One year ago: Connie Hines

Connie Hines was an actress best known for playing Carol Post, whose husband, Wilbur, was the only person who could talk with Mister Ed in the 1960s television show. She died one year ago at age 78.

The "Mister Ed" part was "a tough chore," said actor Alan Young, who played Wilbur. "She was a girl married to a fellow listening to a horse. Her biggest line was 'lunch is ready.' The rest of it was reacting to it. Connie never complained. How many actors would react that way?"

After her first marriage ended in divorce, Hines moved to New York with a girlfriend who was a dancer and wanted to be on Broadway. There, she modeled and appeared in commercials, eventually landing a romantic leading role on the CBS anthology series "Rendezvous" that was shot in Europe.

CBS was impressed with her work and in 1959 sent her to Hollywood, where she appeared on television shows and won a role in the 1960 film "Thunder in Carolina" before making her big break with "Mister Ed."

After "Mister Ed" ended, Hines worked on TV sporadically, including "Medical Center," "The Mod Squad" and "Bonanza."

In 1970, Hines married Lee Savin, an entertainment lawyer and producer. They retired to Dana Point in 1989 on the recommendation of Young, who had been living there.

For more about the actress, read Connie Hines' obituary by The Times.

-- Michael Farr

Photo: Connie Hines

Credit: Coulter-Straus Inc.