R.I.P. Patricia Benoit, the bride in television's first big event wedding

The 'Mister Peepers' star passed away at 91.

The Everett Collection

Rhoda and Joe. Joanie and Chachi. Chandler and Monica. Jim and Pam. Wedding episodes have always led to a boost in viewers and teardrops for sitcoms. Perhaps that was the brilliance of The Brady Bunch — that show began with two lead characters tying the knot.

Typically, though, wedding episodes come late in a show's run, after a long will-they-won't-they romance. Mister Peepers is the overlooked pioneer of this trope. A mid-'50s comedy about an adorably dorky teacher, Mister Peepers is perhaps best remembered today as the early breakthrough for Tony Randall, who portrayed the slick ladies' man Harvey Weskit. Wally Cox, who would later become the voice of Underdog, starred as Robinson J. Peepers. 

The timid and bumbling Peepers falls for a nurse named Nancy Remington, played by Patricia Benoit. Over the course of a few seasons, and with the help of Harvey, Peepers courts Nancy. In 1954, the two finally meet at the altar.

The wedding became one of the first true event episodes of the nascent medium. TV Guide featured Benoit and Cox on its May 21, 1954, cover, sporting their wedding gown and tuxedo. The vows delivered blockbuster ratings.

Like many early TV programs, Mister Peepers was broadcast live from a theater in New York. Unsurprisingly, Benoit found work on Broadway as well. She gained attention on the stage for her work in the comedy Glad Tidings and later starred alongside Edward G. Robinson in Middle of the Night. After Mister Peepers, Benoit shift gears to soap operas, appearing in Today Is Ours and As the World Turns

In the 1960s, she had moved away from the city to focus on her family. Her acting career was left behind. On Monday, August 6, Benoit passed away at the age of 91, according to her family and as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

