Audry Lindley

She is best remembered for her role as the landlady ‘Helen Roper’ on the ABC television sitcom “Three’s Company,” which aired from March 1977 to September 1984, and it’s spinoff, “The Ropers,” which ran for only one year. Born Audra Marie Lindley, her father was actor Bert Lindley who appeared in films from 1917 until 1937, largely in uncredited roles. At the age of 15, she dropped out of high school and worked her way up in Hollywood by being a stand-in, which progressed to stunt work and eventually a contract player with Warner Brothers Studio. Around 1943 she left California and went to New York City, New York to work in the theater. Among her many Broadway plays were “On Golden Pond,” “Playhouse 90,” “Long Day’s Journey into Night,” and “Horse Heavens.” She began to make steady appearances on television, including the role of ‘Sue Knowles’ on the CBS television soap opera “Search for Tomorrow” and a six-year stint as the manipulative ‘Aunt “Liz” Matthews’ on the NBC television soap opera “Another World.” During this time she also had regular television roles as actress Meredith Baxter’s mother in the ABC television sitcom “Bridget Loves Bernie,” as well as actress Lee Grant’s best friend in “Fay.” In 1977 she was cast as the wisecracking, perpetually unfulfilled and sexually frustrated ‘Helen Roper’ on the ABC hit television sitcom “Three’s Company” where she wore an auburn-colored wig to maintain the character’s exaggerated hairstyle. The character and her husband, ‘Mr. Roper’ (played by actor Norman Fell), were spun off to their own show “The Ropers,” which was not a success. She continued to appear steadily on television, most notably “Maude,” “The Love Boat,” the television movie “Dangerous Affection” (1987), “Friends,” “Cybill,” “Nothing Sacred,” and in films such as “Heartbreak Kid” (1972), “Revenge of the Stepford Wives” (1980) “Cannery Row” (1982), “Best Friends” (1982), “Desert Hearts” (1985), and “Troop Beverly Hills” (1989). Also in 1989 she was the main character of an episode of the HBO television horror anthology series “Tales from the Crypt.” She was twice married, first to Dr. Hardy Ulm from 1943 until 1960 and then actor James Whitmore from 1972 until 1979. She died of leukemia at the age of 79.