[108] In 2013, she donated 6,000 of her dolls to a history museum in California. British actress Googie Withers, a Hollywood golden age staple best known for her appearance in Alfred Hitchcock's "The Lady Vanishes," has died at her home. She continued to be active in the 1990s, appearing in two highly praised films. She was interviewed in numerous documentary retrospectives of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Photograph: ITV/Rex Features. Biography. [1] Withers retired from film at age 21 in 1947, shortly after completing Danger Street and nine days before her marriage to William Moss, a Texas entrepreneur and film producer. 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. [21] Both Withers and Temple usually played orphans and had a transformative effect on those around them. She was also known for her philanthropy and her extensive doll collection. Sitter in 3 portraits Born Georgette Lizette Withers in Karachi, India, she made her film debut in The Girl in the Crowd in 1934. Cause of Death. [83] The books were reprinted by Literary Licensing in the 21st century. Googie Withers dies, aged 94 - YouTube watch full video or free download at http://xlevid.infoGoogie Withers dies at her home in Australia.British actress Googie Withers, a Hollywood. 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. Googie Withers: her birthday, what she did before fame, her family life, fun trivia facts, popularity rankings, and more. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC. Help us build our profile of Googie Withers! [119], In October 1955, Withers remarried, to singer Kenneth Errair of The Four Freshmen, with whom she had two more children. [88][97] The character of Josephine was described by the Los Angeles Times as being "one of the longest-running continuing characters in TV. [102], Withers narrated audiobooks, including a reading of Why Not Try God? [53][54] In 1938, her allowance was reported as $5 a week;[32][55] this was raised to $10 a week in 1941. They had married in 1948, and had two daughters, Joanna and Amanda, and. Withers then tied the knot with Kenneth Errair in 1955 and they had two children. (12 March 1917 - 15 July 2011) Biography. Googie Withers, 94, a British actress best known for her appearance in Alfred Hitchcock's 1938 film "The Lady Vanishes," died July 15 at her home in Sydney. [10] She was cast on Aunt Sally's Kiddie Revue, a Saturday-morning children's program broadcast on WGST radio in Atlanta, in which she sang, danced, and did impersonations of film stars such as W. C. Fields, ZaSu Pitts, Maurice Chevalier, Fanny Brice, Eddie Cantor, and Greta Garbo. Withers's family moved back to Britain from India and she began acting at age 12. The couple co-starred in 10 popular films together, and Ms. Withers had occasional theatrical roles on Broadway and in England through the 1980s. [77][78] She was also featured in several Big Little Books published by Whitman Publishing. She made 38 films before retiring at age 21 in 1947. [16] Butler was the first to notice this about her. In 1980 she was appointed AO, and in 2001 CBE. English actress Googie Withers has died at her Sydney home aged 94. Her family moved back to Britain where Ms. Withers began acting at age 12. The assistant director told her that Butler had seen her and wanted her to interview as well. 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". [106] But the plans fell through and the dolls, along with crates of Hollywood film memorabilia that Withers had also collected during her film career or purchased at auction, continued to be warehoused. [31] Withers often received top billing even over other established stars. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. She suffered from the disease over a period of ten years, after which she went into remission. [1][84] She had starred in 38 films. The cause of death was not. The English star was born Georgette Lizette Withers in Karachi, India. She was a longtime resident of Australia with her husband, the actor John McCallum, with whom she often appeared. Independentie Skip to navigation [n] [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. The assistant director came over and asked her why she was not standing with the others. his death) Children: Joanna, Nicholas, Amanda . Withers, who had three children, appeared in dozens of films in the 1930s and 40s. Googie Withers' and John McCallum's long, long love affair with the Australian public started more than half a century ago, in 1955. . [11] She was a trustee of the Church of Religious Science in Los Angeles. What Withers, who has died aged 94, brought to that performance was to define her strength in some of her most powerful roles. 