Jayne Meadows facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jayne Meadows
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Meadows in the 1940s
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| Born |
Jane Cotter
September 27, 1919 Wuchang District, Wuhan, China
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| Died | April 26, 2015 (aged 95) Encino, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, California |
| Occupation | Actress, author |
| Years active | 1941–2009 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Children | 1 |
| Relatives | Audrey Meadows (sister) |
Jayne Meadows (born Jane Cotter; September 27, 1919 – April 26, 2015) was a talented American actress. She was known for her work in plays, movies, and television shows. Jayne was also a writer and a speaker. She was nominated for three Emmy Awards during her career. Her younger sister, Audrey Meadows, was also a famous actress. Jayne was married to Steve Allen, who was the first host of The Tonight Show.
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Early Life and Family
Jayne Meadows was born Jane Cotter in 1919. She was born in Wuchang, Wuhan, China. Her parents, Francis James Meadows Cotter and Ida Miller Taylor, were American Episcopal missionaries. This means they were religious workers who traveled to other countries.
Jayne was the older sister of actress Audrey Meadows. She also had two older brothers. In the early 1930s, her family moved to Sharon, Connecticut, in the United States. Her father became a church leader there.
A Career in Acting
Jayne Meadows had a long and successful career in entertainment. She starred in many movies and TV shows.
Famous Movies
Some of Jayne Meadows' most well-known movies include:
- Undercurrent (1946), where she acted alongside Katharine Hepburn.
- Song of the Thin Man (1947), with William Powell and Myrna Loy.
- Lady in the Lake (1947), starring Robert Montgomery.
- Enchantment (1948), with David Niven.
- David and Bathsheba (1951), where she worked with Gregory Peck and Susan Hayward.
In 1949, she received an award called the Cosmopolitan Award. She won it for her excellent acting in the movie Enchantment.
Television Appearances
Jayne Meadows also became a familiar face on television. One of her first TV roles was in 1953. She played a reporter named Helen Brady in an episode of Suspense.
She was a regular guest on the TV show I've Got a Secret. She also appeared often on What's My Line?, a popular game show, alongside her husband, Steve Allen. The couple sometimes performed together in Las Vegas.
Jayne and Steve often appeared on TV together until Steve's death in 2000. Their last TV appearance together was in 1999. They played a couple in an episode of the show Diagnosis: Murder. Jayne also lent her voice to the movie City Slickers, playing the main character's mother on the phone.
Later Life and Legacy
Jayne Meadows was married to Steve Allen from 1954 until he passed away in 2000. They had one son named Bill. Steve also had three sons from his first marriage, who became Jayne's stepchildren.
Jayne was involved in the Republican Party. This was interesting because her husband, Steve Allen, was a Democrat. She received several special degrees from universities, called honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees.
Jayne Meadows continued to be active until 2009. She passed away on April 26, 2015, at her home in Encino, California. She was 95 years old. Jayne is buried next to Steve Allen at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills.
Filmography
