Jane Wyatt

Actress


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tab

About
About this interview

In her two-hour interview, Jane Wyatt (1910-2006) describes her lengthy career in film, stage, and television. She talks about her feature film debut in 1934 in James Whale's One More River and her subsequent film roles in such classics as Frank Capra's Lost Horizon and Elia Kazan's Gentleman's Agreement. She discusses the McCarthy era, in which she found herself on an industry blacklist, unable to work in film. She recalls her television debut on Robert Montgomery Presents in the title role of "Kitty Foyle" (1950) and talks of working in "live" television. Wyatt then details her most memorable and enduring work for television -- on Father Knows Best (1954-63), on which she played the role of wife and mother "Margaret Anderson," a part that won her three consecutive Emmy awards. She talks of her later television work on Bell Telephone Hour and Hollywood Television Theatre, and recounts her appearance as Mr. Spock's human mother on the series Star Trek (a role she repeated in the feature film Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home). Wyatt also describes her memorable recurring role as "Katherine Auschlander" in the medical drama St. Elsewhere. Gary Rutkowski conducted the interview on November 16, 1999 in Los Angeles, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"You have to give an awful lot to be actor. You have to be awfully strong physically, really, it's a tough grind. Because these hours are terribly long. And also the disappointments are so huge. You might be on the top of the heap and then all of the sudden, boom, you don't get another job. It's very hard to take, truly it is."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Jane Wyatt on her character "Margaret Anderson" on Father Knows Best and becoming an iconic TV mom
03:27
Jane Wyatt on learning she had been blacklisted and finally getting a role again
01:50
Jane Wyatt on her co-stars on Father Knows Best - her "children" played by Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray, and Lauren Chapin
01:48
Jane Wyatt on her work as "Spock's mother" on Star Trek
00:43
Jane Wyatt on people confusing her with actress Jane Wyman
01:15
Full Interview

Play Full Interview

Chapter 1

On her childhood and early influences; on her love of horses and theater; on attending Barnard College for two years and leaving to pursue acting
On moving to Los Angeles; on her film roles and contract with Universal; on people confusing her with Jane Wyman; on her recollections of the Hollywood Blacklist

Chapter 2

On the Hollywood Blacklist, contd.; on learning she had been blacklisted; on appearing in several productions of Robert Montgomery Presents; on the excitement of working in live television
On getting cast in Father Knows Best; on production and the radio version of Father Knows Best; on the show's scripts and guest stars

Chapter 3

On her co-stars on Father Knows Best; on the show's production, setting, writers and directors
On winning three Emmys for her role on Father Knows Best; on the end of the show and returning to film work
On her appearances on Wagon Train, The Virginian, The  Alfred Hitchcock Hour, and other shows; on her work as "Spock's mother" on Star Trek

Chapter 4

On her work on Star Trek contd.; on appearing on Hollywood Television Theater and in several Father Knows Best Reunions
On her recurring role on St. Elsewhere; on advice to aspiring performers, Mt. Jane Wyatt, and how she'd like to be remembered
Shows

Alfred Hitchcock Presents aka The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

View Show Page
Jane Wyatt on appearing on The Alfred Hitchcock Hour 
00:51

Bell Telephone Hour, The

View Show Page
Jane Wyatt on appearing on The Bell Telephone Hour
01:00

CBS Playhouse

View Show Page
Jane Wyatt on appearing on an episode of CBS Playhouse
01:20

Confidential For Women

View Show Page
Jane Wyatt on her work on Confidential for Women
01:40

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

View Show Page
Jane Wyatt on winning three Emmys for her role on Father Knows Best
01:14

