Ann Wedgeworth

Elizabeth Ann Wedgeworth (January 21, 1934 – November 16, 2017) was an American character actress, known for her roles as Lana Shields in Three's Company, Hilda Hensley in Sweet Dreams, and Merleen Elldridge in Evening Shade. She won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play for Chapter Two.

Early life Elizabeth Ann Wedgeworth was born in Abilene, Texas. She graduated from Highland Park High School in University Park, Texas, where she was a childhood friend and high school classmate of Jayne Mansfield. She dropped her first name after graduating from the University of Texas in 1957, and moved to New York City. After auditioning several times, she was admitted to The Actors Studio.

Career

Theatre Wedgeworth made her Broadway debut in the play Make a Million in 1958. In 1978, she won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play for Chapter Two.

Wedgeworth appeared off-Broadway at New York's Promenade Theatre from December 5, 1985, until June 1, 1986, in Sam Shepard's A Lie of the Mind, co-starring Harvey Keitel and Geraldine Page; coincidentally, Page, a decade Wedgeworth's senior, had married actor Rip Torn after his divorce from Wedgeworth. Wedgeworth appeared in just nine episodes of the series before her character was written out without any explanation and never referred to again.

In 1982, Wedgeworth worked with Linda Bloodworth-Thomason in her first comedy series, Filthy Rich, playing ditsy, good-natured Bootsie Westchester. The series was canceled after two seasons in 1983. In 1989, she guest-starred as Audrey Conner, the emotionally fragile mother of Dan Conner (played by John Goodman) on the ABC sitcom, Roseanne. Her longest role was on the CBS sitcom Evening Shade as Merleen Eldridge. The series aired from 1990 to 1994. In 1994, Wedgeworth starred in the unsuccessful Evening Shade spin-off, Harlan & Merleen.

Personal life Wedgeworth married Rip Torn in 1955. They had a daughter, actress Danae Torn. The couple divorced in 1961.

Filmography Film

Television

Stage + Year Title Role Notes 1958 The Crucible Abigail Williams Martinique Theatre 1958 Make A Million Julie Martin Playhouse Theatre, Broadway 1960 Period of Adjustment Isabel Haverstick Hayes Theater, Broadway 1964 Blues For Mister Charlie Jo Britten Anta Theatre, Broadway 1964 The Last Analysis Pamela Belasco Theatre, Broadway 1974 Thieves Nancy Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway 1977 Chapter Two Faye Medwick Imperial Theatre, Broadway 1985 A Lie of the Mind Meg Promenade Theater, Off-Broadway