Jayne Meadows
| Jayne Meadows | |
|---|---|
 Jayne Meadows and husband Steve Allen, September 1987 |
|
| Born | Jayne Cotter September 27, 1920 Wu-ch'ang, Heilongjiang, China |
| Occupation | Actress, author |
| Years active | 1946–2009 |
| Spouse | Steve Allen (1954–2000; his death) |
| Website | |
| http://www.jaynemeadows.com | |
Jayne Meadows (born September 27, 1920) is an American stage, film and television actress.
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[edit] Early life
Jayne Meadows was born as Jayne Cotter in Wu-ch'ang, in Heilongjiang, China, to Episcopal missionary parents, the Rev. Francis James Meadows Cotter and his wife, the former Ida Miller Taylor, who had married in 1915.[1] Meadows is the older sister of the late actress Audrey Meadows. She also had two brothers (also deceased). The family later returned to their home in Sharon, Connecticut.
[edit] Career
Meadows' most famous movies include: Song of the Thin Man (with William Powell and Myrna Loy), David and Bathsheba (with Gregory Peck, Susan Hayward and Raymond Massey), Lady in the Lake (with Robert Montgomery and Audrey Totter), Enchantment (with David Niven and Teresa Wright), and City Slickers (as the voice of Billy Crystal's oversolicitous mother).
Meadows was a regular panelist on the original version of I've Got a Secret and an occasional panelist on What's My Line?, the latter alongside husband Steve Allen. She also appeared on the NBC interview program Here's Hollywood. During the early days of the burgeoning live entertainment scene in Las Vegas, the Allens occasionally worked together as an act.
[edit] Marriage
She was married to Steve Allen from 1954 until his death in 2000. They had one son, Bill. Allen's three children from his first marriage (Stephen Jr., Brian and David) are her stepchildren.[2] She was credited as Jayne Meadows Allen for much of her marriage.
[edit] Filmography
- Undercurrent (1946)
- Lady in the Lake (1947)
- Dark Delusion (1947)
- Song of the Thin Man (1947)
- The Luck of the Irish (1948)
- Enchantment (1948)
- The Fat Man (1951)
- David and Bathsheba (1951)
- It Happened to Jane (1959)
- College Confidential (1960)
- Norman... Is That You? (1976)
- Da Capo (1985)
- Murder by Numbers (1990)
- City Slickers (1991)
- The Player (1992)
- For Goodness Sake (1993)
- City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994)
- Casino (1995)
- The Story of Us (1999)
[edit] Notable television work
- I've Got a Secret (panelist from 1952–1959)
- Jukebox Jury (1953)
- To Tell the Truth (regular panelist from 1957–1961)
- The Judy Garland Show (ep. 11, 1963)
- The Eleventh Hour (guest star, 2-part episode, 1964)
- Medical Center (cast member from 1969–1972)
- James Dean (1976)
- Meeting of Minds (1977–1981)
- Trivia Trap (panelist Celebrity Week from 1984)
- Miss All-American Beauty (1982)
- The Ratings Game (1984)
- Alice in Wonderland (1985)
- The Parent Trap: Hawaiian Honeymoon (1989)
[edit] References
- ^ Miss Ida M. Taylor to be Bride of Rev. F.J.M. Cotter on May 27., The New York Times, April 16, 1915, last accessed May 6, 2008.
- ^ New York Times obituary for Steve Allen
