Lisa Loring, The Original Wednesday Addams From The 1960s Sitcom “The Addams Family,” Sadly Passed Away At 64

arsenypopel - stock.adobe.com - illustrative purposes only
arsenypopel - stock.adobe.com - illustrative purposes only

Ever since the hit Netflix show “Wednesday” was released on November 23, 2022, fans around the globe have become infatuated with Jenna Ortega’s portrayal of the morbid and macabre-obsessed character.

Last month, though, the actress who inspired this modern reinvention tragically passed away.

Lisa Loring, the actress who portrayed Wednesday Addams in the iconic 1960s sitcom “The Addams Family,” died on January 28 at the age of 64.

One of Lisa’s friends, Laurie Jacobson, shared the upsetting news in a now-viral Facebook post– detailing how the star had “suffered a massive stroke brought on by smoking and high blood pressure” on January 25.

According to Laurie, Lisa had been on life support for three days prior to passing away. Then, on the evening of Saturday, January 28, the Loring family made the tough decision to withdraw the support.

“She is embedded in the tapestry that is pop culture and in our hearts always as Wednesday Addams,” Lisa wrote.

“Beautiful, kind, and a loving mother. Lisa’s legacy in the world of entertainment is huge. And the legacy for her family and friends– a wealth of humor, affection, and love– will long play in our memories.”

Lisa was survived by her two daughters, Vanessa Foumberg and Marianne Stevenson Keller. In a statement to Variety, Vanessa confirmed her mother’s death.

“She went peacefully with both her daughters holding her hands,” Vanessa said.

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Lisa is most well-known for her portrayal of Wednesday Addams in the first-ever television adaptation of the Addams Family. She auditioned for the show at just 5 years old and could not even read yet.

Still, that was just a minor detail for Lisa– who was still able to memorize all of her lines without knowing how to read.

Now, with the reinvention of Lisa’s iconic character via the Netflix original series “Wednesday,” fans have fallen in love with the character’s dark humor all over again. Played by Jenna Ortega, the modern Wednesday star revealed that she drew much inspiration from Lisa’s original portrayal.

Most notably, in one episode of the original “The Addams Family” sitcom, Wednesday taught a dance move known as “The Drew” to Lurch. And according to Jenna Ortega, this scene inspired part of the “Wednesday” dance that went ultra-viral on TikTok.

“I paid homage to Lisa Loring, the first Wednesday Addams. I did a little bit of the shuffle she does, and of course, they cut out of the camera when I did do it, but it’s there,” Jenna said while appearing on “The Tonight Show.”

Following Lisa’s role in “The Addams Family” from 1964 to 1966, she acted in other television series over the following decades– including “As the World Turns,” “Fantasy Island,” “Barnaby Jones,” and “The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.” The actress also earned credits in various films, such as “Savage Harbor,” “Way Down in Chinatown,” and “Doctor Spine.”

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Katharina Buczek graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Digital Arts. Specializing ... More about Katharina Buczek

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