American actress and children’s radio show host Jane Withers passed away at the age of 95. On Saturday evening, the actress died in Burbank, California, and was surrounded by her family, including her daughter Kendall Erraire. However, the cause of the death was not disclosed.
In a statement, her daughter Kendall said,
My mother was such a special lady. She lit up a room with her laughter, but she especially radiated joy and thankfulness when talking about the career she so loved and how lucky she was.
She was a well-known child star of the 1930s and was best known for her 1934 Bright Eyes, in which she was featured opposite Shirley Temple. Withers later regained fame in the 1960s as Josephine, the plumber in classic Comet ads.
Withers made a quiet early start in Hollywood at the mere age of eight, when she played the character of joy Smith, the spoilt brat who tormented Shirley temples orphan in the 1934 comedy movie bright eyes.
I had to play the meanest, creepiest little girl that God ever put on this planet. I ran over Shirley with a tricycle and a baby buggy. And I thought, Oh dear, everybody is going to hate me forever because I was so creepy mean to Shirley Temple!
She also got a role in several films such as Ginger, Uncle Rex, The Holy Terror, Wild And Woolly, The Arizona Wildcat, and many more. She was named one of the top money-making celebrities in 1936 and 1937 by the theatre owners’ poll.
