Carolyn Sue Jones ( April 28 , 1930 -- August 3 , 1983 ) was an American actress of television and film . Jones began her film career in the early 1950s , and by the end of the decade had achieved recognition with a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for The Bachelor Party ( 1957 ) and a Golden Globe Award as one of the most promising actresses of 1959 . Her film career continued for another 20 years . In 1964 , she began playing the role of Morticia Addams ( as well as her sister Ophelia and the feminine counterpart of Thing , Lady Fingers ) , in the original black and white television series The Addams Family .

Question: who played morticia in the addams family tv show
Answer: Carolyn Sue Jones