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. JobAsk Mrs. Withers", "Behind-the-Scenes Talk With the Mother of Jane Withers", "Jane Withers to Have Airplane Party When She's 12", "Jane Withers' Birthday Party Moves to Boudoir Due to Flu", "Life Goes to Jane Withers' Birthday Party", "Younger Stars Best Behaved When On Party", "Jane Withers Signs $250,000 New Contract", "Jane Withers Has Armed Bodyguard to Boston Theatre", "Mrs. Ruth Withers Is Tops Among Filmland 'Mammas', "Local Girls to Model Jane Withers' Clothes", "Three Day Estate Auction at the Annapolis Sheraton", "1930s Baby Dolls: Withers, Quints and More", "Dream comes true for former child star Jane Withers", "Jane Withers speaks about Shirley Temple, donating 3,000 dolls (phone conversation)", "First Annual Youth in Film Awards: 1978-1979", "Living Legacy Award Recipient Biographies", "Jane Withers, Bill Moss Coming to Odessa Today", "Actress Jane Withers Divorces Wealthy Texan", "Madera County Air Crash Kills 4 Valley Businessmen", "Jane Withers Dies: Former Child Star And Voice Actress Was 95", "Jane Withers, Child Star Who Later Won Fame in Commercials, Dies at 95", "Filmography (Films and Roles) of Jane Withers", "JANE WITHERS - AUTOGRAPH NOTE SIGNED CIRCA 1942", "Shirley Temple: America's Little Darling (1992)", "Shirley Temple: The Biggest Little Star (1996)", "20th Century-Fox: The First 50 Years (1997)", "Hollywood at Your Feet: The Story of the Chinese Theatre Footprints (2000)", "That Beautiful Brat: A visit with Jane Withers", "Ad Men & Women: Favorite characters from TV commercials", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jane_Withers&oldid=1136845424, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox person with multiple spouses, Turner Classic Movies person ID same as Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Wrote screenplay under the pseudonym Jerrie Walters, This page was last edited on 1 February 2023, at 12:58. [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. The actress played the wife jealous of a mermaid her husband has discovered in the 1948 British fantasy Miranda., According to the Sydney Morning Herald, She was dubbed the best bad girl in British films thanks to her ability to portray women of a haughty sexuality., Born Georgette Lizette Withers in what was then British India, she received her lifetime nickname by her Indian nanny. 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". Googie Withers's full name is Georgette Lizette Withers and her nickname is Googie Withers. [2][87] Ruth remarried to Louis D. Boonshaft, a physician. English stage, film and television actress who was popular during World War II and appeared in the 1947 film, It Always Rains on Sunday. She was a performer in stage, film, and television. [1] She returned to the screen when George Stevens asked her to take a supporting role in his 1956 film Giant. . This answer is: Withers died on 15 July 2011 at her Sydney home, aged 94. did not give the cause, but Kirch had suffered from diabetes and near-blindness for several years. [49] As a child, Withers's "stocky and sturdy" build and straight black hair also contrasted with Temple's "pudgy but delicate" figure and blonde ringlets. Angry protests erupt over Greek rail disaster, Explosive found in check-in luggage at US airport, 1894 shipwreck confirms tale of treacherous lifeboat. [31] In 1939 she appeared in four more comedy roles: The Arizona Wildcat, Boy Friend, Chicken Wagon Family, and Pack Up Your Troubles. 1 reference. The role of Faye Boswell in Within These Walls three years later proved to be a sounder vehicle. Wiki User. [113][114], In 1979, Withers was the first recipient of the Young Artist Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1st Youth in Film Awards ceremony. She persuaded her parents to send her to the Italia Conti school after she had worked her normal school day at the Convent of the Holy Family in Kensington. The couple co-starred in 10 popular films. [5] Like her parents, she belonged to the Presbyterian Church. Googie Withers. Also that year, following the death of Sir Frank Tait, John McCallum became Managing Director of J.C. Williamson's. 1965, Googie played Lady Piper in Samuel Taylor's slick New York comedy Beekman Place . 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. [35] She also suggested the casting of other actors for her films, including Jackie Searl, whom she had met at auditions, and 16-year-old Rita Cansino (later renamed Rita Hayworth), whom she had observed dancing on an adjoining sound stage and recommended for a supporting role in Paddy O'Day. All Rights Reserved. She was a well-known actress during the war and post-war years. From 1963 to 1974, she portrayed the character Josephine the Plumber in a series of television commercials for Comet cleanser. Honours Withers was appointed an Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for services to drama, in the 1980 Australia Day Honours List. She endeared herself to audiences with her seemingly limitless energy and impish charm. She played Blanche in 1938's The Lady Vanishes, opposite Margaret Lockwood and Michael Redgrave. 