Elizabeth Rogers (born Betty Jayne Rogers, May 18, 1934 – November 6, 2004) was an American actress.

Elizabeth Rogers
Elizabeth Rogers as Lt. Palmer in Star Trek
Born
Betty Jayne Rogers

(1934-05-18)May 18, 1934
DiedNovember 6, 2004(2004-11-06) (aged 70)
Occupation(s)Actress and Producer
Years active1965–1986
Spouse
Erik L. Nelson
(m. 1968)
Children1

Life and career

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Born in Austin, Texas, she played minor characters in thirty-seven episodes of a dozen different prime-time network series, including Little House on the Prairie, Bewitched, Gunsmoke, The Waltons, Marcus Welby, M.D., Dragnet 1966, Mannix, Dragnet 1967, Bonanza, The Time Tunnel, Land of the Giants, Dr. Kildare, Gunsmoke and Slattery's People.

In the original Star Trek television series, she portrayed Lt. Palmer, a substitute communications officer, in two episodes: "The Doomsday Machine" (1967) and "The Way to Eden" (1969). For Doomsday Machine, Rogers was brought in at the last minute after Nichelle Nichols (the series regular as communications officer Lt. Uhura) informed the producers that she was flying to New York for a concert performance. As Nichols had no standard contract she was legally free to do so, but Rogers' appearance was intended to convince her to keep herself available for Star Trek. Rogers said in a later interview, "I got the part when Uhura [Nichols] had a singing engagement. I was used as an instant 'threat' replacement."[1][a]

During the 1970s, she also appeared in a string of Irwin Allen produced films including The Poseidon Adventure (1972) and The Towering Inferno (1974). She was a personal friend of Allen and his wife, Sheila Matthews Allen, and was married to actor Erik Nelson (also a regular in Irwin Allen films) in the backyard of Allen's home. Her other film appearances included Bittersweet Love (1976), The Van (1977), Grand Theft Auto (1977), and An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) as David Keith's mother.

Death

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She died from multiple strokes and lung cancer on November 6, 2004, in Tarzana, California at the age of 70.[citation needed]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1965 Slattery's People Betty Dyne Episode: "The Hero"
1965 Dr. Kildare Miss Trilling 2 episodes
1965, 1967 Bonanza Ellie Blackwell / Allie Lou 2 episodes
1966 The Time Tunnel Mrs. Reynerson Episode: "The Alamo"
1966 Gunsmoke Hostage / Mrs. Davis 2 episodes
1967, 1969 Star Trek Lt. Palmer 2 episodes
1968 Dragnet 1967 Mrs. Bradley Episode: "The Little Victim"
1969 Star Trek Lt. Palmer S3:E20, "The Way to Eden"
1969 Mannix Records Clerk Episode: "Shadow of a Man"
1969 Dragnet 1966 Eve Sorenson TV movie
1969 Land of the Giants Secretary Episode: "Sabotage"
1970 Marcus Welby, M.D. Woman Executive Episode: "Go Get 'Em, Tiger"
1971 Bewitched Duchess Episode: "The Ghost Who Made a Spectre of Himself"
1972 Something Evil Party Guest TV movie
1972 The Poseidon Adventure Woman Next to Mr. Tinkham Uncredited
1974 The Towering Inferno Lady in Buoy
1975 Adventures of the Queen Irene McKay TV movie
1975 The Waltons Nurse Smith Episode: "The Nurse"
1976 Bittersweet Love Joan
1976 Flood! Nancy Lowman TV movie
1977 The Van Mrs. Eastman
1977 A Sensitive, Passionate Man Sophie TV movie
1977 Grand Theft Auto Priscilla Powers
1978 Lacy and the Mississippi Queen Madam Josephine TV movie
1978 The Swarm Woman Scientist (extended version only)
1979 Hanging by a Thread Maggie Porter TV movie
1979 Goldie and the Boxer First matron TV movie
1981 Little House on the Prairie Mrs. Miles Episode: "For the Love of Nancy"
1982 An Officer and a Gentleman Betty Worley
1983 The Night the Bridge Fell Down TV movie
1984 The Yellow Rose Tess Anderson Episode: "The Far Side of Fear"
1986 Outrage! Stella Smith TV movie, (final film role)

Notes

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  1. ^ Only one other actress, Barbara Baldavin, ever served as a substitute, credited, communications officer for Uhura [Nichols], playing Lt. Lisa in the final episode of the series, "Turnabout Intruder".

References

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  1. ^ Marc Cushman, with Susan Osborn, These Are the Voyages, TOS, Season Two, Jacobs/Brown Press, Los Angeles, 2014, p 149
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