Actress Lillian Adams, best known for her work in commercials during a career that spanned more than 52 years, died May 25 at the Motion Picture & Television Fund in Woodland Hills, Calif., due to cardiac failure. She was 89.
The Chicago-born Adams didn’t begin acting until she was over 30 years old. Her first role was on TV show “The Whirlybirds” in 1958 followed by “Letter to Loretta.” She went on to do guest roles on many series including “Dragnet,” “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.” “Gidget,” “The Outer Limits” and “St. Elsewhere.”
The actress also did film work, with credits on “The Jerk,” “Private Benjamin,” “Summer School,” “Magnolia” and “Bruce Almighty,” among many others.
One of her first film roles was an uncredited part in the 1961 film “A Majority of One,” for which she also coached star Rosalind Russell.
Adams continued her acting career even after retiring at MPTF; she had a role on NBC’s “Parks and Recreation” in 2010 and was working on a feature film as recently as March of this year.
She is survived by a daughter, a granddaughter and a great-grandson.
