angela Lansbury in Murder, She Wrote (1984)

Murder, She Wrote

7.3

TV Series

Mrs. Audrey Martin

1987

1 episode

 

Robin Williams, Peter O'Toole, Joanna Cassidy, Rick Moranis, Twiggy, and Eugene Levy in Club Paradise (1986)

Club Paradise

5.2

Pamela

1986

 

Lee Majors and Leslie Wing in The Cowboy and the Ballerina (1984)

The Cowboy and the Ballerina

5.7

TV Movie

Mme. Rostov

1984

 

The Evil That Men Do (1984)

The Evil That Men Do

5.9

Claire Moloch

1984

 

Richard Chamberlain and Rachel Ward in The Thorn Birds (1983)

The Thorn Birds

7.9

TV Mini Series

Sarah MacQueen

1983

2 episodes

 

Time Walker (1982)

Time Walker

3.8

Dr. Hayworth

1982

 

Bruce Boxleitner, Clyde Kusatsu, and Cindy Morgan in Bring 'Em Back Alive (1982)

Bring 'Em Back Alive

7.1

TV Series

Lady Selwyn

1982

1 episode

 

Blood Song (1982)

Blood Song

4.8

Bea

1982

 

Hart to Hart (1979)

Hart to Hart

6.7

TV Series

Maris Thorn

1982

1 episode

 

Prom Night (1980)

Prom Night

5.3

Mrs. Hammond

1980

 

Die Sister, Die! (1978)

Die Sister, Die!

4.7

Esther Harper

1978

 

First, You Cry (1978)

First, You Cry

6.7

TV Movie

Marsha

1978

 

Telly Savalas in Kojak (1973)

Kojak

7.1

TV Series

Diane Marco

1978

1 episode

 

Lee Majors in The Six Million Dollar Man (1973)

The Six Million Dollar Man

7.1

TV Series

Nora Crandall

1976

1 episode

 

William Conrad in Cannon (1971)

Cannon

6.8

TV Series

Karen Jennings

1976

1 episode

 

Archer (1975)

Archer

5.6

TV Series

Melissa Stonehurst

1975

1 episode

 

Peter Falk in Columbo (1971)

Columbo

8.3

TV Series

Frances Galesko

1974

1 episode

 

Polly Bergen, Donna Mills, Paul Burke, Judy Carne, and Barbara Feldon in The Wide World of Mystery (1973)

The Wide World of Mystery

6.9

TV Series

Contessa

1974

1 episode

 

The Collaborators (1973)

The Collaborators

6.0

TV Series

1973

1 episode

 

The Starlost (1973)

The Starlost

6.2

TV Series

Dr. Heather Marshall

1973

1 episode

 

The F.B.I. (1965)

The F.B.I.

7.4

TV Series

Ada BensonElaine StrykerHelen Meade ...

1967–1973

4 episodes

 

Hawkins (1973)

Hawkins

7.5

TV Series

Vivian Vincent

1973

1 episode

 

Anthony Franciosa, Doug McClure, and Hugh O'Brian in Search (1972)

Search

8.1

TV Series

Contessa Penny Lucchese

1973

1 episode

 

Kate Reid in The Whiteoaks of Jalna (1972)

The Whiteoaks of Jalna

6.9

TV Series

Roma Fitzsturgis

1972

4 episodes

 

Raymond Burr and Barbara Sigel in Ironside (1967)

Ironside

6.9

TV Series

Andra BellinghamJudy Klaven

1967–1972

2 episodes

 

Superbeast (1972)

Superbeast

3.2

Dr. Alix Pardee

1972

 

See the Man Run (1971)

See the Man Run

7.3

TV Movie

Peggy Larson

1971

 

A Death of Innocence (1971)

A Death of Innocence

7.2

TV Movie

Cara Fellman

1971

 

The Mephisto Waltz (1971)

The Mephisto Waltz

6.1

Member of Ely's Group (uncredited)

1971

 

