In a 1942 newspaper article, Ruth described how she and her husband encouraged Jane to develop a generous personality and avoid the egoism and self-centeredness that a child star might accrue as the object of adoring fans and studio "sycophants". British actress Googie Withers, who was best known for her appearance in Alfred Hitchcock's The Lady Vanishes, has died at her home in Australia aged 94. Followers of postwar cinema may well recall Googie Withers's striking presence in It Always Rains On Sunday, an unusually intense film for the Ealing Studios of 1947. In the early 70s she was a series regular on U.K. prison drama Within These Walls as Princess Governess Faye Boswell, and she appeared in Hotel du Lac and Northanger Abbey for the BBC in the 80s. Looking for Googie Withers online? Georgette Lizette "Googie" Withers CBE, AO was an English theatre, film and television actress died she was , 94.. She was a longtime resident of Australia with her husband, the actor John McCallum, with whom she often appeared. The lovers were shown as unsympathetically as they might have been in French film noir, and the weather was bad even by British standards. . Trevor Howard1913929David Lean in Close-UpShadowing the Third Man104. Comment down your favorite movie of Googie Withers Withers's family moved back to Britain from India and she began acting at age 12. [98], In 1971, Withers co-starred in the Broadway musical comedy Sure, Sure, Shirley which also brought Shirley Temple Black out of retirement. [53], To ease the pressured life of a child star, Withers's parents made sure she also had fun, but kept her activities supervised and close to home. Her husband John McCallum predeceased her on 3 February 2010. 'I loved those meaty parts', she said. Yates. [52], While Withers typically played a brat onscreen, off-screen she was said to be "one of Hollywood's most charming and well-behaved juveniles". The captain, who tried to run a Birmingham foundry after leaving the Royal Navy through poor health, was a high-handed man who clashed with fellow directors whom he openly despised, and lost his job. [5][90], Her performance in Giant led to more work as a character actor in both film and television. Pictorials. [43] In 1940 she filmed Shooting High with co-star Gene Autry, and starred in the teen films High School, The Girl from Avenue A, and Youth Will Be Served. She was 94. Ms. Withers won an acting award for her part as a prison governor in the 1970s British television series Within These Walls. She starred in the 1986 BBC adaptation of Anita Brookners novel Hotel du Lac and in a 1987 BBC production of Jane Austens Northanger Abbey.. Survivors include three children. Leo Kirch. Please logout and login again. In the early 1940s, Hollywood's child-star genre that had catapulted Withers to fame was on the decline. Googie Withers , wearing a grey jacket, unbuttoned at the front, over a spotted white wide-collar blouse, smoking a cigarette in a studio portrait,. Pearls Bring Tears. [8], When Jane was two, Ruth enrolled her in a tap dance school,[6] and also taught her to sing. [59], Withers was allowed to go on chaperoned dates with boys of her age in her early teens;[53] by age 16 she was permitted to go on solo dates. She was given Her family moved back to Britain where Ms. Withers began acting at age 12. Withers appeared in dozens of films in the 1930s and 40s. All about Quentin Tarantino's mother as he explains why he never shared a penny of his fortune with her. She was popular for being a Movie Actress. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. She was 94. She herself was profiled in a 45-minute A&E Biography which aired in 2003. Withers, who died in Australia in 2011, was particularly well known during the Second World War and the postwar years. View the most popular Googie Withers pix. . The performance, which featured a tap dancing sequence with 50 chorus dancers, was staged as an opening-night benefit for diabetics. [37][38], Withers was the only child star to complete a seven-year contract. She became popular from 1963 to 1974 while playing the role of Josephine the Plumber in the television commercials for Comet cleanser. [94] She took a course in plumbing to play her part realistically. I felt that any lady who was going to become a plumber cared an awful lot about her fellow man because when you need a plumber you need help. She was dubbed by the English press as the best bad girl in British films.. [97] She cared for her mother for eight years until Ruth's death in 1983. [8][58] Her afternoon swim parties continued into her teens and were the subject of many a fan magazine. . Georgette Lizette Googie Withers CBE, AO (12 March 1917 15 July 2011) was a British entertainer who had a lengthy career in theatre, film, and television. Born . But while her touring work focused more on Australia and New Zealand, she still made the first three seasons of a British TV series, Within These Walls (1974-75), as the governor of a women's prison, which provided her biggest national and international audience. In the 15 to 49 years old category, we see that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) begin to become dominant. [42] She had her first screen kiss in the 1939 film Boy Friend. [39] Studio contracts generally included a series of six-month option periods when the studio could terminate the agreement should the actor's films stop making money. Withers was a loss to the British stage and screen when she followed her husband to his native Australia in the late 1950s. 2011-08-11 14:30:43. [46] Her Republic films were Johnny Doughboy (1942), My Best Gal and Faces in the Fog (both 1944), and Affairs of Geraldine (1946). ; and No, No, Nanette, Withers was financially comfortable and chose to spend most of her time raising her children.