Connie Hines, Wilbur's Wife on 'Mr. Ed,' Dies at 79

By PopEater Staff Posted Dec 22nd 2009 11:01AM

Connie Hines, the witty actress best known for playing Carol Post, Wilbur's wife on 'Mr. Ed,' died Friday at her home in Beverly Hills. She was 79.

Her death was from complications of heart problems, her on-screen husband Alan Young told the LA Times. "I lost a great friend. She was always joyous."

Between 1961-66, Hines dutifully shared the screen with 'Mr. Ed,' a talking horse that only Wilbur could converse with. Young said Hines was a trooper for sticking with the thankless role.

"She was a girl married to a fellow listening to a horse. Her biggest line was 'lunch is ready'," he said. "The rest of it was reacting to it. Connie never complained. How many actors would react that way?"

'Mr. Ed' continues to build an audience in syndication. Watch a Clip

Before scoring her signature role, Hines appeared in a smattering of TV shows including 'Perry Mason' and 'Coronado 9.' After rapping the 144 episodes of 'Mr. Ed,' Hines worked occasionally throughout the 1960s and 1970s, in hits like 'Bonanza,' 'Love, American Style' and a handful of episodes of 'Hollywood Squares.'

But her on-screen association with animals didn't end with 'Ed.' After retiring in 1989 with her husband Lee Savin, who died in 1995, Hines hosted a cable access show about animals where she interviewed veterinarians and other experts.

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Recent Losses in TV Land

Alaina Reed Hall, Dec. 17: The kind-faced actress best known as Olivia on 'Sesame Street' and who later starred on '227,' died after a lengthy battle with breast cancer, the Springfield News-Sun reported. She was 63.

Everett Collection

Recent Losses in TV

Everett Collection

Gene Barry, Dec. 9: The 'Bat Masterson' and 'Burke's Law' actor died of unspecified causes at the age of 90, according to his son.

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Ken Ober, Nov. 15: The 'Remote Control' host was found dead at his Santa Monica home at the age of 52. Cause of death is unknown.

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Soupy Sales, Oct. 22: The comedian whose real name was Milton Supman built a career on his physical comedy and seemingly rubber face, which was the target of countless pies during his decades as a comedian. He was 83 years old.

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Vic Mizzy, Sept. 17: The songwriter who composed the catchy themes for the 1960s sit-coms 'The Addams Family' and 'Green Acres,' has died at age 93. His manager Jonathan Wolfson said he didn't know the cause of death. Mizzy is survived by a brother, daughter and two grandchildren.

Mathew Imaging / WireImage

Henry Gibson, Sept. 14: The actor known for roles in 'Blues Brothers,' 'The Burbs' and 'Laugh-In' died at his home in Malibu after battling cancer. He was 73.

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Harry Towb, July 24: The Irish actor died of cancer in his London home at the age of 83, after more than 60 years on the stage and screen.

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Alexis Cohen, July 25: The ex-'American Idol' hopeful, whose famous rejection meltdown made her a viral sensation in early 2008, was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver in New Jersey. Viewers better know Cohen as Glitter Girl, for her sparkly makeup. The aspiring singer and comedienne was 25.

AP Photo/FOX, Michael Becker, File

Les Lye, July 21: You know him as the foil to all those silly kids on 'You Can't Do That on Television' during the show's heyday. Lye died at age 84. Watch him in his numerous characters here.

YouTube

Gidget, July 21: The Chihuahua who became synonymous with Taco Bell thanks to their 'Yo Quiero Taco Bell' ad campaign died at the age of 15.

Taco Bell / AP

Tags: alan Young, AlanYoung, Connie Hines, ConnieHines, mr. ed, Mr.Ed

Comments

(26)

Tuesday 22 December

By -joe

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Carol H. was a beautiful woman, and her beauty was an inner beauty as well as physical,unlike most of the actresses in Hollywood today.

By joe

Sorry about the misspelling of Ms Hines first name.She was still a beautiful lady .

By gr8pooterz

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

....another victim of Obama

By James

She was buried with a saddle on.

By Munky

A hearse is a hearse of curse.

By Steve

Shouldn't that be "wrapping 144 episodes of Mr. Ed" rather than "rapping?" Or did Snoop Dogg direct those shows? Where do you get your writers?

By Kevin Fennessy

I don't mean to speak unkindly of the deceased, but she drove him into the arms of that horse. Seriously though, RIP.

By LOCO WILLIE

So sorry to hear of Ms. Hines passing.

As for Carol Post, she was HOT, HOT HOT!!!

Loved those tight sweaters.

By dano

Sorry to see her go. I really enjoyed Mr Ed as a kid. Too bad she got eulogized on POPEATER. That's like having your obituary in the The National Enquirer, or Lampoons.

By colin chea

Grwing up as a young child, i was having young thoughts as a teenager. I found Carol to be very attractive.

By Sluggo

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Me too

By hkmachine

I recently watched the new release of the Mr. Ed Season 1 DVD which included recent interviews with both Connie and Alan Young, (who is in his '90's) and both looked absolutely AMAZING. She was an absolutely lovely individual and it's too bad Hollywood didn't find other uses for her talent after Mr. Ed.

By cflotsofluck

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As a kid, I had somewhat of a crush on Wilbur. But my favorite part of the show was Mr. ED!! I really didn't pay that much attention to Wilbur's wife. But then again, you really hardly ever saw her!!

By Karen

Who is Connie Hines daughter? Isn't she a movie star also?

By leon

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

No.... you are thinking of Hines Ketchup

By CJ

I was watching Mr. Ed last night. It was an intersting episode where Ed hypnotizes Wilber. Ed also slips and calls Wilber, Trilby, which is Alan Young's character in The Time Machine. I didn't know he was still alive. I caught myself thinking that Ed talking was very believable. God rest you Connie Hines, and thanks.

By laurie

I loved that show as a kid.Especially watching Mr Ed "talk".To this day,I can still sing the theme word for word.Rest in peace,Ms.Hines.

By perrimeno

A "trooper" is in the military or on the police force. An actor or performer is a "trouper."

By judejaded

okay munky,... that was funny. this show was b4 my time

By Mike

Not everyone can be the star. Someone's got to be there to say, "Yes, dear," and "Don't be silly," and in my opinion, is a much harder job because it's thankless work that someone has to do.

Thanks for being there.

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