Jane-Wyatt-Obituary

Jane Wyatt

Obituary

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Jane Wyatt, the lovely, serene actress who for six years on ''Father Knows Best'' was one of TV's favorite moms, has died, her publicist said. She was 96.

Wyatt died Friday in her sleep of natural causes at her Bel-Air home, her publicist Meg McDonald said Sunday. Her death also was confirmed by Bernard Johnson of the funeral home Gates, Kingsley & Gates Moeller Murphy Funeral Directors.

Wyatt had a successful film career in the 1930s and '40s, notably as Ronald Colman's lover in 1937's ''Lost Horizon.''

But it was her years as Robert Young's TV wife, Margaret Anderson, on ''Father Knows Best'' that brought the actress her lasting fame.

She appeared in 207 half-hour episodes from 1954 to 1960 and won three Emmys as best actress in a dramatic series in the years 1958 to 1960. The show began as a radio sitcom in 1949; it moved to television in 1954.

''Being a family show, we all had to stick around,'' she once said. ''Even though each show was centered on one of the five members of the family, I always had to be there to deliver such lines as 'Eat your dinner, dear,' or 'How did you do in school today?' We got along fine, but after the first few years, it's really difficult to have to face the same people day after day.''

The Anderson children were played by Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray and Lauren Chapin, and all grew up on the show. In later years critics claimed that shows like ''Father Knows Best'' and ''Ozzie and Harriet'' presented a glossy, unreal view of the American family.

In defense, Wyatt commented in 1966: ''We tried to preserve the tradition that every show had something to say. The children were complicated personally, not just kids. We weren't just five Pollyannas.''

It was a tribute to the popularity of the show that after its run ended, it continued in reruns on CBS and ABC for three years in primetime, a TV rarity. The show came to an end because Young, who had also played the father in the radio version, had enough. Wyatt remarked in 1965 that she was tired, too.

''The first year was pure joy,'' she said. ''The second year was when the problems set in. We licked them, and the third year was smooth going. Fatigue began to set in during the fourth year. We got through the fifth year because we all thought it would be the last. The sixth? Pure hell.''

The role was not the only time in her 60 years in films and TV that Wyatt was cast as the warm, compassionate wife and mother. She even played Mr. Spock's mom in the original ''Star Trek'' series and the feature ''Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.''

She got her start in films in the mid-'30s, appearing in ''One More River,'' ''Great Expectations,'' ''We're Only Human'' and ''The Luckiest Girl in the World.'' When Frank Capra chose her to play the Shangri-la beauty in ''Lost Horizon,'' her reputation was made. Moviegoers were entranced by the scene _ chaste by today's standards _ in which Colman sees her swimming nude in a mountain lake.

Never a star, Wyatt enjoyed career longevity with her reliable portrayals of genteel, understanding women. Among the notable films:

''Buckskin Frontier'' (with Richard Dix), ''None But the Lonely Heart'' (Cary Grant), ''Boomerang'' (Dana Andrews), ''Gentleman's Agreement'' (Gregory Peck), ''Pitfall'' (Dick Powell), ''No Minor Vices'' (Dana Andrews), ''Canadian Pacific'' (Randolph Scott), ''My Blue Heaven'' (Betty Grable, Dan Dailey) and ''Criminal Lawyer'' (Pat O'Brien).

''Father Knows Best'' enjoyed such lasting popularity in reruns and people's memories that the cast returned years later for two reunion movies. She also remained active on other projects, such as ''Amityville: The Horror Goes On'' in 1989, and in charity work.

When Young died in 1998, Wyatt paid tribute to him as ''simply one of the finest people to grace our industry.''

''Though we never socialized off the set, we were together every day for six years, and during that time he never pulled rank (and) always treated his on-screen family with the same affection and courtesy he showed his loved ones in his private life,'' she said.

Wyatt was born in Campgaw, New Jersey, into a wealthy family in 1910, acccoring to McDonald, her publicist. Her father, an investment banker, came from an old-line New York family, her mother was a Van Rensselaer and wrote drama reviews. They gave their daughter a genteel upbringing, with her schooling at the fashionable Miss Chapin's school and Barnard College.

She left college after two years to apprentice at the Berkshire Playhouse in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. For two years she alternated between Berkshire and Broadway, appearing with Charles Laughton, Louis Calhern and Osgood Perkins.

While acting with Lillian Gish in ''Joyous Season'' in 1934, she got a contract offer from Universal Pictures. She agreed, on condition she could spend half each year in the theater.

During college days, Wyatt had attended a party at Hyde Park, New York, given by the sons of Franklin D. Roosevelt. There she met a Harvard student, Edgar Ward. In 1935 she married Ward, then a businessman, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. They had two sons, Christopher and Michael.


Copyright © 2006 The Associated Press


Guest Book

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I remember as a child watching Father Knows Best and wishing she was my mother and the family was my family. So many of us during the 50´s came from very broken families on some many levels. I lived to watch this program, that showed me what a family could truly be. I raised my children always with her in the back of my mind. That family, that show was my salvation on so many levels. Thank you for bringing Margaret Anderson to life for so many to enjoy. I still watched today, reliving so many...

Jane was a wonderful actress and person who has left me with so many warm memories. She will forever be remembered with great fondness and will always have a place in my heart. Your life has made a difference for millions of people. May you rest forever in Heaven in the presence of our Lord. God bless you Jane.

A patient and quite calming person who grasped her audience cleaverley and endearing. A beautiful soul that will surely be remembered!

In memory, you indeed were a friend of the first hours. In gratitude, the Benedictine Monks of Valyermo especially all of Our Founding Fathers

Jane, You and your fellow cast members always sent out a good life learning message to the viewers of Father Knows Best. That was the highlight of your show. Takes good acting to send such good messages. Thank You

I'm you 're the Jane I think and was very Beautiful woman

Jane was a hugely talented and beautiful actress who brought such a warmth to the screen that you couldn't help but love her. I watch her whenever i can on "Father Knows Best". She embodies the grace, beauty and integrity of the American woman and i will be a fan forever. Thank you Jane for giving me a lifetime of enjoyment. May God forever bless you.

Jane Wyatt was a wonderfully talented and beautiful woman. Both my wife and I watch her in the morning and get a great feeling from watching the show. Her personality, ability, and integrity can inspire every American. God bless you, Ms. Wyatt.

Loved Jane's soft spoken voice and the on screen love she showed with her on screen family. Wish there were more Jane Wyatts and more family tv shows like Father Knows Best.