[10][93]. "[94] Before retiring, Withers filmed two installments of the commercial introducing a young girl who had learned everything she knew about plumbing from "my aunt Josephine". Another Rattigan creation that might have gone to Withers was the part of the wife of the dried-up and professionally despised schoolmaster in the film of The Browning Version (1951). His daughter inherited his imperious inability to keep his opinions to himself, but in her case it was softened by her feminine humour. She beat the disease but suffered from depression ever since, relying on daily doses. 18 February 2023. Description: A veteran of numerous British films, since starting her screen career in the mid-1930s. Joanna McCallum. [19][33] Twentieth Century Fox studio head Darryl Zanuck reportedly forbade her from doing her Shirley Temple impersonation in public. No need to register, buy now! She appeared in a couple of American productions shot in England, including 1940s Haunted Honeymoon, starring Robert Montgomery and Constance Cummings. [34], Withers freely gave her input to screenwriters and directors. 1 reference. I'm not changing my name. She later married McCallum and moved with him to Australia in 1958. [1][26] The same year, she appeared in a brief role in The Farmer Takes a Wife and then starred in This Is the Life. Veteran British stage and screen actress Googie Withers, . She was the first non-Australian to be awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia and was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Her family returned to England when she was aged seven and she began acting at the age of 12 . July 18, 2011, 3:11 PM. [1] Her popularity in comedy films also hindered her acceptance as a dramatic actress in films such as The North Star (1943). Googie Withers, a sly, stylish British star who was best liked by her public when she was behaving wickedly, died July 15 in Sydney, Australia, where she had lived for many years. Georgette Lizette Withers. The home was constructed in the Queen Anne style and has Georgian-style sash windows looking out over the gardens. [104], In 1990, Withers began experiencing symptoms of lupus. Googie Withers, 94, a British actress best known for her appearance in Alfred Hitchcocks 1938 film The Lady Vanishes, died July 15 at her home in Sydney. Actress Googie Withers, best known for appearing in Alfred Hitchcock's The Lady Vanishes and TV's Within These Walls, has died in Australia aged 94. German media mogul. Googie Withers is British by birth. null. [1] As early as 1936, her name was affixed to a line of "Jane Withers Dresses" for girls,[71][72] and girls' handbags and jewelry were also branded with her name. 47 pictures of Googie Withers. Kendall Errair said in a statement, Our thoughts are with the family and friends of former child actress Jane Withers.A dear friend of ours at TCM, we are grateful to have spent time with her over the years and will never forget her wit and stories. 2023 BBC. [88][89], In 1955, a year after her divorce, Withers returned to Los Angeles and enrolled in the University of Southern California film school with the intention of becoming a director. [73][74] She was the star of best-selling paper doll books issued by Whitman Publishing, Saalfield Publishing, and Dell in the late 1930s and 1940s,[75][76] which later became popular collectables. It held The family of Googie Withers has announced that she died peacefully in her sleep yesterday afternoon, aged 94. She was born on 12 April 1926,. You read the script, think about it, make notes if you're not sure, try it different ways until it feels natural. Age (2022) Update Soon. [12] Walter remained in Atlanta, sending them $100 a month on which to live. Googie Withers. The death of Jane Withers was confirmed by her daughter on Saturday. [41] In 1937 and 1938, Withers's films made the top 10 list in box-office gross receipts. [16] Included in her contract was the right to choose the crew members who would work on her productions. . She was born Georgette Lizette Withers in. She suffered from the disease over a period of ten years, after which she went into remission. She was set to earn $2,750 a week in the first year of the contract and $3,000 per week in the second year. null. "Sir, I was not invited to the interview. The judge turned the property over to Jane's control. [101] Withers reprised the role in The Hunchback of Notre Dame II (2002). She passed away on August 7 at the age of 95. In the 1950s, she acted on the British stage before moving to Australia with her husband in 1958. British actress Googie Withers marries Australian film actor John McCallum with large crowds around the church Full Description: Gaumont British Ident SLATE INFORMATION: Film Stars Wed in. Once upon a Dream. "Respectable" but emotionally unsatisfied, she throws herself at a weak and irresponsible ex-RAF wonderboy. [85] The same month, her parents turned over to her the deed to their home, valued at $250,000 (equivalent to $3,000,000 in 2021), and other real estate worth $75,000, plus annuities totaling $10,000, all purchased from Withers's earnings. Withers died on 15 July 2011 at her Sydney home, aged 94. In 1961 Withers appeared