Some roles in Hollywood are iconic, and Catwoman from the Batman franchise is a prime example. Legendary actresses like Michelle Pfeiffer, Halle Berry, Anne Hathaway, Julie Newmar, and Eartha Kitt have all portrayed the feline villain—but in 1966, it was Lee Meriwether who brought the character to life opposite Adam West. Her performance, combined with her striking beauty, made her a household name. More than five decades later, Meriwether, now 90, remains as elegant and captivating as ever.
From pageant queen to Hollywood star
Before stepping into the spotlight as an actress, Meriwether first made her mark in the world of beauty pageants. While studying at the City College of San Francisco, she was anonymously nominated for the Miss California 1954 competition—and won. The next year, she earned the Miss America crown, gaining the nickname “the golden girl from the Golden Gate.” Using her scholarship prize, she continued her studies in television and theater, setting the stage for a future in Hollywood.
Shortly after, she became a co-host on The Today Show and landed her first acting role on The Philco Television Playhouse, beginning her transition from pageant winner to screen performer.
A lasting acting career after Batman
Meriwether had already appeared on popular TV series such as Dragnet, Leave It to Beaver, Dr. Kildare, and Perry Mason before donning the Catwoman suit. After her Batman debut in 1966, she continued with the franchise, appearing as Bruce Wayne’s love interest, Lisa Carson, in the TV series the following year. She went on to star in Mission: Impossible, Star Trek, The Time Tunnel, The Munsters, and The Love Boat.
In the 1970s, she joined the crime drama Barnaby Jones, earning two Golden Globe nominations and an Emmy nod. She later played Ruth Martin on the daytime soap All My Children, a role she held until 2011. More recently, she has appeared in shows like Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23, Desperate Housewives, and the rebooted Hawaii Five-0.
Reflections on Batman
Looking back, Meriwether cherishes her time on Batman. “I was the luckiest of all the ‘Catwomen’ because I got to work with Caesar Romero, Frank Gorshin, Burgess Meredith—three absolute geniuses. I watched them all the time and learned the most from Burgess, Caesar, and Frank,” she told Studio 10.
The only challenging part of the role was the metallic, skintight catsuit. “It was very tight, with ribbons of metallic threads, and long days in it left me with second-degree burns on my shoulders,” she recalled.
Her daughters continue the family tradition in entertainment
Meriwether married actor Frank Aletter in 1958, and the couple had two daughters: Kyle Aletter-Oldham (61), who became a model and appeared on The Price Is Right, and Leslie Aletter (58), who pursued a career as a stunt performer. Meriwether and Aletter divorced in 1974, and she was later romantically linked with Marlon Brando and Joe DiMaggio. In 1986, she married actor Marshall Borden of Quantum Leap, and they remain together today.
