Nina Shipman, 'Munsters' Actress, Dies at 88 in California

Actress Nina Shipman, who appeared in the 1960s comedy "The Munsters" and starred in the film "The Oregon Trail," died Sept. 6 in Gardena, California. She was 88. Shipman died of natural causes, according to her stepdaughter, Lianne Bremer, who confirmed the death to The Hollywood Reporter.

Born Aug. 15, 1938, in Los Angeles, Shipman came from a show business family. Her father, Barry Shipman, was a screenwriter known for Westerns and worked on the television series "Lassie." Her mother, Gwynne Shipman, was a dancer and actress. Her paternal grandparents, Nell and Ernest Shipman, also had careers in acting and theater.

Shipman's first significant role was in the 1959 film "The Oregon Trail," where she portrayed a woman in a love triangle with Fred MacMurray and William Bishop. She also appeared in the 1959 films "Say One for Me" and "Blue Denim." Shipman played "The Beautiful Girl" in a 1965 "The Munsters" episode titled "Lily Munster, Girl Model." In the comedic storyline, her character temporarily swapped voices with Grandpa (Al Lewis) to make Lily (Yvonne De Carlo) jealous. Shipman recalled in a 2024 interview, "I spoke my own lines, and then after we were through shooting, (Lewis’) voice was dubbed over into my lines so that I talked like Grandpa."

Shipman's career primarily focused on television. She made guest appearances on shows including "General Hospital," "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet," "Bonanza," "Rawhide," "Dr. Kildare," "Perry Mason," "The Beverly Hillbillies," and "Adam-12." In a 1966 "The Andy Griffith Show" episode, "The County Clerk," she played Irene Fairchild, a nurse who romanced Howard Sprague (Jack Dodson).

Beyond acting, Shipman wrote the 1975 book "How to Become an Actor in Television Commercials." She was also a pianist, practiced falconry and taught at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.