Kathleen Hughes R.I.P.

Kathleen Hughes, who appeared in such films as The Glass Web (1953) and It Came from Outer Space (1953), died on May 20 2025 at the age of 96.

Kathleen Hughes was born Elizabeth Margaret von Gerkan on November 14 1928 in Hollywood, California. Her uncle was playwright, screenwriter, novelist F. Hugh Herbert, who wrote the plays Moon is Blue and Kiss and Tell, among other works. She graduated from Fairfax High School in Los Angeles. She was a student at Los Angeles City College and appearing in Maxwell Anderson's play Night Over Taos at the Geller Theater on Wilshire Boulevard.when she was approached by a talent scout for Fox. She then signed a seven year contract with the studio.

Kathleen Hughes made her film debut in Road House (1948). In the late Forties she appeared in the movies Mother is a Freshman (1948), Mr. Belvedere Goes to College (1949), It Happens Every Spring (1949), Where the Sidewalk Ends (1950), Mister 880 (1950), and I'll Get By (1950). Miss Hughes began the Fifties appearing in 20th Century Fox's films Call Me Mister (1951) and Take Care of My Little Girl (1951) before the studio dropped her.

Kathleen Hughes appeared in I'll See You in My Dreams (1951)  at Warner Bros. and then For Men Only (1952) at Lippert Pictures before signing with Universal. She would be with that studio for three years. For the remainder of the Fifties she appeared in the movies Sally and Saint Anne (1952), It Came from Outer Space (1953), The Golden Blade (1953), Thy Neighbour's Wife (1953), The Glass Web (1953), Dawn at Socorro (1954), Cult of the Cobra (1955), Three Bad Sisters (1956), and Unwed Mother (1958). She made her television debut in 1956 in an episode of December Bride. She guest starred on the shows Telephone Time, Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Official Detective, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, The Bob Cummings Show. 77 Sunset Strip, Hotel de Paree, Tightrope, and Markham.

In the Sixties she appeared in the movies Promise Her Anything (1966) and The President's Analyst (1967). She guest starred on Dante, The Tall Man, General Electric Theatre, Bachelor Father, Perry Mason, Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C., I Dream of Jeannie, Mission: Impossible, The Ghost & Mrs. Muir, Julia, Here's Lucy, and Bracken's World.

In the Seventies Kathleen Hughes appeared in the movies The Late Liz (1971), Pete 'n' Tillie (1972), and The Take (1974). She guest starred on To Rome with Love, The Interns, The Bold Ones: The New Doctors, M*A*S*H, Barnaby Jones, Lucas Tanner, Marcus Welby M.D., Medical Center, The Blue Knight, Executive Suite, and Quincy M.E. In the Eighties she guest starred on Finder of Lost Loves. She appeared in the movie Revenge (1990). Later in her life she appeared in the film Welcome to Hollywood (1998).

Kathleen Hughes played a variety of roles throughout her career, although often her parts were not very big. She played the manipulative gold-digger Paula Rainer in The Glass Web. In It Came from Outer Space she played Jane, the girl friend of phone lineman George (Russell Johnson), who leaves an impression despite appearing briefly in the film. In the Perry Mason episode "The Case of the Double-Entry Mind," she played the none-too-nice executive secretary Lita Krail. On M*A*S*H she played Colonel Blake's wife Lorraine in the episode ""Dead Dad...Three." While she appeared only in a silent home movie, Kathleen Hughes was convincing as a suburban housewife. Often Kathleen Hughes's appearances in films and TV shows may have been brief, but she always was a delight to see.