Father Knows Best

View Show Page
Jane Wyatt on how she got cast and production on Father Knows Best
02:02
Jane Wyatt on the radio version and premise of Father Knows Best
03:06
Jane Wyatt on her character "Margaret Anderson" on Father Knows Best and becoming an iconic TV mom
03:27
Jane Wyatt on Father Knows Best scripts and guest stars
02:25
Jane Wyatt on her co-stars on Father Knows Best - her "children" played by Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray, and Lauren Chapin
01:48
Jane Wyatt on her co-star on Father Knows Best - her "husband" played by Robert Young
01:04
Jane Wyatt on the writers on Father Knows Best
01:01
Jane Wyatt on the filming of Father Knows Best
00:48
Jane Wyatt on the directors on Father Knows Best
00:55
Jane Wyatt on the town of Springfield on Father Knows Best and the show's sponsors, cancellation, and network switch
01:43
Jane Wyatt on the popularity of Father Knows Best
00:38
Jane Wyatt on her favorite episodes of Father Knows Best
01:56
Jane Wyatt on the Anderson family on Father Knows Best as the ideal American family
01:31
Jane Wyatt on why Father Knows Best ended
02:03
Jane Wyatt on being typecast after Father Knows Best ended
00:36

Father Knows Best Reunion Specials

View Show Page
Jane Wyatt on the several Father Knows Best Reunions
01:22

Hollywood Television Theatre

View Show Page
Jane Wyatt on her work on Hollywood Television Theatre
02:37

Love, American Style

View Show Page
Jane Wyatt on appearing on the premiere of Love, American Style
00:13

Marcus Welby, M.D.

View Show Page
Jane Wyatt on appearing on Marcus Welby, M.D. with Robert Young
00:25

Robert Montgomery Presents

View Show Page
Jane Wyatt on appearing in several productions of Robert Montgomery Presents, including "Kitty Foyle" and "The Awful Truth"
06:16

See How They Run

View Show Page
Jane Wyatt on appearing in the first TV movie, See How They Run
00:32

St. Elsewhere

View Show Page
Jane Wyatt on her recurring role on St. Elsewhere
02:05
Jane Wyatt on memorable storylines and episodes of St. Elsewhere
02:16

Star Trek

View Show Page
Jane Wyatt on her work as "Spock's mother" on Star Trek
01:30
Jane Wyatt on her work on Star Trek contd. and fan mail she receives; on attending Star Trek conventions
01:26
Topics

Anthology Drama

View Topic
Jane Wyatt on the excitement of working in live television
05:18
Jane Wyatt on the differences between acting for film, television, and the stage
01:11

Characters & Catchphrases

View Topic
Jane Wyatt on her character "Margaret Anderson" on Father Knows Best and becoming an iconic TV mom
03:27

Emmy Awards

View Topic
Jane Wyatt on winning three Emmys for her role on Father Knows Best
01:14

Hollywood Blacklist

View Topic
Jane Wyatt on her recollections of the Hollywood Blacklist and her involvement with the CFA (Committee for the First Amendment)
04:29
Jane Wyatt on protesting the Hollywood Blacklist
02:10
Jane Wyatt on learning she had been blacklisted
01:50
Jane Wyatt on why she believes the Blacklist era happened
01:32

Industry Crossroads

View Topic
Jane Wyatt on her recollections of the Hollywood Blacklist and her involvement with the CFA (Committee for the First Amendment)
04:29
Jane Wyatt on protesting the Hollywood Blacklist
02:10
Jane Wyatt on learning she had been blacklisted
01:50
Jane Wyatt on why she believes the Blacklist era happened
01:32

Pop Culture

View Topic
Jane Wyatt on her character "Margaret Anderson" on Father Knows Best and becoming an iconic TV mom
03:27
Professions

Actress

View Profession
Jane Wyatt on the differences between acting for film, television, and the stage
01:11
Jane Wyatt on her acting technique
13:12
Jane Wyatt on advice to aspiring actors
01:04

Performers

View Profession
Jane Wyatt on the differences between acting for film, television, and the stage
01:11
Jane Wyatt on her acting technique
01:45
Jane Wyatt on advice to aspiring actors
01:04
Genres

Classic Anthology Series

View Genre
Jane Wyatt on appearing in several productions of Robert Montgomery Presents, including "Kitty Foyle" and "The Awful Truth"
06:16

Comedy Series

View Genre
Jane Wyatt on how she got cast on, the production of, and premise of Father Knows Best
05:08
Jane Wyatt on her character "Margaret Anderson" on Father Knows Best and becoming an iconic TV mom
03:27
Jane Wyatt on her co-stars, the writers, directors, and the end of Father Knows Best
18:32
People

