Gail Kobe

Gail Kobe (born Gabriella Kieliszewski,[2][3] March 19, 1932[1] – August 1, 2013) was an American actress and television producer.

Gail Kobe
Kobe in 1959
Born
Gabriella Kieliszewski

(1932-03-19)March 19, 1932[1]
Hamtramck, Wayne County, Michigan, U.S.
DiedAugust 1, 2013(2013-08-01) (aged 81)
Woodland Hills, California, U.S.
Resting placeRiverlawn Cemetery, Marysville, Michigan
Alma materUCLA
OccupationActress, television producer
Years active1955–1988
Spouse(s)Richard I. Kramer (April 26, 1957–?)
Edward S. Lees (1971–1972; divorced)

Early years

Kobe was born Gabriella Kieliszewski in Hamtramck in Wayne County in southeastern Michigan to Benjamin and Theresa Kobe. She had one sister, Beatrice Kobe Adamski, who predeceased her. Kobe graduated from UCLA earning a fine arts degree in theatre and dance.[4] Kobe had polio as a child and began dancing as a form of therapy. A heart murmur that she developed in her high school years caused her to cease dancing.[2] She graduated from Hamtramck High School.[5]

Early career

Kobe portrayed Penny Adams on the TV series Trackdown.[6] In 1965 she portrayed Doris Schuster on TV's Peyton Place.[2] She also appeared on daytime television in the NBC serial Bright Promise as Ann Boyd Jones (1970–1972).[7]

During the 1950s and 1960s, Kobe made guest appearances on Highway Patrol ("The Search"), The Californians, The Rebel, Mackenzie's Raiders, Blue Light, Felony Squad, Ironside, The Outer Limits, Richard Diamond, Private Detective, The Fugitive, Bourbon Street Beat, Maverick, M Squad (four episodes), Whirlybirds, Perry Mason, Hogan's Heroes, The Twilight Zone ("In His Image", "The Self-Improvement of Salvadore Ross", "A World of Difference"), Dr. Kildare, Empire, Gunsmoke, Cheyenne, Daniel Boone, Mission: Impossible, The Untouchables, Have Gun – Will Travel, The Mod Squad, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, and Mannix. In 1962, she portrayed Dr. Louise Amadon in the episode "A Woman's Place" on Rawhide, about a woman doctor's struggles against stereotypes in the Old West, Combat as Francouis.

On February 17, 1959, Kobe was cast in the episode "Disaster Town" of the series Rescue 8 in the role of Ellen Mason, a mother looking for her son in a western ghost town.

In the series, Laramie, Kobe played a saloon girl in the episode "Gun Duel" (aired December 25, 1962).

Later career

Kobe began to work behind the camera as supervising producer and associate producer on such daytime programs as CBS's The Edge of Night and NBC's Return to Peyton Place. From 1981–82, its final year on the air, Kobe became executive producer of the NBC soap opera, Texas. From 1983 to May 1986, she was the executive producer of CBS's Guiding Light (for which she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award) and then served as a producer on CBS's The Bold and the Beautiful from its debut in 1987 through the early 1990s.[8]

Kobe taught at San Fernando Valley State College.[9]

Kobe was a member of St. Louis Church. She volunteered many hours to Eisenhower Medical Center and the Palm Springs Art Museum while she lived in Palm Springs. While she resided at the Motion Picture Television Fund Home in Woodland Hills, California, she organized the program, We've Got Mail, which airs on cable Channel 22.

Honors

In 2008, a Golden Palm Star on the Walk of Stars was dedicated in Kobe's honor.[10]

Death

For the last two years of her life, the twice-married Kobe resided at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills. She died on August 1, 2013, aged 81, from undisclosed causes in Michigan.[11][12]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1955East of EdenStudentUncredited
1956The Ten CommandmentsPretty Slave Girl
1956Highway PatrolSusan KeefeEpisode: "The Search"
1957-1958TrackdownPenny Adams / Cindy / Beth Waislip6 episodes
1958Gunsmoke in TucsonKaty Porter
1958-1964Perry MasonGertrude Lewis / Margo - Drake's Secretary2 episodes
1960Tales of Wells FargoKate BrownEpisode: "The Late Mayor Brown"
1963The VirginianRuth FerrisEpisode: "Run Quiet"

References
  1. Some sources have cited 1929 or 1931 as possible years of birth, but U.S. census records indicate 1932, and 1972 California divorce records from her husband, Edward S. Lees clearly states 1932 as her year of birth
  2. Kleiner, Dick (October 30, 1971). "Gail Kobe's Secure in Soap Opera". The Charlotte News. Newspaper Enterprise. p. 43. Retrieved May 21, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. Peterson, Bettelou (April 23, 1970). "Gail Kobe of 'Bright Promise' -- Hamtramck to Hollywood". Detroit Free Press. p. 53. Retrieved May 21, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. According to the 1940 United States census records, her name is listed as "Gabriella Kobe" and her age is eight years old, indicating 1932 year of birth; it is unclear if her parents, listed as Benjamin and Theresa Kobe, changed their apparent original surname (Kieliszewski) before the census, or if they adopted the name at some other time.
    Source Information: Ancestry.com. California, Divorce Index, 1966–1984 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Original data: State of California. California Divorce Index, 1966–1984. Microfiche. Center for Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento, California.
  5. "Gail Kobe, from Hamtramck: A Farewell to Peyton Place". Detroit Free Press. March 11, 1966. p. 26. Retrieved May 21, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company. p. 1102. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  7. "Bright Promise". TV Guide. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
  8. Sieczkowski, Cavan (August 4, 2013). "Gail Kobe Dead: Actress And 'Bold And The Beautiful' Producer Dies At 82". Huff Post. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  9. "Gail Kobe Knew How To Act, Now She Knows She Can Teach". Sunday News. Lancaster, Penn. July 19, 1970. p. 58. Retrieved May 21, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "List by date dedicated" (PDF). Palm Springs Walk of Stars.
  11. "Actress, Emmy-Nominated Soap Producer Gail Kobe Dies At 84". KCAL News. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  12. Lowe, Lindsay (August 5, 2013). "Veteran Actress and Producer Gail Kobe Dies at 82". Parade. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
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