Barbara Bain, Martin Landau, Peter Graves, Peter Lupus, and Greg Morris in Mission: Impossible (1966)

Mission: Impossible

7.9

TV Series

AmaraOlga VaninNora Bennett

1967–1971

4 episodes

 

The Young Lawyers (1969)

The Young Lawyers

7.1

TV Series

Dr. Hilary Sadler

1970

1 episode

 

John Banner, Robert Clary, Bob Crane, Richard Dawson, Ivan Dixon, Larry Hovis, and Werner Klemperer in Hogan's Heroes (1965)

Hogan's Heroes

7.8

TV Series

Berlin BettyErika WeidlerLeni Richter

1967–1969

3 episodes

 

The Name of the Game (1968)

The Name of the Game

7.6

TV Series

Katherine Benning

1969

1 episode

 

Andrew Duggan, Wayne Maunder, and James Stacy in Lancer (1968)

Lancer

7.1

TV Series

Angeline Ferris

1969

1 episode

 

Don Adams in Get Smart (1965)

Get Smart

8.2

TV Series

Valerie

1969

1 episode

 

Kam Fong, Al Harrington, Jack Lord, and James MacArthur in Hawaii Five-O (1968)

Hawaii Five-O

7.4

TV Series

Margi

1969

1 episode

 

Mannix (1967)

Mannix

7.4

TV Series

Gail MasonBarbara Sanderson

1968–1969

3 episodes

 

Insight (1960)

Insight

7.4

TV Series

Lila

1968

1 episode

 

Cliff Robertson in The Sunshine Patriot (1968)

The Sunshine Patriot

6.6

TV Movie

Iris

1968

 

Bonanza (1959)

Bonanza

7.3

TV Series

Martha Cartwright Dorcas

1968

1 episode

 

Lee Majors, Barbara Stanwyck, Linda Evans, Peter Breck, and Richard Long in The Big Valley (1965)

The Big Valley

7.6

TV Series

Alicia Akers

1968

1 episode

 

Chuck Connors, Gerald Edwards, Ronald Howard, and Tom Nardini in Cowboy in Africa (1967)

Cowboy in Africa

7.3

TV Series

Bibi GrafEllen Cromwell

1967–1968

2 episodes

 

The Felony Squad (1966)

The Felony Squad

7.4

TV Series

Betty Lasher

1967

1 episode

 

Ron Ely in Tarzan (1966)

Tarzan

7.1

TV Series

Helge Egger

1967

1 episode

 

Star Trek (1966)

Star Trek

8.4

TV Series

Sylvia

1967

1 episode

 

The Invaders (1967)

The Invaders

8.0

TV Series

Laurie Keller

1967

1 episode

 

David Janssen in The Fugitive (1963)

The Fugitive

8.1

TV Series

Andrea CrossCoralee ReynoldsSister Angelica

1966–1967

3 episodes

 

Alex Cord and Shirley Eaton in The Scorpio Letters (1967)

The Scorpio Letters

6.1

TV Movie

Terry

1967

 

Robert Loggia in T.H.E. Cat (1966)

T.H.E. Cat

8.0

TV Series

Gail Ogden

1967

1 episode

 

Iron Horse (1966)

Iron Horse

7.2

TV Series

Angie Bemis

1966

1 episode

 

Jericho (1966)

Jericho

7.4

TV Series

Marissa

1966

2 episodes

 

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963)

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

7.3

TV Series

Maureen Hollings

1966

1 episode

 

A Man Called Shenandoah (1965)

A Man Called Shenandoah

7.7

TV Series

Lila Morgan

1966

1 episode

 

Bill Cosby and Robert Culp in I Spy (1965)

I Spy

7.2

TV Series

Shelby ClavellShelby

1966

2 episodes

 

The Wackiest Ship in the Army (1965)

The Wackiest Ship in the Army

7.4

TV Series

PhyllisPhyllis Corwin

1965–1966

3 episodes

 

