Jane Withers, Star of Josephine the Plumber Ads and ‘Bright Eyes,’ Dies at 95

Jane Withers, a former child actress known for starring alongside Shirley Temple in Bright Eyes and her commercial character Josephine the Plumber, has died. Withers’ death was confirmed by her daughter, Kendall Errair, who announced that she passed away on Saturday night (August 7) surrounded by loved ones in Burbank, California. The cause of death was not disclosed. She was 95.

“My mother was such a special lady,” Errair said in a statement reported by Variety. “She lit up a room with her laughter, but she especially radiated joy and thankfulness when talking about her career she so lovwd and how lucky she was.”

Withers was born on April 12, 1926 in Atlanta, Georgia, hitting the ground running in the TV industry when she was just six. Her mother assisted her, and had a passion for helping her daughter rise in fame. Just after Withers’ sixth birthday, she traveled to Hollywood with her mother, and began to book acting, voiceover, and modeling gigs.

The star’s big break came in 1934 when she was cast with Shirley Temple in the musical comedy film Bright Eyes. Withers starred as Joy Smythe, a bratty foil to Temple’s sweetheart. After her breakthrough, Withers signed a seven-year contract with Fox Film Corporation and snagged her first lead role in the comedy Ginger.

After she signed the contract, Withers buffed up her acting resume with an average of three to five films per year. Her credits from the late 1930s time period include Paddy O’DayGentle JuliaLittle Miss NobodyPepperThe Holy TerrorAngel’s HolidayCheckersRascals, and Always in Trouble.

As the star grew into her teens, she began writing for film, penning a screenplay for the film Small Town Deb under the pseudonym Jerrie Walters. Along with writing the film, she also starred in the coming-of-age drama that somewhat paralleled her life as a child star.

Withers briefly retired from Hollywood at 21, and instead focused on raising her five children. In 1955, Withers attempted to change lanes into directing — instead, she continued in the world of acting, starring in the film Giant and eventual TV appearances on Pete and GladysMurder, She WroteThe Love BoatThe Alfred Hitchcock Hour, and General Electric Theater.

In the 1960s, the actress created a huge persona as Josephine the Plumber in Comet cleanser’s TV ads. The ads ran from 1963 to 1974, making Withers a household name thanks to her on-air prominence.

More recently, Withers transitioned into voice work. In Disney’s 1995 film The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Withers read a few lines as Laverne the Gargoyle after the role’s originator, Mary Wickes, passed away. She reprised the role for the 2002 sequel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame II, which served as her final role in the industry.