Elizabeth Rogers

Elizabeth Rogers (born Betty Jayne Rogers, May 18, 1934 – November 6, 2004) was an American actress.

For other people named Elizabeth Rogers, see Elizabeth Rogers (disambiguation).

Elizabeth Rogers
Elizabeth Rogers as Lt. Palmer in Star Trek
Born
Betty Jayne Rogers

(1934-05-18)May 18, 1934
Austin, Texas, U.S.
DiedNovember 6, 2004(2004-11-06) (aged 70)
Tarzana, California, U.S.
OccupationActress and Producer
Years active1965–1986
Spouse(s)Erik L. Nelson (1968–2004)
Children1

Life and career

Born in Austin, Texas, she played minor characters in thirty-seven episodes of a dozen different prime-time network series, including Little House on the Prairie, Bewitched, Gunsmoke, The Waltons, Marcus Welby, M.D., Dragnet 1966, Mannix, Dragnet 1967, Bonanza, The Time Tunnel, Land of the Giants, Dr. Kildare, Gunsmoke and Slattery's People.

She had two roles in the original Star Trek television series. She provided the uncredited voice for the entity known as "The Companion" in the episode "Metamorphosis" (1967). She also portrayed Lt. Palmer, a substitute communications officer, in three episodes: "The Doomsday Machine" (1967), "The Way to Eden" (1969), and the final episode of the series, "Turnabout Intruder," which wasn't aired by NBC until June 1969, after the network had already cancelled the series for the 1969-70 season.

For Doomsday Machine, Rogers was brought in at the last minute after Nichelle Nichols (the series regular as communications officer Lt. Uhura) informed the producers that she was flying to New York for a concert performance. As Nichols had no standard contract she was legally free to do so, but Rogers' appearance was intended to convince her to keep herself available for Star Trek. Rogers said in a later interview, "I got the part when Uhura [Nichols] had a singing engagement. I was used as an instant 'threat' replacement."[1]

During the 1970s, she also appeared in a string of Irwin Allen produced films including The Poseidon Adventure (1972) and The Towering Inferno (1974). She was a personal friend of Allen and his wife, Sheila Matthews Allen, and was married to actor Erik Nelson (also a regular in Irwin Allen films) in the backyard of Allen's home. Her other film appearances included Bittersweet Love (1976), The Van (1977), Grand Theft Auto (1977), and An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) as David Keith's mother.

Death

She died from multiple strokes and lung cancer on November 6, 2004 in Tarzana, California at the age of 70.

Filmography
YearTitleRoleNotes
1965Slattery's PeopleBetty DyneEpisode: "The Hero"
1965Dr. KildareMiss Trilling2 episodes
1965-1967BonanzaEllie Blackwell / Allie Lou2 episodes
1966The Time TunnelMrs. ReynersonEpisode: "The Alamo"
1966-1971GunsmokeHostage / Mrs. Davis3 episodes
1967-1969Star TrekLt. Palmer / The Companion3 episodes
1968Dragnet 1967Mrs. BradleyEpisode: "The Little Victim"
1969MannixRecords ClerkEpisode: "Shadow of a Man"
1969Dragnet 1966Eve SorensonTV movie
1969Land of the GiantsSecretaryEpisode: "Sabotage"
1970Marcus Welby, M.D.Woman ExecutiveEpisode: "Go Get 'Em, Tiger"
1971BewitchedDuchessEpisode: "The Ghost Who Made a Spectre of Himself"
1972Something EvilParty GuestTV movie
1972The Poseidon AdventureWoman Next to Mr. TinkhamUncredited
1974The Towering InfernoLady in Buoy
1975Adventures of the QueenIrene McKayTV movie
1975The WaltonsNurse SmithEpisode: "The Nurse"
1976Bittersweet LoveJoan
1976Flood!Nancy LowmanTV movie
1977The VanMrs. Eastman
1977A Sensitive, Passionate ManSophieTV movie
1977Grand Theft AutoPriscilla Powers
1978Lacy and the Mississippi QueenMadam JosephineTV movie
1978The SwarmWoman Scientist(extended version only)
1979Hanging by a ThreadMaggie PorterTV movie
1979Goldie and the BoxerFirst matronTV movie
1981Little House on the PrairieMrs. MilesEpisode: "For the Love of Nancy"
1982An Officer and a GentlemanBetty Worley
1983The Night the Bridge Fell DownTV movie
1984The Yellow RoseTess AndersonEpisode: "The Far Side of Fear"
1986Outrage!Stella SmithTV movie, (final film role)

References
  1. Marc Cushman, with Susan Osborn, These Are the Voyages, TOS, Season Two, Jacobs/Brown Press, Los Angeles, 2014, p 149
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