What happened to these iconic 1960s TV stars?

Before there was Jenna Ortega, or even Christina Ricci playing everyone’s favourite goth girl, there was Lisa Loring. The American actress was just six when she was cast in The Addams Family, a sitcom adaptation of Charles Addams’ 1930s cartoon. In addition to her iconic role as Wednesday, Lisa also appeared in the sitcom The Pruitts of Southampton (1966) and the long-running soap opera As the World Turns (1956).

Lisa sadly passed away in 2023, but her portrayal of Wednesday Addams inspired Jenna Ortega’s recent portrayal of the character in the hit Netflix series Wednesday. Speaking to Jimmy Fallon, Jenna revealed she paid homage to Loring’s portrayal in her iconic dance sequence, saying “I did a little bit of her shuffle that she does”.

Draped in sheer pink fabric and exuding playful charm, Barbara Eden became a cultural icon for her starring role as a 2000-year-old genie in I Dream of Jeannie (1965). Barbara’s career spans over half a century, from her role opposite Elvis Presley in Flaming Star (1960) to appearances in shows like Dallas (1990) and Sabrina the Teenage Witch (2002).

Now 93, Barbara continues to make appearances at fan conventions and interacts with Jeannie fans on her Instagram page, speaking to the enduring popularity of her most iconic role.

With a slew of witch-related media gracing our screens in recent years, from Wicked to WandaVision, the beloved sitcom Bewitched (1964) continues to captivate audiences, thanks to Elizabeth Montgomery’s lead role as the nose-twitching Samantha. When she wasn’t enchanting audiences as the magical housewife, Elizabeth starred in a wide range of TV shows and movies, even playing the titular murderess in The Legend of Lizzie Borden (1975).

Outside of acting, Elizabeth was a staunch advocate of animal rights, women’s rights, and was also an outspoken critic of the Vietnam War. Elizabeth sadly passed away in 1995 at age 62, but her role in Bewitched continues to influence television’s portrayal of witchy women.

William Shatner was the first actor to play Admiral James T. Kirk in the original series of Star Trek (1966) and its subsequent films, a role later taken over by Chris Pine after the 2009 remake. Outside of the science fiction franchise, William played a range of iconic roles in shows like legal drama The Practice (1976) and the popular TV cop drama T.J. Hooker (1982).

In the recent Star Trek spinoff show Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022), Paul Wesley is the latest actor to play the Admiral, and he recently performed a hilarious William Shatner impression in a 1960s murder mystery-themed episode, which he told TVLine was an “absolute blast”. Although William still acts, he also dedicates time to other pursuits – in 2021, he became the oldest person to fly in space at age 90.

William Hartnell was the original Doctor Who upon the series’ inception in 1963, a role which he became synonymous with. Despite health issues that caused him to leave the show in 1966, William already had an impressive career behind him, acting in films like Brighton Rock (1947), and was respected for his strong screen presence.

Although he passed away in 1975, William appeared as the First Doctor in the 60th-anniversary special of Doctor Who in 2023 via archival footage and CGI, alongside Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor. The Mirror recently reported that more ‘lost’ Doctor Who footage from William Hartnell’s era is expected to be found soon, leading to hopes that the First Doctor could appear on screens again soon.

Bubbly and sun-kissed, Sally Field made her television debut as the teenage surfing sensation in Gidget (1965), which later gained huge popularity in its reruns and cemented her as America’s sweetheart. Sally’s charm and comedic timing launched a career that would span decades, including two Oscar-winning roles in Norma Rae (1979) and Places in the Heart (1984).

At 78, Sally continues to act, and even won the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2023 for her services to film. Speaking to Oprah about Gidget, Sally said: “That character was the superficial part of me that I learned to use to protect myself. I played Gidget when I wanted to entertain people but keep some distance.”

Julie Newmar was the first actress to portray Catwoman in a live-action TV series, donning the iconic catsuit in Batman (1966) and becoming the person who truly defined the role for generations of superhero fans. Outside of Gotham, Julie is known for her wide range of screen and stage roles, including a lavish stage production of Ziegfeld Follies in 1956 and the cult-favourite sitcom My Living Doll (1964), where she played the titular character and earned a Golden Globe nomination.

Since 2010, Julie has sporadically returned to acting for a series of Batman cartoons, voicing both Catwoman and Martha Wayne. She currently resides in Los Angeles, California, sharing regular photos of her beautiful garden on her Instagram page.

Elegant and effortless, Annette Andre made a lasting impression as Jeannie Hopkirk in the cult British series Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) (1969). Playing the grieving widow of the late detective Marty Hopkirk – who returns as a ghost – Annette brought emotional depth and charm to the role, quickly becoming a fan favourite. Throughout the ‘70s, she guest starred in a number of popular TV shows like The Persuaders! (1971) and The New Avengers (1976).

While Annette is semi-retired from acting and notoriously private, she released her memoir Where Have I Been All My Life in 2018, featuring a note of appreciation from her Randall co-star Kenneth Cope. 

While primarily known as a chart-topping singer, Connie Francis made numerous memorable appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show in the ‘60s, gaining her global recognition. With her rich vocals and polished stage presence, she became a living room staple during the golden age of variety television.

Her influence on pop culture recently had a resurgence when her song ‘Pretty Little Baby’ went viral on TikTok, where modern listeners praised the tune’s catchiness and Connie’s mid-century glamour. Sadly, Connie passed away in July 2025, leaving behind a rich legacy of chart-topping musical hits.