Although Lee Meriwether acted alongside Buddy Ebsen in Barnaby Jones, she was by no means a side character on the series. Ebsen himself was a talented actor on the stage and screen, but Meriwether had talent of her own, starring in the series as Jones’s daughter-in-law before the two joined forces and began working together.

As the series went on, Meriwether’s role grew larger. As her screen time increased, the actor learned that the life of a leading lady was a tiresome one. “I got the feeling of what it was like to be a star when I was featured in back-to-back episodes,” said Meriwether during an interview with The San Francisco Examiner. “I really don’t know how people do it. You have no time to call your own. Up at 5, studio at 6, do your makeup, your hair, your wardrobe, film from 8 to 1, take 45 minutes lunch, film again until 7 or 8, drive home 45 minutes from the studio, say hello to the kids, have dinner, pet the cat, climb in bed and try to stay awake long enough to learn 8 or 10 pages of dialogue. Then repeat the whole process.”

Still, this extra effort had its own rewards. Meriwether was nominated for multiple awards during her time on Barnaby Jones. It was a success that she was grateful for, as she saw herself as a student of television. “Heavens, I’m just thrilled they’re giving me more to do,” said Meriwether during an interview with The Morning News. “I’m just learning what it's like. I used to work maybe two days a week. I’m just learning how to fly.”

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