Claudette Nevins, a stage, film and television actress who starred in Broadway’s Plaza Suite and Melrose Place, died on February 20, 2020 at the age of 82. Her family confirmed her death in a statement, but did not reveal the cause of death. She passed away in hospice care at her home in Los Angeles.
A Long and Diverse Career
Claudette Nevins was born as Claudette Weintraub on April 10, 1937 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. She grew up in Brooklyn, New York, as the daughter of merchant Joseph Weintraub and garment worker Anna Lander, both of whom emigrated from small towns in Austria to America. She attended the High School of Performing Arts in Manhattan and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from New York University with a degree in English.
Nevins made her Broadway debut in 1960 in The Wall, opposite George C. Scott. She also appeared in other Broadway shows such as Danton’s Death and Plaza Suite, the latter also starring Scott. She performed in off-Broadway and regional theater productions, including In White America, The Great White Hope, Major Barbara, The Iceman Cometh, The Little Foxes, Blithe Spirit and The Philadelphia Story. She was a member of the Matrix Theatre Company and the Antaeus Company in Los Angeles.
Nevins also had a prolific career on screen, starting with her first film role in the 1961 3D horror feature The Mask, which later became a cult classic. She appeared in dozens of television shows, such as Love of Life, Headmaster, Husbands, Wives & Lovers, Police Story, Police Squad!, MAS*H, Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place, JAG and Without a Trace. She also had roles in movies such as Sleeping With the Enemy, All the Marbles, Star Trek: Insurrection and Something’s Gotta Give. She retired from acting in 2005.
A Loving Family and a Dazzling Personality
Nevins was married twice: first to Elliot Nevins, and then to Benjamin L. Pick, a real estate investor with whom she had two daughters, Jessica and Sabrina. She also had five grandchildren. Her husband died in 2017.
Her family described her as “funny, strong-willed, awesomely disciplined, relentless in her pursuit of excellence”. They said she was “competent in everything she touched” and “dazzling”. They added that she “will be endlessly missed”.
Nevins’ fans and colleagues also paid tribute to her on social media, remembering her as a talented and versatile actress who could play any role with grace and charm. They praised her for her beauty, elegance and professionalism.
A memorial service for Nevins was held on March 2 at Mount Sinai Memorial Park.
