Jayne Meadows Allen, a gifted comedian in the Lucille Ball vein who became familiar to TV audiences as a longtime panelist on CBS’ I’ve Got A Secret, died April 26 of natural causes at her home in Encino, CA. She was 95. Her death was announced by her son Bill Allen, CEO of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp, who was with her in her final hours along with his wife Marie and Jayne’s grandchildren Bradley, Robert and Amanda. She had lived in the San Fernando Valley home since 1959, having moved there with her husband, Tonight Show creator and original host Steve Allen.
Born in China to missionary parents Francis and Ida Cotter, she made her Broadway debut as Jayne Cotter in Spring Again, an urbane 1941 comedy produced and directed by the legendary Guthrie McClintic. Her Broadway career peaked in 1958 with The Gazebo, a comic whodunit set on Long Island, in which she co-starred with Walter Slezak. Her last Broadway appearance was in a 1978 revival of the George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart comedy Once In A Lifetime. In 1993, she toured the U.S. with her husband in A.R. Gurney’s two-hander Love Letters.
Movies and TV brought out her more serious side as an actress. Meadows appeared in Undercurrent with Katharine Hepburn, David And Bathsheba with Gregory Peck, Enchantment with David Niven and Song Of The Thin Man with William Powell and Myrna Loy among many others. On TV, she appeared on all the Golden Age drama series, including Hallmark Hall of Fame, Studio One, G.E. Theatre and The DuPont Show Of The Week. She also appeared on the several long-running series — from Hawaii Five-O and Adam-12 to The Love Boat and Fantasy Island — and spent four years on PBS’ Meeting Of Minds, in which she played historical figures as varied as Marie Antoinette, Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Florence Nightingale. She appeared with her sister, Audrey Meadows, on NBC’s dramatic series Sisters.
Audrey Meadows died in 1996. Steve Allen died in 2000.
A talented and classy woman, always, and she brought out the best in her husband and co-stars. Pat Harrington is now the sole surviving member of Steve’s legendary NBC variety series.
If you’re referring to The Steve Allen (Plymouth) Show, there are, actually, a few other survivors – Abbe Lane, Steve Lawrence, Tony Bennett, Jerry Lewis, and Alan Young. :-)
I was referring to people who were at least semi-regulars, not guest stars (though Lawrence did appear fairly often).
Actually, the people I mentioned appeared on the show more times than Mr. Harrington did. :-)
What sad news. She was a bright light in a, sometimes, difficult industry. She, and her dear husband, were family friends for years as my father worked with Mr. Allen for decades. After Mr. Allen passed, everyone lost touch — as in life, so often happens.
She lived an extraordinary life, one that many others could only dream of. She is now joined with her husband for eternity. Rest in peace.
“Meeting of The Minds”…….that was programming far before it’s time.
Very sad to hear of her passing, but she led a long and extraordinary life.
RIP, Ms. Meadows. You will be remembered.
Such a wonderful, talented lady, and so funny! I can remember sitting in front of our 8×10, B/W TV screen and enjoying Steve Allen and her. A wonderful life with so many great times. Best wishes to you Jayne on your continuing journey! :)
hats
Off f
Or a great Starr !
What a great loss…to my parents generation and to us Baby Boomers who grew up with her as well. She was always like dessert…the topping on a cake and a special treat to enjoy!
My sympathies go out to her family and friends. May she rest in peace. Now, I’ll probably spend the next day or two, roaming the internet for some early videos, just to enjoy and remember!
Lovely, funny woman, and a pioneer.
Classy and sassy lady!
Thank you for all the laughter, rest in peace beautiful lady.