Serious talk with Ronald Reagan, father-lover figure in That Hagen Girl, 1948.
1947's Gentleman's Agreement
Posted on 09/10/2007 4:54:33 PM PDT by bd476
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Jane Wyman, the Oscar-winning actress who was Ronald Reagan's first wife and starred in the popular 1980s television drama "Falcon Crest," died on Monday at age 90, her longtime manager said.
Wyman married fellow actor and future U.S. President Reagan in 1940 but divorced him in 1948. She died at her home in Palm Springs, California, having been in failing health for several years, business manager Michael Mesnick said in a statement.
Known as "one-take Wyman" for her professional work ethic, Wyman appeared in more than 80 films during a career spanning four decades. Her last movie was the 1969 musical comedy "How to Commit Marriage" with Bob Hope and Jackie Gleason.
Starting out as a radio singer, the Missouri-born Wyman broke into the movies in the 1930s as a Goldwyn Girl and signed with Warner Bros. studio in 1936. Her film acting debut came with a bit part in "Gold Diggers of 1937."
Initially typecast as a perky, sometimes flaky or tart-tongued blonde, Wyman toiled for a decade in mostly B-movie fare and supporting roles in bigger films. She gained notice in 1945 for her role as the girlfriend of a chronic alcoholic in Billy Wilder's drama "The Lost Weekend."
Generally appearing as a brunette after that film, Wyman went on to give a string of Oscar-nominated performances as a leading lady, beginning with "The Yearling" opposite Gregory Peck in 1946.
OSCAR TIME AND DIVORCE
She won the Oscar as best actress for her 1948 role -- played when she was 34 -- as a teenage deaf-mute raped in "Johnny Belinda." She and Reagan, once hailed by the Hollywood publicity machine as the ideal couple, saw their marriage collapse.
Wyman's two other Oscar nominations came for the 1951 drama "The Blue Veil," in which she played a self-sacrificing nursemaid, and the 1954 Douglas Sirk-directed romance "Magnificent Obsession," opposite Rock Hudson.
She sang in duet with Bing Crosby on the Oscar-winning song, "In the Cool Cool Cool of the Evening," from Frank Capra's 1951 musical comedy "Here Comes the Groom," and shared the screen with Marlene Dietrich in Alfred Hitchcock's 1950 thriller "Stage Fright."
Wyman began a television career in the 1950s, hosting the drama anthology series "The Jane Wyman Theater." She became best known to a later generation of viewers as the ruthless family matriarch Angela Channing in the CBS melodrama "Falcon Crest."
The show was a 1980s hit during the White House administration of her former second husband, Reagan, with whom Wyman had a daughter, Maureen, who died in 2001, and adopted a son, Michael, who became a conservative radio host.
By then Reagan, whom Wyman had met and began dating during their work together on the 1938 film "Brother Rat," had long been married to another of his onetime co-stars, Nancy Davis.
Despite concerns in Reagan's camp during his first White House bid about winning election as the first divorced president, Wyman remained scrupulously silent about her ex-husband, as she had during her time as California governor.
Michael Reagan wrote years later that his father "wouldn't have been president being married to Jane Wyman. He needed a Nancy, who was willing to give up her career to be there, by his side."
While her birthdate was widely cited as being in January 1914, her manager Mesnick said Wyman was actually born three years later, a fact she had long obscured for professional reasons because she had wanted to be seen as older.
She was herself married a total of four times to three different men, divorcing the last in 1965.
God bless Jane Wyman and welcome her soul...Prayers for Michael Reagan and family and friends..
Serious talk with Ronald Reagan, father-lover figure in That Hagen Girl, 1948.
1947's Gentleman's Agreement
Wyman and Wyatt got confused because of the name similarity, not much else. I thought Ms. Wyatt had a much warmer and exuberant personality. Ms. Wyman was a bit chillier and reserved.
From the Internet Movie Database entry:
Apparently broke up with Ronald Reagan over her love for Lew Ayres, but that relationship failed in the long run.
Well said. I imagine the pressures of Hollywood took their toll. It is truly a sad day for Michael. I have a feeling he must realize how fortunate he is and was.
That would explain the marriage license sign, too.
But thanks for the pictures. I have yet to see an frowning Reagan.
He was an incredible optimist, wasn't he?
Prayers for the family.
You can’t believe that calendar. Hell, it says “LYON” right on it. LOL
Whoa, check out the Temptation collar on the Gipper! All he needs is a fat gold chain. ;-)
I was thinking the same. Prayers for Michael!
Also a very good actress. Was the mother on Father Knows Best.
Michael was very lucky to have both parents live till their nineties. Majority of people do not have that gift. No pity is needed. His father was 94 and his mother was 93 (even though the article says 90). He should thank his lucky stars that he had both for such a long time instead of complaining about lonliness.
Was he complaining about loneliness?? I don’t think so. I said he must be feeling very lonely right about now. I had my dear mother until she was 80 and my dear father until he was 90. I have a wonderful husband and family but I STILL felt lonely. It’s not easy losing a parent ...it’s the end of your beginnings. I don’t fault anyone for feeling lonely after they lose a parent or anyone else. Who says they shouldn’t? Who has the right to say they shouldn’t? Not me. Not you.
Yes, we admire Michael very much. Strong person like his dad Ronald Reagan. God bless him.
Ronald Reagan was a great man in his personal and public life. More politicans could take a lesson from this great man who raised a wonderful son.
Yes, he was. He was one of our all time greatest. I put him up there with our Founders...
What a great description of Ronald Reagan. Good for you. Thanks for that.
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