Phyllis Coates, the actress who first portrayed Lois Lane in “Superman and the Mole Men” (1951) and the subsequent TV series “Adventures of Superman” (1952-1953), has passed away at 96. Her legacy in showbiz began as a chorus girl and USO performer. Her groundbreaking role as Lois Lane catapulted her to fame. Laura Press, her daughter, confirmed her peaceful passing at the Motion Picture & Television Fund’s Wasserman Campus, where Coates lived.

Coates’s daughter said, “She gave a lot to the industry. Her career passed through so many genres.” Despite a diverse filmography, her work as Lois Lane in “Adventures of Superman” left a lasting impact. She engaged in demanding stunts for the series, once stating, “We were nearly blown up, beaten up, exploded, exploited.”

While earning just $350 per episode during “Adventures of Superman,” Coates declined a raise for the second season. Coates later portrayed Lois Lane’s mother in “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.”

Her final on-screen appearance was in “Hollywood: The Movie” (1996). Coates’s portrayal of Lois Lane remains a symbol of courage and journalistic integrity, inspiring generations