Nancy Kovack

About Nancy Kovack

Nancy Kovack, born on March 11, 1935, is a former American actress known for her work in both film and television. Hailing from Flint, Michigan, she is the daughter of Michael A. Kovack, who managed a General Motors plant. Kovack initially worked as a model before gaining recognition as one of Jackie Gleason's Glee Girls. Her television appearances include roles in popular series such as Bewitched, where she played both Sheila Sommers, Darrin Stephens' ex-girlfriend and Samantha's adversary, and Clio Vanita, an Italian client of Darrin's, as well as in Batman, I Dream of Jeannie, Get Smart, Perry Mason, 12 O'Clock High, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Invaders (in the "Task Force" episode, 1967), Burke's Law, Family Affair (in the "Family Plan" episode, 1968), The Name of the Game, and Hawaii Five-O (in the "Face of the Dragon" episode, 1969). Notably, she took on the role of a native medicine woman and femme fatale in the classic Star Trek episode titled "A Private Little War" (1968). In 1969, Kovack received an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role due to her guest appearance on Mannix. Besides her television work, she also hosted the game show Beat the Clock. As her career progressed, she landed significant film roles, including the high priestess Medea in Jason and the Argonauts (1963). Other noteworthy films include Strangers When We Meet (1960) alongside Kirk Douglas and Kim Novak, Diary of a Madman (1963) with Vincent Price, The Outlaws Is Coming (1965) with The Three Stooges, Sylvia (1965) with Carroll Baker, The Great Sioux Massacre (1965), The Silencers (1966) featuring Dean Martin, Tarzan and the Valley of Gold (1966) with Mike Henry, Frankie and Johnny (1966) starring Elvis Presley, and Carl Reiner's directorial debut, Enter Laughing (1967). She also graced the Broadway stage in The Disenchanted. Her final film appearance was in Marooned (1969), a science fiction drama that starred Gregory Peck and Gene Hackman. Using the name Nancy Mehta, she portrayed the murder victim in the television movie pilot Ellery Queen (also known as Too Many Suspects, 1975). Kovack also featured in three films produced in Iran. In 1969, she entered into marriage with renowned Indian conductor Zubin Mehta, who held the position of music director for the Los Angeles Philharmonic before later becoming the music director for the New York Philharmonic. From then until 2006, Kovack and Mehta maintained residency in Munich, Germany, where he served as