LIANE HANSEN, host:
Actress Suzanne Pleshette has died. Pleshette enjoyed success on television, on the stage and the big screen. With her striking looks and distinctive robust voice, she landed roles in Hitchcock's "The Birds" and replaced Anne Bancroft in the Broadway production of "The Miracle Worker." But she is best known for her role as Bob Newhart's wife, Emily, on "The Bob Newhart Show."
(Soundbite of show, "The Bob Newhart Show")
Ms. SUZANNE PLESHETTE (Actress): (As Emily) You know, Bob, ever since you took that I.Q. test, you've been sitting acting petulant.
Mr. BOB NEWHART (Actor): (As himself) What do you mean by that?
Ms. PLESHETTE: (As Emily) Petulant means suddenly irritated by the trivial.
Mr. NEWHART: (As himself) Emily, I know what petulant means. You don't have to talk down on me just because I'm not as intelligent as you are.
(Soundbite of laughter)
Ms. PLESHETTE: (As Emily) Bob, you are intelligent.
Mr. NEWHART: (As himself) Well, maybe I am, Emily, but ever since I found out what our I.Q.'s are, well, I figured it's affecting our marriage.
Ms. PLESHETTE: (As Emily) What do you mean by that?
Mr. NEWHART: (As himself) Marriage is a wedding between…
Ms. PLESHETTE: (As Emily) Oh, Bob, I know what marriage means.
(Soundbite of laughter)
Ms. PLESHETTE: (As Emily) What's it got to do with us? We've got a perfect marriage.
Mr. NEWHART: (As himself) Emily, a perfect marriage is where the husband and the wife have the same I.Q.
(Soundbite of laughter)
Ms. PLESHETTE: (As Emily) Bob, it is not important.
Mr. NEWHART: (As himself) Next to perfect is where the husbandz is higher than the wife.
(Soundbite of laughter)
Ms. PLESHETTE: (As Emily) Bob, forget it.
Mr. NEWHART: (As himself) Third is where the wife is one point higher than the husband.
Ms. PLESHETTE: (As Emily) Please, Bob.
Mr. NEWHART: (As himself) And the fourth, which is us which is the worst, is where the wife is 151 and her husband is 129 which is a difference of ah…
(Soundbite of laughter)
Ms. PLESHETTE: (As Emily) Twenty-two.
HANSEN: In 2000, Suzanne Pleshette, married fellow cast member Tom Poston. He died in April 2007. Pleshette underwent chemotherapy for lung cancer in 2006. She died of respiratory failure. She was 70.
This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. I'm Liane Hansen.