Hollywood Bids Farewell to a Classic
Hollywood has lost one of its timeless stars.
Pippa Scott, the fiery redhead who captivated audiences in The Searchers, passed away on May 22 at age 90.
A Peaceful Goodbye
Her daughter, Miranda Tollman, confirmed that Pippa died peacefully at her home in Santa Monica. The cause was congenital heart failure.
A Life of Art and Activism
Scott’s passing closes the chapter on a life filled with cinematic brilliance and humanitarian impact. Known for her roles alongside legends like John Wayne, Rosalind Russell, and Dick Van Dyke, she also carved out a powerful second act as a human rights advocate.
Born Into Hollywood
Born on November 10, 1934, in Beverly Hills, Pippa came from Hollywood royalty. Her birth name was Philippa, but childhood mispronunciations shortened it to “Pippa” — a name that stuck.
Her father, Allan Scott, penned classics like Top Hat and Swing Time. Her mother, Laura Straub, was a stage actress who inspired Pippa’s early love for performance. Even her uncle, Adrian Scott, made headlines as one of the blacklisted Hollywood Ten — foreshadowing the values Pippa would later uphold.
A Star from the Start
By high school, she was already performing in summer theater. With her vibrant red hair, green eyes, and infectious spirit, she stood out instantly.
In 1956, she burst into stardom as Lucy Edwards in The Searchers, opposite John Wayne and under the direction of John Ford. That film remains a Western classic, and her role helped launch a memorable career.
Scene-Stealing Roles
Scott went on to shine in Auntie Mame, As Young As We Are, My Six Loves, and Cold Turkey. In the latter, she played the weary wife of a pastor, portrayed by Dick Van Dyke, during a town’s no-smoking challenge.
She also made her mark in Petulia, Bad Ronald, and as a murder victim in the Columbo episode “Requiem for a Falling Star.”
TV Queen of the ‘60s and ‘70s
Pippa graced dozens of television classics:
Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, Mission: Impossible, The Waltons, Ironside, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and many more.
Fans fondly remember her presence. One shared, “If you grew up in the ’70s, she was everywhere.” Another said, “Heaven better batten down those hatches — here comes trouble!”
A Memorable Pairing
In 1966, she guest-starred on The Dick Van Dyke Show as Dorothy, the rabbi’s mysterious wife in “Buddy Sorrell: Man and Boy.” The duo reunited in 1971’s Cold Turkey, solidifying her place in American pop culture.
Activist at Heart
Yet Scott’s greatest legacy may lie off-screen. In 1993, she founded the International Monitor Institute (IMI), which helped prosecute war crimes in Rwanda, Bosnia, Sierra Leone, and Cambodia.
Her activism was rooted in family history — shaped by her blacklisted uncle — and driven by a deep sense of justice.
Stories That Mattered
Pippa produced The World’s Most Wanted Man for PBS Frontline in 1998, tracking the hunt for war criminal Radovan Karadzic. She also helped create King Leopold’s Ghost in 2006, exposing colonial atrocities in the Congo.
Through Linden Productions, she partnered with the UN and Human Rights Watch to amplify underreported human rights issues. IMI’s work now lives on through Duke University.
A Quiet Return to Film
Though she stepped back from acting in the late ’70s, Scott returned in the 2009 indie film Footprints and 2013’s Automobile.
In a 2005 interview, she reflected on her career with warmth and humility.
Love and Legacy
Pippa married Lee Rich, a founding partner of Lorimar Productions, in 1964. They had two children before separating in 1983. However, they reunited in 1996 and remained close until Rich’s passing in 2012.
She is survived by daughters Miranda and Jessica, and five grandchildren.
A Life That Mattered
Pippa Scott leaves behind a legacy of grace, talent, and purpose. From her iconic Hollywood roles to her fearless fight for justice, she lived a life that mattered — both on screen and far beyond it.
Rest in peace, Pippa. Thank you for everything.