From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia Phyllis Coates born Gypsie Ann Evarts Stell January 15 1927 was an American actress best known for her portrayal of reporter Lois Lane in the 1951 film Superman and the MoleMen and in the first season of the television series Adventures of Superman Coates signed a movie contract with Warner Bros extending from 1948 to 1956 She costarred with George OHanlon as the title characters wife in the studios Joe McDoakes shortsubject comedies She acted in film serials including Jungle Drums of Africa 1953 Gunfighters of the Northwest 1953 and Panther Girl of the Kongo 1955 Her film career also included roles in Girls in Prison 1956 I Was a Teenage Frankenstein 1957 Blood Arrow 1958 Cattle Empire 1958 The Incredible Petrified World 1959 The Baby Maker 1970 and Goodnight Sweet Marilyn 1989 Coates was one of Hollywoods most consistently employed actresses of the 1950s and 60s She freelanced steadily appearing in numerous lowbudget features many of them Westerns as well as serials and a steady stream of TV appearances both as a regular in several series and as a guest cast member in others All this was in addition to the McDoakes shorts in which she continued to appear until Warner Bros discontinued the series in 1956