Arthur Penn

View Interview Page
Jane Wyatt on working with director Arthur Penn
00:29

Benny Goodman

View Person Page
Jane Wyatt on the first time she saw television
00:37

Billy Gray

View Person Page
Jane Wyatt on her co-stars on Father Knows Best - her "children" played by Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray, and Lauren Chapin
01:37
Jane Wyatt on her TV son played by Billy Gray on Father Knows Best
01:24

Bruce Paltrow

View Person Page
Jane Wyatt on cast and crew members on St. Elsewhere
00:25

Charles Laughton

View Person Page
Jane Wyatt on studying with Charles Laughton and using what she learned in the film "Pitfall"
02:56

Cicely Tyson

View Person Page
Jane Wyatt on her work on Hollywood Television Theater
01:15

Ed Flanders

View Person Page
Jane Wyatt on cast and crew members on St. Elsewhere
00:16

Elia Kazan

View Person Page
Jane Wyatt on working with Elia Kazan
01:10

Elinor Donahue

View Interview Page
Jane Wyatt on her co-stars on Father Knows Best - her "children" played by Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray, and Lauren Chapin
01:37
Jane Wyatt on her TV daughter played by Elinor Donahue on Father Knows Best
01:21
Jane Wyatt on her TV daughter, played by Elinor Donahue, being pregnant in real life on the last season of Father Knows Best
00:15

Eugene B. Rodney

View Person Page
Jane Wyatt on producer Eugene B. Rodney of Father Knows Best
01:30

Frank Capra

View Person Page
Jane Wyatt on appearing in the Frank Capra film "Lost Horizon"
01:56
Jane Wyatt on appearing in the Frank Capra film "Lost Horizon"
01:03

Gene Hackman

View Person Page
Jane Wyatt on appearing on an episode of CBS Playhouse
01:20

Gregory Peck

View Person Page
Jane Wyatt on appearing in "Gentleman's Agreement" with Gregory Peck
01:26

Herbert Brodkin

View Person Page
Jane Wyatt on working with producer Herbert Brodkin
00:24

Jack P. Pierce

View Person Page
Jane Wyatt on getting her makeup done by Jack Pierce while under contract at Universal
00:32

Jane Wyman

View Person Page
Jane Wyatt on people confusing her with actress Jane Wyman
01:15

Lauren Chapin

View Person Page
Jane Wyatt on her co-stars on Father Knows Best - her "children" played by Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray, and Lauren Chapin
01:37
Jane Wyatt on her TV daughter played by Lauren Chapin on Father Knows Best
00:21

Lee Strasberg

View Person Page
Jane Wyatt on her acting technique and studying method acting with Lee Strasberg
01:19

Leonard Nimoy

View Interview Page
Jane Wyatt on her work as "Spock's mother" on Star Trek
00:34

Norman Lloyd

View Interview Page
Jane Wyatt on working with Norman Lloyd
00:51

Paul West

View Person Page
Jane Wyatt on the writers on Father Knows Best - Paul West
00:06

Peter Tewksbury

View Person Page
Jane Wyatt on the directors on Father Knows Best - William D. Russell and Peter Tewksbury
00:33

Ralph Bellamy

View Person Page
Jane Wyatt on appearing on an episode of CBS Playhouse
01:20

Robert Young

View Person Page
Jane Wyatt on her co-star on Father Knows Best - her "husband" played by Robert Young
01:04
Jane Wyatt on appearing on Marcus Welby, M.D. with Robert Young
00:25

Ronald Colman

View Person Page
Jane Wyatt on appearing in the Frank Capra film "Lost Horizon" with Ronald Colman
01:56

Sam Jaffe

View Person Page
Jane Wyatt on appearing in the Frank Capra film "Lost Horizon" with Sam Jaffe
01:03

William D. Russell

View Person Page
Jane Wyatt on the directors on Father Knows Best - William D. Russell and Peter Tewksbury
00:33

All Interviews

S