Who is Nita Talbot?
American retired actress Nita Talbot was born as Anita Sokol in New York City, USA on 8 August 1930, making her zodiac sign Leo. She appeared in 152 movies and TV series prior to retiring in 1997, and is perhaps still best known for her playing of Marya in the hit war comedy series “Hogan’s Heroes”, created by Bernard Fein and Albert S. Ruddy, and which starred Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer and John Banner. It follows a group of prisoners at a German World War II camp as they’re sabotaging their warders; the series aired from 1965 to 1971 and won five of its 16 award nominations.
Nita’s today leading a peaceful life at her home in Los Angeles, California, and is staying away from media.
Education and early life
Nita was raised alongside her older sister Gloria Stone Martin in New York City, by their parents about whom Nita rarely speaks in public, but it’s believed that they were both involved in the film industry; Gloria was a successful actress and dancer, and she passed away in 2014.
Nita dreamed of becoming a famous model while growing up, and it was only when she was around 14 years old that she became interested in acting, after enrolling at local high school in New York City and joining its drama club; Nita appeared in numerous school plays in the following four years, prior to matriculating in 1948.
The following year saw her sign a contract with Warner Bros. Studios, and she then began working on her way up in the film industry.
Roles in movies
Nita’s debut film role was her playing of Model in the 1949 musical comedy “It’s a Great Feeling”, directed by David Butler, and which starred Doris Day, Dennis Morgan and Jack Carson. It follows a waitress who’s dreaming of becoming a famous actress, and is now hoping that the two actors whom she’s just met might be able to help her; the film was nominated for an Oscar for Best Music, Original Song.
A couple of Nita’s following roles were in the 1949 comedy drama “Always Leave Them Laughing”, the 1950 western “Montana”, and the 1951 drama “On Dangerous Ground”.
The year 1956 saw her play Mary in the popular romantic musical comedy “Bundle of Joy”, directed by Norman Taurog, and which starred Eddie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds and Adolphe Menjou. It follows a salesgirl who’s found a baby in front of an orphanage, and the film was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Comedy or Musical (Debbie Reynolds). Some of Nita’s film roles in the remainder of the ‘50s were in the 1957 comedy “This Could Be the Night”, the 1958 comedy drama “I Married a Woman” and the 1958 western comedy “Once Upon a Horse…”
In 1962, Nita was cast to play Saturday Knight in the comedy “Who’s Got the Action?”, directed by Daniel Mann, and which starred Dean Martin, Lana Turner and Eddie Albert; it follows a married man who keeps losing money on horse races, while his wife’s now become his bookie. Nita appeared in only a couple of movies in the remainder of the ’60s, such as the 1965 romantic comedy “A Very Special Favor”, the 1967 comedy “The Cool Ones”, and the 1969 drama “Under the Yum Yum Tree”.
What marked the ‘70s for her was perhaps her playing of Madam Esther in the 1972 western adventure drama “Buck and the Preacher”, directed by Joseph Sargent and Sidney Poitier who h starred in it with Harry Belafonte and Ruby Dee. It tells the story of a conman and a wagon master, who are helping freed slaves in the Wild West.
In 1973, Nita was cast to star as Evelyn Housner in the comedy “What Are Best Friends for?”, while some of her following roles were in the 1975 thriller drama “The Day of the Locust”, the 1977 comedy “Sex and the Married Woman” and the 1979 western “The Sweet Creek County War”.
The year 1983 saw her portray Shelly Meyers, one of the main characters in the horror comedy “Frightmare”, which Norman Thaddeus Vane wrote and directed, and which also starred Ferdy Mayne and Luca Bercovici. It follows a group of people who’ve stolen a corpse, wanting to party with it all night; the film was nominated for a Grand Prize at the 1983 Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival.
Nita had only a couple of other movie roles prior to her retirement, with her three final roles having been in the 1989 crime comedy drama “Jake Spanner, Private Eye”, the 1990 comedy “Diggin’ Up Business”, and the 1992 horror “Amityville 1992: It’s About Time”.
Roles in TV series
Nita’s debut TV series role was in the 1950 episode “Leaf out of a Book” of the drama “The Philco Television Playhouse”, and she was then cast to appear in an episode of numerous series, such as the mystery horror drama “Tales of Tomorrow”, the drama “Goodyear Playhouse” and the spy drama “The Hunter”.
