Noreen Corcoran Dead: ‘Bachelor Father’ Actress Dies At 72

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Noreen Corcoran, the adopted niece on the hit TV show ‘Bachelor Father,’ died on Jan. 15 at the age of 72. She had been suffering from cardiopulmonary disease.

So sad. TV star Noreen Corcoran has passed away. The actress died on Jan. 15 of cardiopulmonary disease. She stole America’s hearts as the adorable teenager Kelly, who comes to live with her uncle Bentley on TV’s Bachelor Father in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Noreen died at Valley Presbyterian in Van Nuys, Calif., The Hollywood Reporter confirmed. She was 72. Her brother, Kevin Corcoran, who starred in the classic film Old Yeller, died in Oct. 2015.

Noreen rose to fame when she starred on Bachelor Father. She played Kelly, who goes to live with her uncle Bentley Gregg (John Forsythe), after her parents were killed in a car accident. She had been recommended by actor Ronald Reagan, who went on to become the 40th President of the United States.

The show ran from 1957 to 1962, totaling 157 episodes. Noreen transformed from a teenager to a sophisticated young woman. 

After Bachelor Father ended, she starred in films like Gidget Goes to Rome and The Girls on the Beach. She also appeared on TV shows such as Gunsmoke, The Big Valley, Dr. Kildare and Ben Casey. Noreen also recorded the single “Love Kitten.” She left her TV and film career behind for good in 1965. Noreen began an 11-year career with the renowned Lewitzky Dance Company.

Noreen never married. Her survivors include her two sisters, Donna and Kerry, and her niece. She will be missed.

Our thoughts are with Noreen’s family and friends during this difficult time. Watch videos of your favorite celebs HERE!