12 O'Clock High (1964)

12 O'Clock High

8.1

TV Series

Naomi RockfordIvy WescottMeg Driscoll

1964–1966

3 episodes

 

Ben Casey (1961)

Ben Casey

7.1

TV Series

Ann PhelpsJulie Jacoby

1965

3 episodes

 

Robert Conrad and Ross Martin in The Wild Wild West (1965)

The Wild Wild West

8.1

TV Series

Janet Coburn

1965

1 episode

 

Convoy (1965)

Convoy

7.4

TV Series

Kay

1965

1 episode

 

Burke's Law (1963)

Burke's Law

7.4

TV Series

Countess Anna Marie Mouton

1965

1 episode

 

Kraft Suspense Theatre (1963)

Kraft Suspense Theatre

7.7

TV Series

Gillan

1965

1 episode

 

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

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

7.7

TV Series

Delilah Dovro

1965

1 episode

 

The Great Adventure (1963)

The Great Adventure

8.2

TV Series

Anna Pratt

1964

1 episode

 

"The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters" Kurt Russell, Jean Engstrom 1963 MGM

The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters

7.5

TV Series

Nellie

1963–1964

2 episodes

 

Rod Serling in The Twilight Zone (1959)

The Twilight Zone

9.0

TV Series

Eve Norda

1963

1 episode

 

Combat! (1962)

Combat!

8.4

TV Series

Jeanine

1963

1 episode

 

Stoney Burke (1962)

Stoney Burke

7.8

TV Series

Erna Bremen

1963

1 episode

 

Raymond Burr in Perry Mason (1957)

Perry Mason

8.3

TV Series

Linda BlakeEllen Carson

1962–1963

2 episodes

 

Mutiny on the Bounty (1962)

Mutiny on the Bounty

7.2

Lady Gwendenare (uncredited)

1962

 

Kraft Mystery Theater (1961)

Kraft Mystery Theater

7.7

TV Series

Helen Webster

1962

1 episode

 

Robert Conrad, Anthony Eisley, Poncie Ponce, and Connie Stevens in Hawaiian Eye (1959)

Hawaiian Eye

7.6

TV Series

Susan Woodruff

1962

1 episode

 

Thriller (1960)

Thriller

8.2

TV Series

Annette JacquelinSheila Corbett

1961–1962

2 episodes

 

Alfred Hitchcock in Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955)

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

8.5

TV Series

Elisa MindenMiss Greco

1961–1962

2 episodes

 

John McIntire in Wagon Train (1957)

Wagon Train

7.6

TV Series

Diana Saybrook

1961

1 episode

 

Richard Boone in Have Gun - Will Travel (1957)

Have Gun - Will Travel

8.4

TV Series

Sybil Lansing

1961

1 episode

 

Gardner McKay in Adventures in Paradise (1959)

Adventures in Paradise

8.1

TV Series

VickiSarah

1960–1961

2 episodes

 

The Aquanauts (1960)

The Aquanauts

7.6

TV Series

Linda Liggett

1961

1 episode

 

Tab Hunter in The Tab Hunter Show (1960)

The Tab Hunter Show

6.9

TV Series

Maggie

1961

1 episode

 

Rod Taylor in Hong Kong (1960)

Hong Kong

8.0

TV Series

Laura Marriott

1961

1 episode

 

Heritage

TV Series

1960

1 episode

 

Hudson's Bay (1959)

Hudson's Bay

6.5

TV Series

Dorcas CobbJoanna BalfourOussitta

1959

4 episodes

 

Paddy Croft and Jonathan Erland in The Unforeseen (1958)

The Unforeseen

6.4

TV Series

1958

1 episode

 

The Telltale Heart

6.5

TV Movie

1958

 

Self

Explorations

TV Series

Self

1957

1 episode

 

Archive Footage

Halloween Monster Bash (1991)

Halloween Monster Bash

4.6

TV Movie

Bea (archive footage)

1991

 

Explorations

TV Series

Self (archive footage)

1959

1 episode