on Broadway in The Complaisant Lover.. Googie Withers, 94, a Veteran British Actress, Dies, https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/19/arts/googie-withers-british-actress-dies-at-94.html. Georgette Lizette ('Googie') Withers. Her stage name, Googie, was a nickname given to her as a child from her Indian nurse. In 1932, she and her mother moved to Hollywood, where she appeared as an extra in many films until landing her breakthrough role as the spoiled, obnoxious Joy Smythe opposite Shirley Temple's angelic orphan Shirley Blake in the 1934 film Bright Eyes. Date of birth: 12 March 1917 Karachi Georgette Lizette Withers: Date of death: 15 July 2011 Sydney: Work period (start) 1935; Country of citizenship: United Kingdom; Educated at: Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts; Occupation: actress; Georgette Lizette Withers; Login to edit . 1 reference. [58] Withers's thirteenth birthday party saw 60 young guests come in costume and participate in a balloon dance and jitterbug contest; this party earned a two-page pictorial spread in Life magazine. [103], In the 1990s, she was interviewed on numerous television documentary retrospectives of the Golden Age of Hollywood. She was also appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2002. She endeared herself to audiences with her seemingly limitless energy and impish charm. [2][87] Ruth remarried to Louis D. Boonshaft, a physician. Her stage name dates from her childhood. She died at her home on Friday. When a death occurs, a certifier must determine the cause (s) of death and accurately report it on the death certificate. [11][1] At age 3 she had her own radio show called Dixie's Dainty Dewdrop, where she also interviewed celebrities who were visiting Atlanta. Georgette Lizette Withers was born in Karachi, in pre-partition India, to a British naval captain who hated the thought of his daughter going on the stage and a Dutch mother who quietly encouraged her. Georgette Lizette Withers, CBE, AO (12 March 1917 - 15 July 2011), known professionally as Googie Withers, was an English entertainer who had a lengthy career in theatre, film, and television. [54] Her earnings from film roles were invested in trust funds and annuities; Withers had to use her allowance money to buy things she wanted for herself, which often meant saving up for weeks. Video1894 shipwreck confirms tale of treacherous lifeboat, How 10% of Nigerian registered voters delivered victory, Sake brewers toast big rise in global sales, The Indian-American CEO who wants to be US president, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip. VALE GOOGIE WITHERS. She was a longtime resident of Australia with her husband, the actor John McCallum, with whom she often appeared. Withers made her screen debut in the 1951 comedy "The Lavender Hill Mob". However, the cause of death is still unknown as her family has yet to reveal any details. She was a well-known actress during the war and post-war years. Help us build our profile of Googie Withers! Recent images. Googie Withers - Bio, Personal Life, Family & Cause Of . [15] She stood out from the other girls at auditions because of her appearance: she had a Dutchboy bob and preferred tailored clothes to frilly dresses. Shop googie withers t-shirts created by independent artists from around the globe. Her . Murder in Soho. I don't know any other way". The cause of death was not disclosed. Georgette Lizette "Googie" Withers, CBE, AO (12 March 1917 - 15 July 2011) was an English entertainer. Born Georgette Lizette Withers on March 12, 1917 in Karachi, India, she was known as "Googie" from an early age. [27], Throughout the remainder of the 1930s, Withers appeared in three to five films per year. [115], In 2003, she was the recipient of a Living Legacy Award from the Women's International Center, a non-profit education and service organization. [65] After a 1936 kidnapping threat, she was always accompanied by round-the-clock bodyguards. Jane Withers (April 12, 1926 - August 7, 2021) was an American actress and children's radio show host. The English star was born Georgette Lizette Withers in Karachi, India. The Bright Eyes actress began her career at the age of three as a host of her own childrens radio program in Atlanta, Georgia. [31][45], In 1942, Withers signed a three-year, $225,000 contract with Republic Pictures. Cause of Death. From a young age, she sat in on writers' conferences to suggest changes in dialogue that would be more appropriate for a child to say. You've got a special quality and someday you are going to be a famous little star". She was a dancer in a West End production in London when she was offered work in 1935 as a film extra in The Girl in the Crowd.. Country Life (1994), directed by Michael Blakemore, was a version of Uncle Vanya set in Australia in 1919, showing what was on the collective mind of one part of the British Empire as Chekhov had shown what was on the minds of a fading Russian social class. More about [108] In 2004, the Los Angeles Times reported Withers had distributed more than 42,000 items for safekeeping among friends. Her death was confirmed by the theater producer John Frost, with whom she worked frequently. Karijeru je poela na setu filma The Girl in the Crowd, na kome je bila angairana kao statist, ali ju je reiser Michael Powell angairao kao zamjenu za bolesnu glumicu. Who is Connie Zastoupil? . In the 1970s, when traditional leading ladies were less in demand, Withers's career became more variable. [103] They separated in April 1953 and Withers was granted a divorce in July 1954, citing her husband's "excessive drinking and gambling". English stage, film and television actress who was popular during World War II and appeared in the 1947 film, It Always Rains on Sunday. Googie Withers began her acting career at the age of 12. Cart. Most Popular. British actress Googie Withers has died at her home in Australia aged 94. [96][105], Withers was a devout Christian. 