She gained recognition in 1956, when cast to portray the lead character Mabel Spooner in the comedy “Joe & Mabel”, starring alongside Norman Fell and Larry Blyden; it follows Mabel who’s trying to persuade her cab driver boyfriend Joe to marry her. Some of Nita’s TV series roles in the remainder of the ‘50s were in the drama “Alcoa Theatre”, the mystery horror drama “Matinee Theatre”, and the mystery crime drama “Perry Mason”.
In 1960 and 1961, she starred as Dora Miles in the popular comedy “The Jim Backus Show”; it also starred Jim Backus and Bobs Watson, and follows the lives of Mike O’Toole who’s running a news service in New York City, and his two employees Dave and Dora. The ‘60s saw Nita appear in an episode of more than 30 TV series, with some of the most popular amongst these having been the western adventure “Daniel Boone”, the comedy “The John Forsythe Show”, and the mystery crime drama “The F. B. I.”
The year 1973 saw her play Judy Evans in the comedy “Here We Go Again”, created by Robert Kaufman, and which starred Larry Hagman, Diane Baker and Dick Gautier. It follows a newlywed couple who’ve accidentally moved close to their former spouses’ houses. What also marked the decade for Nita was her playing of Rose Casey in the 1979 crime adventure comedy “Supertrain”, which follows the crew of a nation-spanning train.
Nita had only guest roles in the following 10 years, until in 1988 cast to play Rose, one of the lead characters in the comedy “Starting from Scratch”, created by Brian Cooke, and which also starred Connie Stevens and Bill Daily; it follows a veterinarian as he’s raising his two teenage children, while his former wife has now returned to him..
Nita’s final three TV series roles were in the 1995 episode “The Madman and the Showgirl” of the comedy “Madman of the People”, the 1996 episode “Springtime for Tupper” of the comedy “Dream On”, and four episodes of the 1997 action adventure “Spider-Man: The Animated Series” (voice role).
Other credits
Nita sang songs in six movies and TV series, including “Worry About Tomorrow” in the 1956 film “Bundle of Joy”, “I’ve Got a Crush on You” in the 1960 episode “If a Body” of the series “Bourbon Street Beat”, and “Where Did I Go Wrong” in the 1967 movie “The Cool Ones”.
She made a guest appearance in many talk-shows while she was still active in the film industry, such as “The Merv Griffin Show”, “It’s Your Bet” and “Do It Debbie’s Way”.
Awards and nominations
Nita was nominated for a 1968 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Comedy, for “Hogan’s Heroes”.
Nita Talbot alert. Starting now. #Columbo #COZI pic.twitter.com/dq7opQZpt6
— Beel (@tomservo10) December 1, 2019
Love life and husband
Nita doesn’t like to talk about her love life in public, but it’s still known that she’s been married twice. She wed her first husband Don Gordon on 7 September 1954, in a large ceremony attended by many of their family members and friends. Don was a noted American actor and screenwriter, who died on 24 April 2017, aged 90; he appeared in more than 130 movies and TV series, and is still remembered for his portrayal of Delgetti in the 1968 action crime thriller movie “Bullitt”, which won eight of its 17 award nominations, including an Oscar win for Best Film Editing.
Nita and Don divorced on 11 April 1958.
She married her second husband, American actor Thomas A. Geas on 13 August 1961; Nita gave birth to their daughter Nicole Andrea Geas on 28 May 1962, but she and Thomas divorced some time later; he passed away on 8 April 2010, aged 75.
Nita hasn’t spoken of other men whom she’s dated, and she’s single as of November 2022, was married twice, and has a daughter with her second husband Thomas A. Geas.
Interesting facts and hobbies
Nita enjoyed travelling in her 20s and 30s, and her career made it possible for her to travel all around the USA, while she also visited numerous Asian and European countries. Her dream travel destination was once Venice, Italy, while she’s been satisfied with staying at home in Los Angeles for the past 20 years.
She’s been a philanthropist since the launch of her career, and has donated money to a number of charity organizations; Nita mostly enjoys helping organizations which work with youth.
She was physically highly active when she was younger, and often spoke in public about exercising and dieting.
Nita’s favorite actresses are Meryl Streep and Jane Fonda, and some of her favorite movies include “Crossing Borders: The Journey of Carlos Fuent”, “All Together”, and “Workout”.
Height, eyes and wealth
Nita’s age is 92. She has light blue eyes and long grey and brown hair, her weight is 135lbs (62kgs) and she’s 5ft 8ins (1.74m) tall.
Nita’s net worth’s been estimated at over $4 million, as of November 2022.
