Sheila Mathews Allen (born Sheila Marie Mathews; February 2, 1929 – November 15, 2013) was an American actress and producer.

Life and career

Allen was born in New York City to Christopher Joseph and Elizabeth (née McCloskey) Mathews, both immigrants from Ireland. She was married to producer

Irwin Allen Irwin Allen (born Irwin O. Cohen; June 12, 1916 – November 2, 1991) was an American film and television producer and director, known for his work in science fiction, then later as the "Master of Disaster" for his work in the disaster film genr ...

until his death in 1991. She appeared in several of her husband's TV series and movies through to 1986. Appearances include '' City Beneath the Sea'', ''

Lost in Space ''Lost in Space'' is an American science fiction television series created and produced by Irwin Allen, which originally aired between 1965 and 1968 on CBS. Lightly dramatic, sometimes comedic in tone, the series was inspired by the 1812 J ...

'', '' Land of the Giants'', '' The Poseidon Adventure'' and ''

The Towering Inferno ''The Towering Inferno'' is a 1974 American disaster film directed by John Guillermin and produced by Irwin Allen, featuring an ensemble cast led by Paul Newman and Steve McQueen. It was adapted by Stirling Silliphant from the novels '' The ...

''. Following his death in 1991 she remained on the board of Irwin Allen Productions. She also served as a producer on the 2002 television remake of ''

The Time Tunnel ''The Time Tunnel'' is an American color science-fiction television series written around a theme of time travel adventure; it starred James Darren and Robert Colbert. The show was creator-producer Irwin Allen's third science-fiction televisi ...

'' and as Executive Producer of the film ''

Poseidon Poseidon (; ) is one of the twelve Olympians in ancient Greek religion and mythology, presiding over the sea, storms, earthquakes and horses.Burkert 1985pp. 136–139 He was the protector of seafarers and the guardian of many Hellenic cit ...

'' in 2006.

Death

Allen died on November 15, 2013, at her home in Malibu, California, after an extended battle with

pulmonary fibrosis Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition in which the lungs become scarred over time. Symptoms include shortness of breath, a dry cough, feeling tired, weight loss, and nail clubbing. Complications may include pulmonary hypertension, respiratory ...

Filmography

Television

* ''

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea ''Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea'' is a 1961 American science fiction disaster film, produced and directed by Irwin Allen, and starring Walter Pidgeon and Robert Sterling. The supporting cast includes Peter Lorre, Joan Fontaine, Barbara Eden ...

'' (1964, 1 episode) as Mrs. Melton * ''

'' (1965-1968, 3 episodes) as Aunt Gamma / Brynhilda / Ruth Templeton * ''

'', (1966-1967, TV series) as Producer * '' Land of the Giants'' (1969-1970, 2 episodes) as Miss Collier, Nurse Helg, respectively * '' City Beneath the Sea'' (1971, TV movie) as Blonde Woman * ''

The Waltons ''The Waltons'' is an American historical drama television series about a family in rural mountainous Western Virginia of the Appalachian Mountains / Allegheny Mountains / Blue Ridge Mountains chain, during the economic hardships and mass unemp ...

'' (1976-1978, 5 episodes) as Fanny Tatum * ''

Alice in Wonderland ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (also known as ''Alice in Wonderland'') is an 1865 English Children's literature, children's novel by Lewis Carroll, a mathematics university don, don at the University of Oxford. It details the story of a ...

'' (1985, TV movie) as Alice's Mother * ''

Outrage! OutRage! was a British political group focused on lesbian and gay rights. Founded in 1990, the organisation ran for 21 years until 2011. It described itself as "a broad based group of queers committed to radical, non-violent protest, non-viol ...

'' (1986, TV movie) as Mrs. Delehanty

References

External links

* * 1929 births 2013 deaths Film producers from New York (state) Actresses from New York City American television actresses 20th-century American actresses American film actresses Deaths from pulmonary fibrosis American people of Irish descent American women film producers 21st-century American actresses {{US-film-actor-1920s-stub