In Memory of Character Actress Nellie Burt: 38 Years After Her Tragic Death

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It's been over thirty years since character actress Nellie Burt passed away in 1986 from unknown causes. Best known for unique performances on television shows like Bewitched and Gunsmoke, Burt was from the old school of acting and had a unique presence on screen. This is her story.

A Closer Look

Nellie Burt was born Helen Presley Burt on January 4, 1900, in Aberdeen, Washington. The daughter of actor William P. Burt, she was an 8th-generation theatrical performer whose roots trace back to the Clifford Family in England.

A diminutive yet notable and acclaimed performer, Burt made her stage debut in 1921 and performed in several live theatre productions.

On TV in the 1950s and 1960s, Burt played odd, eccentric seniors many times with a slightly sinister yet somehow likable twist.

Beyond Bewitched and Gunsmoke, she appeared on medical shows like Ben Casey, sci-fi-geared programs such as The Outer Limits and The Invaders, and police crime dramas including The FBI, The Rookies and Longstreet, and other series like The Fugitive, Love, American Style, and more.

Off-screen, Burt was married to William Henry McMullen (with whom she had one child) and Paul Edward Martin.

No One Like Her

When Nellie Burt performed, she delivered a portrayal of the highest caliber; each performance was as memorable as the next. Her Gunsmoke episode, in particular, remains a stand-out.

Originally airing on CBS, on April 13, 1963, "Panacea Sykes" featured Burt as a colorful senior woman from New Orleans. She takes liberties with the truth and a few items belonging to Miss Kitty, played by Amanda Blake, proprietor of Dodge City's Long Branch Saloon.

The episode is also notable for its direction by actor William Conrad. The future star of TV's Cannon detective series provided the voice for the show's Marshall Matt Dillion character during its original incarnation on radio years before.

In the TV edition, Matt Dillion was portrayed by the one and only James Arness.

In the End

Nellie Burt was the kind of actress that Hollywood just doesn't seem to churn out anymore. Fortunately, her on-screen performances will remain cherished by her countless fans around the world.