Monica Evans (born 7 June 1940) is an English retired actress known for her portrayal of Cecily Pigeon in Neil Simon's The Odd Couple.[1] She was in the original Broadway cast for its entire run, then appeared in the 1968 film version, and finally appeared in some episodes of the first season of the television series based on the play, all in the same role, alongside Carole Shelley as her sister Gwendolyn Pigeon.[2][3] She also provided voices for the two animated films for Walt Disney Productions, such as The Aristocats (1970), as Abigail Gabble (the Goose) (alongside Shelley as Amelia Gabble) and Robin Hood (1973) as Maid Marian, a vixen (again alongside Shelley as her handmaiden, Lady Kluck, a chicken).[4]
Monica Evans | |
|---|---|
 Evans as Cecily Pigeon in the Broadway production of The Odd Couple, 1965 | |
| Born | 7 June 1940 Camberwell, London, England |
| Alma mater | Central School of Speech and Drama |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1960–1973 |
| Spouse(s) | Leo Maguire (m. 1962; div ?) Dave Cash (m. 1973; div. 2010) |
Evans trained at the Central School of Speech & Drama in the 1950s and was the stand-in for Joan Plowright in Rhinoceros. She took over the role from Plowright when Plowright's's relationship with Laurence Olivier became public.[5] She was also one of the stars in a soap opera for BBC Television called Compact, set in the office of a magazine, and starred in The Severed Head in the West End.[6][7] Evans was the maid of honor at Carole Shelley's wedding in 1967.[8]
She lived in the United States for several years. After her return to the UK she married BBC Radio 1 DJ Dave Cash.
In 2018, she was at the 2018 TCM Classic Film Festival, reuniting with her old friend, Carole Shelley.
TV and filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Make Mine Mink | 2nd Shop Assistant | Uncredited |
| 1961 | You Can't Win | Iris | TV series |
| The Escape of R.D.7 | David's Secretary | ||
| 1962–1963 | Compact | Sally Henderson / Harmon | |
| 1964 | No Hiding Place | Elaine Holmes | |
| 1965 | Be My Guest | Dyllis | |
| 1968 | The Odd Couple | Cecily | |
| 1970–1971 | The Odd Couple | Cecily | TV series |
| 1970 | Here Come the Brides | Renee | |
| The Aristocats | Abigail Gabble, the Goose | Voice | |
| 1973 | Robin Hood | Maid Marian, the Vixen | Voice; final film role |
References
edit- ^ "Monica Evans – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com.
- ^ "The Odd Couple (1968) - Gene Saks | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
- ^ "Monica Evans | TV, Documentary and Other Appearances". AllMovie.
- ^ "Monica Evans". BFI. Archived from the original on 22 March 2018.
- ^ "Production of Rhinoceros | Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
- ^ "Compact[04/01/62] (1962)". BFI. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019.
- ^ "Monica Evans | Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
- ^ Barnes, Mike; Bartlett, Rhett (2 September 2018). "Carole Shelley, One of the Pigeon Sisters From 'The Odd Couple,' Dies at 79". Billboard. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
