Lisa Loring–best known for her enduring portrayal of Wednesday on the classic ’60s TV series The Addams Family–has passed away at the age of 64.
Loring passed away in a Burbank, Calif. hospital from complications caused by a stroke brought on by high blood pressure, her daughter Vanessa told The Hollywood Reporter.
Born Lisa Ann DeCinces, Loring began modeling at age 3, and landed her first TV appearance in 1964 on an episode of the medical drama Dr. Kildare.
Loring–who won the part of Wednesday at age 5–revealed in later interviews that she “learned to memorize before I could read” in order to recite her lines.
Loring played the tiny, sullen-faced, pigtailed Wednesday for two seasons–a total of 64 episodes–and then reunited with her TV family in 1977 for the telefilm Halloween With the New Addams Family.
Loring continued with TV work–including roles on Fantasy Island and Barnaby Jones–before moving on to the big screen with a series of slasher films in the 1980s. She starred in Blood Frenzy and Savage Harbor (both in 1987) and Iced (1988), but personal problems eventually ended her acting career.
Loring is survived by daughters Vanessa and Marianne, as well as grandchildren Emiliana and Charles.
The staff of Horror News Network extends its heartfelt condolences to Loring’s family, friends and colleagues.
