The Truth About Suzanne Pleshette’s Relationship with Walt Disney
Suzanne Pleshette was known for her bawdy attitude and risqué humor — so the fact that the actress was friends with the legendary Walt Disney is pretty unexpected. But Suzanne’s interactions with Walt revealed a different side of the man who was revered for creating so much movie magic.
Before I share more, I must give credit where it’s due. This account comes from the book, The Enchanted Disney by Spencer Wright, a fantastic collection of rare and intimate stories about a true Hollywood legend.
Back in the mid-sixties, when Suzanne was cast in 1966’s The Ugly Dachshund, it marked the start of a remarkable and unlikely friendship. Of course, Walt was the embodiment of family-friendly entertainment, and he humorously remarked that hiring Suzanne was the beginning of the end for the wholesome Disney studios.
A perfect illustration of their contrasting styles occurred during the first day of filming. After one scene in which she fell into a pool of water, Suzanne asked Walt whether she should get out facing the camera or with her back to it to keep things G-rated. To everyone’s surprise on-set, Walt simply said, “It’s all right. Face the camera.”
Everett Collection
Despite their stark differences in personality, Suzanne’s authenticity and Walt’s appreciation for her beauty and unique character brought them close together. Suzanne never held back, even in Walt’s presence, and perhaps surprisingly, he enjoyed her irreverent humor.
Their friendship deepened during the filming of Blackbeard’s Ghost. Sadly, Suzanne had a haunting premonition that this would be the last time she’d see Walt alive. Tragically, on December 15th, 1966, that premonition became a reality when he passed away from complications of lung cancer.
During his final visit to the Blackbeard’s Ghost set, Walt, in his mischievous way, couldn’t resist commenting about the miniskirt that Suzanne was wearing that day. And Suzanne, without hesitation, walked over to Walt to give him a closer look, tellingWalt that he truly was the devil. That comment, my friends, made a very sick man smile.
As they said goodbye that day, Suzanne gave Walt a heartfelt hug. It would be their last embrace. That night, according to Pop Culture Historian Jim Hill, Suzanne returned home, overwhelmed with emotion. She cried herself to sleep, haunted by her gut feeling.
Suzanne had an amazing movie career, but fans of classic TV probably remember her best for her work during the seventies with comedian Bob Newhart in The Bob Newhart Show, where she played his wife, Emily. TV and Movie Critic Chris Hicks, from my local newspaper The Deseret News, explained Suzanne’s appeal on that show this way: “For men, it was comforting to think an ordinary shlub (like Bob Newhart) could win a gorgeous, witty wife who was so much fun.”
Lastly, of course, we all remember her for her jaw-dropping cameo in 1990, in the series finale of Bob’s follow-up show, Newhart. After all these years, I’m still not certain whether I liked that ending. What I am certain of, however, is that much like Walt himself, I absolutely adored Suzanne Pleshette.
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