Edie Adams: 1927-2008

Edie Adams is shown April 8, 1954, in the Broadway musical "Wonderful Town." Adams, the blond beauty who won a Tony Award for bringing Daisy Mae to life on Broadway in "Li'l Abner" and was television foil for her husband, Ernie Kovacs, died Oct. 15, 2008, in a Los Angeles hospital.

Edie Adams poses in this 1963 photo for her variety special "Here's Edie." Over a career that spanned some six decades, Adams appeared in various stage productions; had a short-lived TV show in 1963 that earned her two Emmy nominations; performed in nightclubs and released several albums.

Actress, comedian, singer Edie Adams poses in a dance costume in this May 23, 1963 photo. She was acclaimed for her role as the sister to Rosalind Russell's character in "Wonderful Town," (1953) and won a Tony in 1957 for best featured (supporting) actress in a musical for her role as Daisy Mae in "Li'l Abner."

This 1970 photo shows actress, comedian and singer Edie Adams in character as Marilyn Monroe. She first attracted notice on the TV show "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts" and won an Emmy nomination in 1957 for best performance in a comedy series after pairing with Kovacs whom she married in Mexico City in 1954.

This 1970 photo shows actress, comedian and singer Edie Adams. After Kovacs was killed in a car accident in 1957, she was left with staggering debt and worked continuously for a solid year. She did movies, TV musical revues and a Las Vegas act.

Edie Adams, wife of Ernie Kovacs, stands next to posters of Kovacs in New York following a seminar on his work in this 1986 photo. After her widowhood, she had two brief marriages to photographer Martin Mills and trumpeter Pete Candoli. She is survived by her son, Joshua Mills. Daughter Mia Kovacs was killed at 22 in a 1982 car accident.