Lois Wheeler Snow

Lois Wheeler Snow (July 12, 1920 – April 3, 2018) was an American actress who became known for her criticism of abuse of human rights.

Early years The daughter of Raymond Joseph Wheeler and Katherine Kurtz Wheeler, Snow was born Lois Wheeler on July 12, 1920, in Stockton, California. Her father was Stockton's mayor, and her mother was a homemaker. She remained in Stockton to study drama at the College of the Pacific. and was "a principal ingenue" for two years. She also won the F. Melvyn Lawson Award as the person who "contributed the most to the Little Theater season." Her performance in a college play led to her receiving a scholarship to study at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre in New York City—much to her parents' disappointment. She was also one of the Actors Studio's founding members. She acted in the touring company of Dear Ruth as well as in its Broadway production.

She appeared on film in My Foolish Heart (1949). On television, she portrayed nurse Janet Jackson on The Guiding Light from 1954 to 1958.

Relations with China In 2011, Snow began an essay with the statement, "China became part of my life when I met and married Edgar Snow." She first visited China in 1970 with her husband. The couple received a welcome fit for royalty, appearing publicly with Chairman Mao and meeting First Premier Zhou. In 2000 she went with her son to China, finding a reception much different from her earlier experience. Surveillance followed them, and a group of police officers prevented them from meeting with an activist whose son had been killed during the protests in Tiananmen.

Personal life She married writer Edgar Snow in May 1949 in Sneden's Landing, New York.

Death On April 3, 2018, Snow died at a hospital in Nyon, Switzerland, at age 97.