
Phyllis Coates
ActingAbout Phyllis Coates
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Phyllis Coates (born Gypsie Ann Evarts Stell; January 15, 1927) was an American actress best known for her portrayal of reporter Lois Lane in the 1951 film Superman and the Mole-Men and in the first season of the television series Adventures of Superman. Coates signed a movie contract with Warner Bros. extending from 1948 to 1956. She co-starred with George O'Hanlon as the title character's wife in the studio's Joe McDoakes short-subject comedies. She acted in film serials including Jungle Drums of Africa (1953), Gunfighters of the Northwest (1953), and Panther Girl of the Kongo (1955). Her film career also included roles in Girls in Prison (1956), I Was a Teenage Frankenstein (1957), Blood Arrow (1958), Cattle Empire (1958), The Incredible Petrified World (1959), The Baby Maker (1970) and Goodnight, Sweet Marilyn (1989). Coates was one of Hollywood's most consistently employed actresses of the 1950s and '60s. She freelanced steadily, appearing in numerous low-budget features, many of them Westerns, as well as serials and a steady stream of TV appearances, both as a regular in several series and as a guest cast member in others. All this was in addition to the "McDoakes" shorts, in which she continued to appear until Warner Bros. discontinued the series in 1956.
Phyllis Coates Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Phyllis Coates reflects exceptional commercial consistency. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Phyllis Coates's work falls within the Western genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 84% of Phyllis Coates's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains So You Want to Be a Bachelor, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Phyllis Coates Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Phyllis Coates's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Phyllis Coates has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Reel Radicals: The Sixties Revolution in Film | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2002 | Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story | Self (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1989 | The Story of Superman | Self / Lois Lane (archival footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1989 | Kiss Shot | - | Average | Similar → |
| 1988 | Whisper Kill | - | Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | The Baby Maker | Tish's Mother | Average | Similar → |
| 1966 | The Claw Monsters | Jean Evans (archive footage) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1958 | Cattle Empire | Janice Hamilton | Average | Similar → |
| 1958 | Blood Arrow | Bess Johnson | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | So Your Wife Wants to Work | Alice McDoakes (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | So You Want to Play the Piano | Alice McDoakes | Average | Similar → |
| 1955 | Panther Girl of the Kongo | Jean Evans, Panther Girl | Average | Similar → |
| 1954 | Gunfighters of the Northwest | Rita Carville | Hit | Similar → |
| 1953 | So You Want to Be an Heir | Alice McDoakes (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1953 | So You Think You Can't Sleep | Alice McDoakes | Hit | Similar → |
| 1953 | El Paso Stampede | Alice Clark | Hit | Similar → |
| 1953 | So You Want a Television Set | Alice McDoakes (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1953 | Marshal of Cedar Rock | Martha Clark | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | Jungle Drums of Africa | Carol Bryant | Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | The Maverick | Della Watson | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | Wyoming Roundup | Terry Howard | Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | Canyon Ambush | Marian Gaylord | Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | Fargo | Kathy MacKenzie | Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | So You Never Tell a Lie | Alice McDoakes (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | So You Want to Go to a Convention | Alice McDoakes | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | Scorching Fury | Mrs. Penn | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | Stage to Blue River | Joyce Westbrook | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | So You Want to Be a Bachelor | Alice | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | Oklahoma Justice | Goldie Vaughn | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | So You Want to Be a Paper Hanger | Alice McDoakes | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | Nevada Badmen | Carol Bannon | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | So You Want to Be a Cowboy | Alice McDoakes | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | Canyon Raiders | Alice Long | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | The Screen Director | Self (staged 'archive' footage) (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | Man from Sonora | Cinthy Allison | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | Outlaws of Texas | Annie Moore | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | Blues Busters | Sally Dolan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | So You Want a Raise | - | Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | My Blue Heaven | Party Girl (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | So You Want to Move | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | So You Want to Hold Your Husband | Alice McDoakes / Baby McDoakes | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | So You Think You're Not Guilty | Alice McDoakes (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | So You Want to Throw a Party | Alice McDoakes (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1949 | So You Want to Get Rich Quick | Alice | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1949 | So You're Having In-Law Trouble | Alice | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1949 | So You Want to Be a Muscle Man | Alice McDoakes | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1949 | So You Want to Be Popular | Office secretary | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1949 | So You Want to Be a Baby Sitter | Alice McDoakes | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1948 | So You Want to Be on the Radio | Alice McDoakes (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1948 | So You Want to Be in Politics | Alice McDoakes | Super Hit | Similar → |
Phyllis Coates - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Phyllis Coates?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Phyllis Coates is "So You Want to Be a Bachelor" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Phyllis Coates acted in?
Phyllis Coates has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Phyllis Coates?
Other notable films include "Scorching Fury", "The Story of Superman", and "Outlaws of Texas".


