'Father Knows Best' actress Wyatt dies

yahoo.com ^ | oct, 22, 2006

[lunarbicep]

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

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

[LS]

Tasteless . . . but funny, nonetheless. At 96, I think Jane might even smile at that one.

[billhilly]

And loved most of them.

[outofsalt]

You are as lovely as ever Mrs. Cleaver!

[Larry Lucido]

No, I think it was Jane Austin. :-)

[Larry Lucido]

D'oh! Austen.

[brytlea]

I thought she was, but I wasn't sure.
susie

[RichInOC]

No, that was Barbara Billingsley.

[Fiddlstix]

R.I.P
Bump

[brytlea]

I forgot, thanks for reminding me.
susie

[Lancey Howard]

Wyatt came from a New York family of social distinction. Her father was a Wall Street investment banker and her mother was a drama critic, while one of her ancestors, Rufus King, had been a Presidential candidate. Among her other forebears were the van Rensselaers and the Livingstons, two of the most prominent families in New York City and State. She was also a cousin of Franklin Roosevelt. Her mother was a Catholic convert, and her father ultimately converted as well, although Jane did not attend Catholic schools.

Jane was raised from the age of three months in New York City, attended the fashionable Chapin School and later Barnard College. After two years of college, she left to join the apprentice school of the Berkshire Playhouse at Stockbridge, Massachusetts, where for six months she played a varied assortment of roles.

One of her first jobs on Broadway was as understudy to Rose Hobart in a production of Trade Winds - a career move that cost her her listing in the New York Social Register (her name was later relisted).

Can somebody fill me in - - what is a "social register"? Thanks.

[A CA Guy]

I watched it as a kid in reruns along with Leave it to Beaver, Sea Hunt, Bozo and cartoons of course.

I grew up for a while on the east coast and it was before cable, so they played lots of these B&W shows.

I Love Lucy, also great.

Some of the legends I miss are:

Red Skeleton, Bob Hope, Danny Kay, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and the legend to be Selina.

[Eepsy]

Sounds like it was the breeding book.

[HoosierHawk]

I just saw "Airplane" yesterday. Great movie.

And I loved the jive part. Who doesn't?

[Bubba_Leroy]

what is a "social register"?

How do you get listed in the Social Register?

[derllak]

You've got a crush on Beaver's mom? :)

[gidget7]

RIP Miss Jane

[sushiman]

As a kid I had the hots for many of the tv Moms : Barbara Billngsley ; June Lockhart ( on Lost In Space ) ; Mary Tyler Moore ( Van Dyke Show ) ; Donna Reed ...

[fieldmarshaldj]

Always enjoyed her work. May she rest in peace.

[gidget7]

"Father, if he's even around at all on TV shows today, doesn't seem to know anything any more. He's just there for the women and kids to ridicule because he's so stupid."



Isn't it the truth?? Whether it be programs or commercials, the man is made to look like a complete idiot. There is a growing resentment among young people regarding this. To many people, like me, Daddy is/was our hero.