Gwen Arner

Gwendolyn Ruth Arner (born November 23, 1932) is an American director and actress. She co-founded the Los Angeles Actors' Theatre and directed stage productions there, as well as at the Mark Taper Forum and in the Midwestern United States. She also directed episodes of The Waltons, Dallas, Falcon Crest, and Dynasty.

Early life and career Born on November 23, 1932, in McCook, Nebraska, and raised in Omaha, Arner is the daughter of banker John Erwin Arner and his first wife, Mary Alice Trivelpiece. Having gotten her first taste of public performance plus press coverage at age 10 (as one of three "Little Wardens" headlining a World War II-related relief effort), she began studying theater at Omaha's Benson High School, where, during her senior year, Arner starred as Phoebe Throssel / Livvie in a production of J. M. Barrie's Quality Street. She then briefly attended University of Omaha, before transferring to the University of Michigan, where she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in the field.

Among her LAAT directing credits are productions of The Kitchen and Waiting for Godot, the latter which was shown at Great Performances on PBS in 1977. Dana Elcar, who starred in the production, also recalled that Arner had "managed the transition without losing touch". After Passion Play, she stopped doing stage direction work in Los Angeles for a while, preferring work in television films, allowing her to spend more time in New York. She also directed the films My Champion (1981), Please Don't Hit Me, Mom (1981), Mother's Day on Walton's Mountain (1982), My Town (1986), Necessary Parties (1988), Majority Rule (1992), and Something Borrowed, Something Blue (1997). In 1991, she directed the world premiere of Jeremy Lawrence's play Uncommon Ground at the Northlight Theatre in Evanston, Illinois, starring her husband Donald Moffat and Anna Gunn.

Writing for the Los Angeles Times, Jan Breslauer wrote in 1996 that Arner "has accomplished what few women in her generation – or any generation, for that matter – have. At 59, she's had a successful directing career in both theater and television for more than 20 years." Judging from an item later published in the Stamford Advocate, they remained married for eight years.

In 1969, she married Donald Moffat, who was one of the LAAT's co-founders; they raised their four children and would remain married until Moffat's death on December 20, 2018.

Filmography As director + Television Year Title Notes 1978 The Bionic Woman 1 episode 1978 The Paper Chase 1 episode 1980 The Waltons 13 episodes 1984 American Playhouse 1 episode 1984 Dallas 5 episodes 1986 The Colbys 2 episodes 1986 Falcon Crest 8 episodes 1987 Dynasty 11 episodes 1988 Hotel 1 episode 1990 Alien Nation 2 episodes 1991 The Commish 1 episode 1991 Law & Order 2 episodes 1993 Beverly Hills, 90210 1 episode 1993 Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman 1 episode 1993 Sisters 2 episodes 1996 Homicide: Life on the Street 1 episode + Film Year Title 1981 My Champion 1981 Please Don't Hit Me, Mom 1982 Mother's Day on Walton's Mountain 1986 My Town 1988 Necessary Parties 1992 Majority Rule 1997 Something Borrowed, Something Blue

As actress Year Title Role 1972 The Trial of the Catonsville Nine Marjorie Melville 1978 A Question of Love 1978 Stickin' Together Miss Steigler 1982 Making Love Arlene

Awards and nominations