Television stars and influencers we lost in 2018

  • Burt Reynolds of 'Smokey and the Bandit' and 'Gunsmoke'
  • Ken Berry, star of 'Mama's Family' and 'Mayberry R.F.D.'
  • Charlotte Rae, Mrs. Garrett of 'The Facts of Life'
  • Harry Anderson of 'Night Court' and 'Cheers'
  • David Ogden Stiers, M*A*S*H star and Disney voice actor
  • Steven Bochco, creator of 'Hill Street Blues' and 'NYPD Blue'
  • John Mahoney, the beloved father of 'Frasier'
  • Stan Lee, co-creator of Spider-Man and the Incredible Hulk
  • Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul whose hits soundtracked our lives
  • Bill Daily, the comedic neighbor of 'The Bob Newhart Show'
  • Robin Leach, host of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous
  • Clint Walker, the towering star of 1950s Western 'Cheyenne'
  • Roy Clark, country music icon and 'Hee Haw' host
  • Neil Simon, playwright of 'The Odd Couple' and more
  • Chuck McCann, children's television host and the voice of ''I'm cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs''
  • Hugh Wilson, creator of 'WKRP in Cincinnati,' 'Frank's Place'
  • Mickey Jones of 'Home Improvement' and 'National Lampoon's Vacation'
  • Harlan Ellison, the sci-fi writer behind the greatest Star Trek episode
  • Margot Kidder, best known as Lois Lane of 'Superman'
  • Vic Damone, legendary singer, popular entertainer and TV host
  • Doreen Tracey, original 'Mickey Mouse Club' Mousketeer
  • Billy Ray Latham, The Country Boys banjo player from 'The Andy Griffith Show'
  • Dean Webb, The Darling Boys mandolin player on The Andy Griffith Show
  • Peter Wyngarde, British actor who appeared in 'The Prisoner,' 'Flash Gordon' and a Lucy special
  • Michele Carey, model-turned-actress of 'Gunsmoke' and 'The Wild, Wild West'
  • Elmarie Wendel of 'Third Rock from the Sun'
  • Celeste Yarnall, Star Trek actress and '70s scream queen
  • Dorothy Malone, Oscar-winning actress and 'Peyton Place' star
  • Robert Dowdell of 'Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea'
  • Robert Wolders, 'Laredo' star and longtime partner of Audrey Hepburn
  • Wayne Maunder, star of 'Custer' and 'Lancer'
  • Deanna Lund, a.k.a. Valerie Scott on 'Land of the Giants,' Anna Gram on 'Batman'
  • Jean Porter, actress from 'The Abbott & Costello Show'
  • Harry Landers, co-star on 'Ben Casey' and many beloved TV shows
  • Joseph Campanella of 'Mannix,' 'The Bold and the Beautiful' and more
  • Frank Buxton, writer, actor and director on 'The Odd Couple,' 'Happy Days'
  • Greta Thyssen, actress on 'The Three Stooges' and 'Perry Mason'
  • Tim O'Connor of 'Peyton Place,' 'Buck Rogers' and 'Wonder Woman'
  • Bradford Dillman, prominent '60s and '70s film and TV actor
  • Tom Reese, TV and movie actor known for amazing fistfights
  • Ralph Woolsey, the man who gave 'Batman' its bold, distinctive look
  • Soon-Tek Oh, memorable character actor on 'M*A*S*H,' 'Charlie's Angels,' 'Hawaii Five-O'
  • Georgann Johnson, actress whose career spanned five decades in TV and movies
  • Eunice Gayson, the first Bond girl and guest star on 'The Saint'
  • Frank Avruch, best known as Boston's Bozo the Clown
  • Jerry Maren, the last surviving Munchkin from 'The Wizard of Oz'
  • William Phipps, prolific actor who voiced Prince Charming
  • Frank Doubleday, classic TV bad guy and villain from Escape From New York
  • Allyn Ann McLerie of 'The Tony Randall Show'
  • Barbara Dodd Remsen, classic TV actress and notable casting director
  • Tim Rossovich, NFL star turned TV tough guy and character actor
  • Wright King of 'The Twilight Zone' and 'Wanted: Dead or Alive'
  • Peggy McCay, prolific TV actress who played Andy Taylor's high school flame
  • John Gavin, 'Psycho' actor who was twice almost cast as James Bond
  • Eddie Foy III, actor turned casting director on all your favorite shows
  • Nokie Edwards, lead guitarist for surf-rock icons The Ventures
  • Kitty O'Neil, 'Wonder Woman' stunt double
  • Ken Swofford, actor who appeared on 'Gunsmoke,' 'Columbo' and more
  • Frank Parker, soap star who got his start playing Gomer Pyle's biggest bully
  • Peter Donat, who played both Mannix villain and Agent Mulder's father
  • Carole Shelley of The Odd Couple's Pigeon Sisters
  • Fredd Wayne, character actor who played Benjamin Franklin on TV
  • Patricia Benoit, the bride in television's first big event wedding
  • David Landsberg of 'C.P.O. Sharkey'
  • Tab Hunter, actor and singer behind the early rock hit ''Young Love''
  • Roger Perry of 'The Facts of Life,' 'Star Trek' and more
  • Bill Loud, patriarch from the pioneering PBS documentary 'An American Family'
  • Bob Dorough, Schoolhouse Rock! composer
  • Miriam Nelson, choreographer of classic TV dance scenes
  • Doug Grindstaff, designer of Star Trek's iconic sound effects
  • Patrick Williams, Emmy-winning TV composer
  • Burt Reynolds of 'Smokey and the Bandit' and 'Gunsmoke'
  • Ken Berry, star of 'Mama's Family' and 'Mayberry R.F.D.'
  • Charlotte Rae, Mrs. Garrett of 'The Facts of Life'
  • Harry Anderson of 'Night Court' and 'Cheers'
  • David Ogden Stiers, M*A*S*H star and Disney voice actor
  • Steven Bochco, creator of 'Hill Street Blues' and 'NYPD Blue'
  • John Mahoney, the beloved father of 'Frasier'