33 Photos Googie Withers began her acting career at the age of 12. I never had a [acting] lesson in my life. Murder in the Night. Soon after starting work, director Michael Powell fired one of the female leads and she stepped into the role. Her birth date is March 12, 1917. She made 38 films before retiring at age 21 in 1947. This answer is: She was also known for her philanthropy and her extensive doll collection. Wiki User. start time. Googie Withers (1917-2011), Actress. John and Googie together were probably the last of a breed of actor-manager and wife team to tour the world and work constantly, Mr. [60][61] Withers's "sweet sixteen" party in 1942, with 150 invited guests and a hayride and barn dance on the program,[62] was filmed by Paramount Pictures for the Hedda Hopper's Hollywood series. According to Farley Granger, Withers was "cast as the obnoxious, smart-aleck teen as opposed to Deanna Durbin's or Judy Garland's plucky and adorable adolescent". [7] Both in Atlanta and in Hollywood, the family would invite "six busloads of orphan children" to come to their home after church and Sunday school for lunch and afternoon entertainment. [107][108], In the 1980s, Withers announced plans to build a $1million museum in Burbank, California, to display her collection, then stored in a 27,000sqft (2,500m2) warehouse. [119] She recovered with no lasting effects. I came with our friends", she replied. [79] Numerous dolls were made in her likeness,[5] including four Madame Alexander dolls in 1937 ranging in height from 13.520in (340510mm).[80][81]. She was 94, and the cause of death was not disclosed. [118] She received a $1million property settlement, including monthly alimony and child support, trust fund and insurance fund for the children, and a half-interest in Texas oil fields owned by Moss, as well as full custody of the children. However, the cause of death is still unknown as her family has yet to reveal any details. (Googie means pigeon in Hindi. Afterwards, he praised her timing and called over her mother to compliment her on Jane's talent and predict that she would go far. [9][108], On November 6, 1939, Withers was invited to place her handprints and signature in the forecourt of Grauman's Chinese Theatre. She was especially effective as the not entirely unsympathetic wife of a judge in the stage version of Terence Rattigan's The Deep Blue Sea (1952). did not give the cause, but Kirch had suffered from diabetes and near-blindness for several years. Karachi-born Australian actress and "TCM Remembers" celebrity Googie Withers became a popular performer in British comedies and dramas of the 1940s and early 1950s, such as One of Our Aircraft Is Missing, On Approval, Dead of Night, It Always Rains on Sunday, The Loves of Joanna Godden, Miranda, and White Corridors. Googie Withers was born on March 12, 1917in India. [4] On her interview, Butler asked her if she could imitate a machine gun, and she gave it a try. She was given her lifetime nickname by her Indian nanny. She had been given her nickname Googie by her Indian nanny. Kenneth died in a plane crash in 1968 and one of Janes sons later succumbed to cancer. [1][21] The commercials, featuring Withers dressed in white work overalls and in the proximity of a sink, had her touting Comet's stain-removing ability compared to other cleansers. [86], Withers's father died the following year. [14], Withers subsequently appeared in many films as an uncredited extra, though occasionally she had a line of dialogue. [4][5][6] Ruth taught Sunday school and Walter taught Bible classes in their local Presbyterian church. Her day of filming in The Farmer Takes a Wife coincided with Henry Fonda's screen debut, and noticing his nervousness, she encouraged him and offered a prayer for his success. Jane Withers (April 12, 1926 August 7, 2021) was an American actress and children's radio show host. All you have to do is read and think and do. Read More . Sitter in 3 portraits Born Georgette Lizette Withers in Karachi, India, she made her film debut in The Girl in the Crowd in 1934. [1] Though she received "dozens of offers" to do television series as well as stage musicals such as Mame; Hello, Dolly! Thus equipped, she acquired great skill at playing wives in various states of dissatisfaction because of the implied sexual shortcomings of their husbands. [109], Withers donated 800 books from her personal library to start the Jane Withers Collection at the Thousand Oaks Library in Thousand Oaks, California. Slijedila je karijera koja je potrajala est decenija, te kojom je dobila niz prestinih priznanja. Hot! Georgette Lizette Withers, CBE, AO (12 March 1917 - 15 July 2011), known professionally as Googie Withers, was an English entertainer who was a dancer and actress with a lengthy career spanning some nine decades in theatre, film, and television. View the latest Googie Withers photos. [21] In addition to her studio contract, Withers made personal appearance tours for which she received $5,000 a week. 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