Kaye Stevens | Singer and actress, 79

Kaye Stevens, 79, a singer and actress who performed with the Rat Pack and was a frequent guest on Johnny Carson's

The Tonight Show

, died Wednesday at a hospital near Orlando, Fla., after a battle with breast cancer and blood clots.

Ms. Stevens, a longtime South Florida resident, performed with Rat Pack members including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and Joey Bishop. She also sang solo at such venues as Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas and the Plaza Hotel's Persian Room in New York.

During the Vietnam War era, Ms. Stevens performed for American soldiers in the war zone with Bob Hope's USO tour.

According to a friend, Rhonda Glenn, Ms. Stevens was born Catherine Louise Stephens in Pittsburgh. Her family eventually moved to Cleveland, where a teenage Stevens got her start as a drummer and singer.

She later married now deceased bandleader and trumpet player Tommy Amato, and the couple performed throughout the eastern United States.

During a gig in New Jersey, Ms. Stevens was discovered by Ed McMahon, Carson's longtime sidekick, which led to new bookings. Her big break came when she was playing in a lounge at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas. Debbie Reynolds became ill and was unable to perform in the main room. Ms. Stevens filled in and was an instant hit.

Besides singing, Ms. Stevens also acted in film and television. She appeared in six movies, earning a Golden Globe nomination in 1964 for The New Interns.

She was a frequent celebrity player on game shows and appeared as a regular on Days of Our Lives from 1974 to 1979.

During the last two decades, Ms. Stevens started her own ministry and performed only Christian and patriotic music. She staged benefits to help build St. Vincent Catholic Church in her longtime home of Margate, Fla., where city officials named a park in her honor. - AP