Actress. Born in China to missionary parents, she returned back to Connecticut in the early 1930s with her family which included her sister, Audrey Meadows. In 1942, she made her debut on Broadway in the comedy 'Spring Again', and went on to perform in six more Broadway shows before starring in the 1958 Broadway hit, 'The Gazebo' that established her as a top comedienne. In the 1940s, she moved to Hollywood to begin a successful film and television career that spanned 6 decades. Among films she appeared in were 'Undercurrent' (1946), 'Song of the Thin Man' (1947), 'The Fat Man' (1951), 'College Confidential' (1960), 'Da Capo' (1985) and 'City Slickers' (1991). In 1954, she married comedian Steve Allen and would remain married to him until his death in 2000. Meadows, who was a three-time Emmy nominee, had many roles on television, including 'Kraft Theater', 'The Web', 'Danger', 'Studio One in Hollywood', 'The Steve Allen Comedy Hour', 'The Red Skelton Hour', 'Meeting of the Minds', 'Medical Center' and 'Trapper John, M.D.'. Her one woman show, 'Powerful Women in History', which toured the United States for seven years, earned her the International Platform Association Award. She received the Susan B. Anthony Award for her positive portrayals of women in her roles. Meadows died of natural causes.
Actress. Born in China to missionary parents, she returned back to Connecticut in the early 1930s with her family which included her sister, Audrey Meadows. In 1942, she made her debut on Broadway in the comedy 'Spring Again', and went on to perform in six more Broadway shows before starring in the 1958 Broadway hit, 'The Gazebo' that established her as a top comedienne. In the 1940s, she moved to Hollywood to begin a successful film and television career that spanned 6 decades. Among films she appeared in were 'Undercurrent' (1946), 'Song of the Thin Man' (1947), 'The Fat Man' (1951), 'College Confidential' (1960), 'Da Capo' (1985) and 'City Slickers' (1991). In 1954, she married comedian Steve Allen and would remain married to him until his death in 2000. Meadows, who was a three-time Emmy nominee, had many roles on television, including 'Kraft Theater', 'The Web', 'Danger', 'Studio One in Hollywood', 'The Steve Allen Comedy Hour', 'The Red Skelton Hour', 'Meeting of the Minds', 'Medical Center' and 'Trapper John, M.D.'. Her one woman show, 'Powerful Women in History', which toured the United States for seven years, earned her the International Platform Association Award. She received the Susan B. Anthony Award for her positive portrayals of women in her roles. Meadows died of natural causes.
Bio by: Louis du Mort
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Jayne Meadows Allen
September 27, 1919 - April 26, 2015
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