33 Photos Googie Withers began her acting career at the age of 12. [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. Besides, my real name sounds even crazier. [1] As payment for the script, Withers requested that the studio provide fifteen $1,500 scholarships for children to study music and acting, and two upright pianos, for her Sunday school groups. She was also appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2002. Death. Thus equipped, she acquired great skill at playing wives in various states of dissatisfaction because of the implied sexual shortcomings of their husbands. . [2] Biography ', Will Smith Accepts Special Honor at AAFCA Ceremony, First In-Person Awards Speech Since 2022 Oscars, How Chicago Fire Said a Temporary Goodbye to Taylor Kinneys Kelly Severide Amid Leave of Absence, HBO's Leading Man: Casey Bloys on Perfecting 'The Last of Us,' HBO Max Streaming Merger and Axing Shows, A24 Sweeps Film Categories at the 2023 SAG Awards as 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' Breaks Record for Most Wins, Jean Smart 'Doing Well, Recovering' Following Heart Procedure, Says Hacks Co-Star Hannah Einbinder, Ke Huy Quan Becomes First Asian Male Film Winner at SAG Awards for 'Everything Everywhere All at Once'. [119] She recovered with no lasting effects. She became one of the most popular child stars in Hollywood in the 1930s and early 1940s, with her films ranking in the top ten list for box-office gross in 1937 and 1938. Googie Withers Net Worth. [1], A month after Jane's twenty-first birthday, her mother Ruth appeared in a California Superior Court and listed her daughter's assets as $40,401.85 (equivalent to $490,000 in 2021). Once upon a Dream. Unfortunately an alternative translation is "crazy". 5 August 2021 . [109], Withers donated 800 books from her personal library to start the Jane Withers Collection at the Thousand Oaks Library in Thousand Oaks, California. Googie Withers was an English entertainer who was born in Karachi, British India. You've got a special quality and someday you are going to be a famous little star". In the 1940s, Withers was featured as the heroine of three mystery novels published by Whitman Publishing, which produced 16 authorized editions featuring notable film actresses of that era. I never had a [acting] lesson in my life. 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. 1 reference. [103] They separated in April 1953 and Withers was granted a divorce in July 1954, citing her husband's "excessive drinking and gambling". [106] During World War II, she participated in more than 100 war bond drives and soldiers' camp tours in the United States. I was christened Georgette Lizette! Withers, who died in Australia in 2011, was particularly well known during the Second World War and the postwar years. (Thanks to Brian) TV Deaths None known Others like you also viewed Lorraine Toussaint Claudia Gerini [1] Under the pseudonym Jerrie Walters, Withers wrote the screenplay for Small Town Deb (1941), in which she also starred. She was given Age (2022) Update Soon. 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. [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. She was born in Karachi on 1917-03-12. [7] The Withers' home, a 4-acre (1.6ha)[56] model home at 10731 Sunset Boulevard they bought in 1936,[57] was equipped with a swimming pool, badminton court, and a 78ft (24m)-long playroom that saw frequent use by Withers and her fellow Hollywood child actors. [106] She served as a board member of the local branch of the American Cancer Society and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, and was instrumental in the development of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Googie Withers was born on March 12, 1917in India. She was a longtime resident of Australia with her husband, the actor and producer John McCallum, with whom she often appeared. Withers was a loss to the British stage and screen when she followed her husband to his native Australia in the late 1950s. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Googie Withers in The Lady Vanishes by Hitchcock. [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 appeared in dozens of films in the 1930s and 40s. She went to a boarding school near Dover, Kent. child. start time. [104], In 1990, Withers began experiencing symptoms of lupus. 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