Lisa Loring As Wednesday: 'Addams Family's Creepy, Cute Daughter

On The Addams Family, Lisa Loring's Wednesday Addams was the young daughter of Gomez and Morticia Addams, and the sister of Pugsley Addams. The TV show originally aired from 1964 to 1966. It was based on Charles Addams' family of characters, who'd originated in humorous cartoons about the creepy clan published in The New Yorker. Wednesday, the baby of the family, liked to play with spiders and her Marie Antoinette doll, which was often decapitated by Pugsley.

The Addams Family TV show was a close rival of a similar series of the era, The Munsters. Loring's Wednesday Addams character was later portrayed in films by Christina Ricci, and Wednesday's outfit, though it is not especially exotic, remains a favorite Halloween costume of Addams Family fans.

Loring was so young when she auditioned and was cast in this role that she still wasn’t an accomplished reader. "I learned to memorize before I could read," she told the Sydney Morning Herald, calling her life "surreal." 

Wednesday Addams, portrayed by Lisa Loring, was reportedly one of creator Charles Addams’ favorite characters. As it turned out, her TV persona may have had a better life than the real little girl did. Loring’s parents divorced shorty after she was born. Later, she lost her mother due to complications from alcohol addiction. Loring was no stranger to real-life woe. She also suffered from addiction at one time.  

In addition to Lisa Loring, the original cast of The Addams Family, other immediate family members were played by John Aston (Gomez), Carolyn Jones (Morticia) and Ken Weatherwax (Pugsley).  The regular Addams family members consisted of mother, father, brother and sister; a grandmother (Marie Blake), the ever-faithful butler Lurch (Ted Cassidy), Cousin Itt (Felix Silla), Uncle Fester (Jackie Coogan), and a disembodied hand called Thing were also always around. Each character brought their own special nuance to the TV series, with Wednesday Addams and Lurch, the butler, enjoying a close and special relationship. They looked out for each other.

The initial cartoon version of The Addams Family did not reveal any names for the main characters. It wasn’t until 1964, when the cartoon made its way to the TV screen that they all were given names. Wednesday's name was inspired by a well-known children’s nursery rhyme that included the words, “Wednesday’s child is full of woe.” Her middle name is Friday, of course.

Wednesday was originally the epitome of everything sad, unfeeling and disassociated with human emotion. She was recognized for her pale skin tone, cold attitude and her mostly black attire. Initially this character was thought to be evil, but as the TV series evolved, Wednesday Addams seemed to soften; although she was often known to play with her signature headless doll and a pet spider.

If anyone has ever seen The Addams Family, they will surely remember the tune of the iconic opening theme song composed by Vic Mizzy.

Back in the 60’s, TV shows were broadcast in black and white. The Addams Family was a half hour series that aired on the ABC network back in the groovy era. Vic Mizzy composed the theme song to this iconic show that many still remember today. The show always opened with the family snapping their fingers to the lyrics and tune of this unmistakable theme song.

Many child actors have found themselves to be catapulted into adulthood before their time. Lisa Loring was no exception to this rule having married the first time at age 15. This marriage failed and was followed by three others.

Lisa Loring is all grown up and says that she has “fond memories” of the time she spent working on The Addams Family. The cast was a close-knit group, with Ted Cassidy being her favorite.

After The Addams Family, Loring appeared in the soap opera As The World Turns, as Cricket Montgomery, some movies. She spends less time acting these days but doesn’t regret one minute of her career. She reports that, "I do autograph shows all over the USA,” and she wouldn’t have it any other way.