Jo Van Fleet

Early life and training Josephine Kay Van Fleet was born in 1915 in Oakland, California, the younger of two daughters of Michigan native Roy H. Van Fleet and Indiana native Elizabeth "Bessie" Catherine (née Gardner). Her father Roy worked for the railroads, but died in 1919 of a streptococcus throat infection which was lanced, inadvertently spreading the disease throughout his body. Federal census records show that by age five Josephine, her 18-year-old sister Corinne, and their widowed mother were living in Oakland with Bessie's parents, Ralph and Mary Gardner. To help support herself and her two daughters at her parents' home, Bessie worked as a "sales lady" in an Oakland dry goods store. She moved after her graduation from her masters program to New York City, where she continued her training with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse.

Career In 1944, Van Fleet began her professional stage career and immediately distinguished herself in the role of Miss Phipps in the production of Uncle Harry at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C. Two years later, in New York, she distinguished herself as well on Broadway by her performances as Dorcas in Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale; and yet again, in 1950, as Regan opposite Louis Calhern in King Lear.

Van Fleet's final performance, a brief but "delicious" supporting turn in the 1986 TV adaptation of Saul Bellow's Seize the Day, elicited this comment from Washington Post critic Tom Shales: Jo Van Fleet, who seems even to walk and blink legendarily, has a tiny part and only two small scenes as Mrs. Einhorn, an old woman with two incontinent dachshunds, but what a piquant impression she makes.

Personal life and death In 1946, Van Fleet married William G. Bales, whose career in modern dance included work as a performer, choreographer, professor at Bennington College, and the founding Dean of Dance at the State University of New York at Purchase, N. Y. They remained together until his death in 1990.

In February 1960, in recognition of her career in the motion-picture industry, as well as her work on stage and in television, Van Fleet was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It is located at 7010 Hollywood Boulevard.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes1955 Max Liebman Spectaculars Aunt Dete Episode: "Heidi" Star Tonight Irene Rankin Episode: "Concerning Death" East of Eden Kate Academy Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated—BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles The Philco Television Playhouse Shirley Episode: "A Business Proposition" The Rose Tattoo Bessie I'll Cry Tomorrow Katie Roth1956 Kraft Theatre Ma Episode: "Snapfinger Creek" The King and Four Queens Ma McDade Alfred Hitchcock Presents Mrs. Shrike Season 1 Episode 18: "Shopping for Death"1957 Gunfight at the O.K. Corral Kate Fisher This Angry Age Madame Dufresne Alfred Hitchcock Presents Anna Kaminsky Season 3 Episode 6: "Reward to Finder" 1958 Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse Mrs. Lombe Episode: "The Crazy Hunter"1959 Alcoa Theatre Mrs. Weiss Episode: "30 Pieces of Silver" G.E. True Theatre Miss Wanda Kelsey Episode: "Disaster"1960 Wild River Ella Garth Play of the Week Canina Episode: "Volpone"1961 The DuPont Show of the Month Callie Episode: "The Night of the Storm" Alfred Hitchcock Presents Molly Drake Season 6 Episode 34: "Servant Problem" Thriller Mrs. Cissy Hawk Episode: "The Remarkable Mrs. Hawk"1962 Naked City Dr. Anna Chaloupka Episode: "The Night the Saints Lost Their Halos" Frontier Circus Amelia Curtis Episode: "The Courtship"1963 Route 66 Hazel Quine Episode: "The Stone Guest" 77 Sunset Strip Jane Patterson Episode: "Don't Wait for Me"1964 Summer Playhouse Velma Clarke Episode: "Satan's Waitin'" Kraft Suspense Theatre Hildy Hesse Episode: "The World I Want" 1965 Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella Stepmother TV movie 1966 The Virginian Lee Calder Episode: "Legacy of Hate"1967 Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre Emily Cooper Episode: "Verdict for Terror" Cool Hand Luke Arletta 1968 I Love You, Alice B. Toklas Mrs. Fine1969 The Wild Wild West Amelia Bronston Episode: "The Night of the Tycoons" 80 Steps to Jonah Nonna1970 Mannix Alexandra Pulvarenti Episode: "One for the Lady" Mod Squad Annie Crabtree Episode: "'A' is for Annie" Bonanza Amy Wilder Episode: "The Trouble with Amy"1971 Great Performances Clara Episode: "Paradise Lost" Bonanza Miss Ellen Dobbs Episode: "The Stillness Within" The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight Big Momma Medical Center Margaret Episode: "Martyr" 1972 The Family Rico Mama Rico TV movie1973 Medical Center Leah Episode: "Time of Darkness" Satan's School for Girls Headmistress TV movie co-produced by Aaron Spelling 1976 The Tenant Madame Dioz 1977 Police Woman Irini Karabetas Episode: "The Buttercup Killer" 1980 Power Mother Vanda TV movie 1986 Seize the Day Mrs. Einhorn TV movie