Brett Somers
The raspy-voiced, quick-witted panelist who turned snarky one-liners into game show gold on 'Match Game.'
1924–2007 (age 83)·Canadian-American actress and game-show personality·Birthday: July 11·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Brett Somers was the definition of a television personality—a woman whose sharp wit and unmistakable, gravelly voice made her a fixture in American living rooms during the 1970s. Born in Canada, she pursued acting in New York, where she met and married actor Jack Klugman. While she had stage and film roles, her true calling was the spontaneous chaos of the game show panel. As a regular on the rebooted 'Match Game,' she became a fan favorite, delivering bawdy, hilarious answers from her perpetually cigarette-holding perch, often while clad in a pantsuit and a mischievous grin. Her chemistry with host Gene Rayburn and fellow panelists like Charles Nelson Reilly was electric, turning a simple word-matching game into a comedy showcase. To a generation, she was also the sharp-tongued Blanche, Klugman's on-screen ex-wife on 'The Odd Couple,' blurring the lines between her real and televised personas with perfect comedic timing.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Brett was born in 1924, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Brett Was Born
The biggest hits of 1924
#1 Movie
The Sea Hawk
Brett's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1924Born
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1929Started school
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1937Became a teenager
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1940Could drive
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1942Could vote
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1945Turned 21
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1954Turned 30
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1964Turned 40
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 50
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 60
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 70
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 80
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Died at 83
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
Key Achievements
- Was a central and beloved panelist on the hit 1970s CBS game show 'Match Game.'
- Played the recurring role of Blanche Madison, Oscar Madison's ex-wife, on the television series 'The Odd Couple.'
- Had a successful stage career, including a role in the original Broadway production of 'The Seven Year Itch.'
- Her distinctive persona helped define the raucous, adult-oriented comedy style that made 'Match Game' a daytime television phenomenon.
Did You Know?
Her marriage to Jack Klugman, though they separated in 1974, was never legally dissolved, and they remained close until her death.
She was a champion bridge player and often incorporated card-playing references into her comedy.
She adopted the stage name 'Brett Somers' early in her career; her birth name was Audrey Johnston.
She and Charles Nelson Reilly, her 'Match Game' cohort, were close friends off-screen and often performed together in nightclub acts.
“Honey, if you can't be a good example, you'll just have to be a horrible warning.”
