by PJ Heath
Lisa Loring, who played the original Wednesday Addams in the 1960s sitcom “The Addams Family,” has died at the age of 64.
Loring died from a stroke on Jan 28, surrounded by her loved ones.
Laurie Jacobson, a friend of Loring, announced her death on Facebook, stating she had “suffered a massive stroke brought on by smoking and high blood pressure.”
Going into acting at just age five, Loring was best known for her role as the macabre, eccentric Wednesday.
Wednesday's somber enthusiasm for raising spiders, beheading dolls and taking interest in all things unusual charmed her audience and resonated with those who see themselves as social outsiders. Her dark clothing, jet-black braids and white-collared frock continue to inspire gothic fashion today. Additionally, Loring’s role as Wednesday set the bar for every other actress to portray the role after her. She is quintessential; she is the mold.
Not only did her fashion inspire, but her ghoulish tendencies, phlegmatic personality and enjoyment of things dark and strange have captivated and influenced audiences for decades. Wednesday is iconic, sure of herself and comfortable in her own skin, and she embodies what it means to be unapologetically yourself.
The character has been given fresh interpretations over the years and recently has risen to popularity in the 2022 Netflix streaming series “Wednesday”, starring Jenna Ortega. The Netflix series has become increasingly popular amongst Generation Z due to Ortega’s infamous ‘Wednesday Dance’ that has become viral across all social media platforms. The dance was inspired by several different dance genres and artists, but the most notable inspiration is Lisa Loring’s dance in the original series.
After “The Addams Family” series ended, Loring continued acting and appeared in various short-lived shows, including “The Pruitts of Southampton”, “Fantasy Island” and “The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.”, as well as cheesy horror films such as “Iced”.
Loring stepped out of the spotlight and took a break from acting in the mid-1990s following a friend's suicide, according to IMBD.
Loring is survived by her daughters, Marianne and Vanessa, as well as her grandchildren, Emiliana and Charles.
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