  • Stan Lee, co-creator of Spider-Man and the Incredible Hulk
  • Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul whose hits soundtracked our lives
  • Bill Daily, the comedic neighbor of 'The Bob Newhart Show'
  • Robin Leach, host of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous
  • Clint Walker, the towering star of 1950s Western 'Cheyenne'
  • Roy Clark, country music icon and 'Hee Haw' host
  • Neil Simon, playwright of 'The Odd Couple' and more
  • Chuck McCann, children's television host and the voice of ''I'm cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs''
  • Hugh Wilson, creator of 'WKRP in Cincinnati,' 'Frank's Place'
  • Mickey Jones of 'Home Improvement' and 'National Lampoon's Vacation'
  • Harlan Ellison, the sci-fi writer behind the greatest Star Trek episode
  • Margot Kidder, best known as Lois Lane of 'Superman'
  • Vic Damone, legendary singer, popular entertainer and TV host
  • Doreen Tracey, original 'Mickey Mouse Club' Mousketeer
  • Billy Ray Latham, The Country Boys banjo player from 'The Andy Griffith Show'
  • Dean Webb, The Darling Boys mandolin player on The Andy Griffith Show
  • Peter Wyngarde, British actor who appeared in 'The Prisoner,' 'Flash Gordon' and a Lucy special
  • Michele Carey, model-turned-actress of 'Gunsmoke' and 'The Wild, Wild West'
  • Elmarie Wendel of 'Third Rock from the Sun'
  • Celeste Yarnall, Star Trek actress and '70s scream queen
  • Dorothy Malone, Oscar-winning actress and 'Peyton Place' star
  • Robert Dowdell of 'Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea'
  • Robert Wolders, 'Laredo' star and longtime partner of Audrey Hepburn
  • Wayne Maunder, star of 'Custer' and 'Lancer'
  • Deanna Lund, a.k.a. Valerie Scott on 'Land of the Giants,' Anna Gram on 'Batman'
  • Jean Porter, actress from 'The Abbott & Costello Show'
  • Harry Landers, co-star on 'Ben Casey' and many beloved TV shows
  • Joseph Campanella of 'Mannix,' 'The Bold and the Beautiful' and more
  • Frank Buxton, writer, actor and director on 'The Odd Couple,' 'Happy Days'
  • Greta Thyssen, actress on 'The Three Stooges' and 'Perry Mason'
  • Tim O'Connor of 'Peyton Place,' 'Buck Rogers' and 'Wonder Woman'
  • Bradford Dillman, prominent '60s and '70s film and TV actor
  • Tom Reese, TV and movie actor known for amazing fistfights
  • Ralph Woolsey, the man who gave 'Batman' its bold, distinctive look
  • Soon-Tek Oh, memorable character actor on 'M*A*S*H,' 'Charlie's Angels,' 'Hawaii Five-O'
  • Georgann Johnson, actress whose career spanned five decades in TV and movies
  • Eunice Gayson, the first Bond girl and guest star on 'The Saint'
  • Frank Avruch, best known as Boston's Bozo the Clown
  • Jerry Maren, the last surviving Munchkin from 'The Wizard of Oz'
  • William Phipps, prolific actor who voiced Prince Charming
  • Frank Doubleday, classic TV bad guy and villain from Escape From New York
  • Allyn Ann McLerie of 'The Tony Randall Show'
  • Barbara Dodd Remsen, classic TV actress and notable casting director
  • Tim Rossovich, NFL star turned TV tough guy and character actor
  • Wright King of 'The Twilight Zone' and 'Wanted: Dead or Alive'
  • Peggy McCay, prolific TV actress who played Andy Taylor's high school flame
  • John Gavin, 'Psycho' actor who was twice almost cast as James Bond
  • Eddie Foy III, actor turned casting director on all your favorite shows
  • Nokie Edwards, lead guitarist for surf-rock icons The Ventures
  • Kitty O'Neil, 'Wonder Woman' stunt double
  • Ken Swofford, actor who appeared on 'Gunsmoke,' 'Columbo' and more
  • Frank Parker, soap star who got his start playing Gomer Pyle's biggest bully
  • Peter Donat, who played both Mannix villain and Agent Mulder's father
  • Carole Shelley of The Odd Couple's Pigeon Sisters
  • Fredd Wayne, character actor who played Benjamin Franklin on TV
  • Patricia Benoit, the bride in television's first big event wedding
  • David Landsberg of 'C.P.O. Sharkey'
  • Tab Hunter, actor and singer behind the early rock hit ''Young Love''
  • Roger Perry of 'The Facts of Life,' 'Star Trek' and more
  • Bill Loud, patriarch from the pioneering PBS documentary 'An American Family'
  • Bob Dorough, Schoolhouse Rock! composer
  • Miriam Nelson, choreographer of classic TV dance scenes
  • Doug Grindstaff, designer of Star Trek's iconic sound effects
  • Patrick Williams, Emmy-winning TV composer

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Image: AP Photo

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Billy Ray Latham, The Country Boys banjo player from 'The Andy Griffith Show'

In scenes with Andy Griffith, the star's eyes were glued to Latham's pro picking. READ MORE

Dean Webb, The Darling Boys mandolin player on The Andy Griffith Show

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Peter Wyngarde, British actor who appeared in 'The Prisoner,' 'Flash Gordon' and a Lucy special

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Michele Carey, model-turned-actress of 'Gunsmoke' and 'The Wild, Wild West'

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Elmarie Wendel of 'Third Rock from the Sun'

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Image: The Everett Collection

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