Character actress Betty Anne Rees died on June 3 at the age of 81. The actress had been in a few exploitation films, as well as appearing all around the TV dial on several shows, including General Hospital. A crafty entrepreneur, she battled multiple sclerosis and had a “possible stroke” near the end.
An Eclectic Filmography
Well-known for her roles in the excellent blaxploitation horror film, Sugar Hill (1974), as well as The Unholy Rollers (1972) which was produced by legendary filmmaker, Roger Corman — much like her fellow soap actor Patsy Pease who appeared in Corman’s Space Raiders. Her niece, Kathleen Loucks, told The Hollywood Reporter on June 8 that Rees had received a multiple sclerosis diagnosis early on in the 1990s. More recently, she had fallen several times and had a “possible stroke.”
Although it’s not listed on her IMDb page, the outlet also reported that she had roles on the sudsers GH and The Doctors. Most entertainment sites that reported her death confirmed her portrayals on those daytime dramas, with Newsbreak further explaining that she appeared in “early episodes” of GH. She also gained fame by taking over the part of Steve Douglas’ (Fred MacMurray) secretary on the beloved sitcom, My Three Sons, in its 12th and final season from 1971 to 1972.
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Rees had guest-starring appearances on several classic TV shows, including The Mod Squad, The Streets of San Francisco, and Mannix, among several others, with an episode of The Incredible Hulk being her final role. As with many Corman films, The Unholy Rollers was an attempt to cash in on the popularity of the Raquel Welch vehicle Kansas City Bomber (1972), while Sugar Hill was an intense film combining mobsters and voodoo-style zombies that starred Marki Bey.
Rees Was More Than an Actress
She owned Gloria Marshall Figure Salons and was a well-known kitchen designer. She is also said to have invented a goofy ’80s gift for bosses called the ‘Executive Teething Ring.’” She is survived by niece Loucks, her sister Barbara, and a nephew named Brian. She also had two cats that the family is trying to rehome.
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