Jo Van Fleet was born on December 29, 1915 in Oakland, California. She
established herself as a notable dramatic actress on Broadway over
several years, winning a Tony Award in 1954 for her skill in a
difficult role, playing an unsympathetic, even abusive character, in
Horton Foote's "The Trip to Bountiful" with
Lillian Gish and
Eva Marie Saint. Her first film role was
playing the estranged mother of
James Dean's character in
East of Eden (1955). This debut
performance earned Van Fleet an Academy Award for Best Supporting
Actress. Her subsequent film work was steady through 1960, then very
sporadic, and include such films as
The Rose Tattoo (1955),
I'll Cry Tomorrow (1955),
The King and Four Queens (1956),
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957)
and
Cool Hand Luke (1967).
In 1958, Van Fleet was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Performance
by a Leading Actress in a Play for her performance in "Look Homeward,
Angel" on Broadway. Other films include
Wild River (1960), Rodgers and
Hammerstein's
Cinderella (1965) and
I Love You, Alice B. Toklas! (1968).
Her television work include
Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955),
Bonanza (1959),
Thriller (1960) and
The Wild Wild West (1965).
Jo Van Fleet died at age 80 of undisclosed causes on June 10, 1996 in
Queens, New York City.
Seize the Day(1986)as Mrs. Einhorn
Power(1980)as Mother Vanda
Police Woman(1974)as Irini Karabetas
The Tenant(1976)as Madame Dioz
Satan's School for Girls(1973)as Headmistress
Cinderella(1965)
James Dean's Lost Slideshow(2013)
The 69th Annual Academy Awards(1997)as Self - Memorial Tribute
Moving Image Salutes Elia Kazan(1987)as Self - Speaker
The 14th Annual Tony Awards(1960)as Self - Presenter
Colorspace Vol. 1(2010)as Mother
East of Eden: Art in Search of Life(2005)as Kate
American Masters(1985)as Actress 'East of Eden'
Hollywood Heaven: Tragic Lives, Tragic Deaths(1990)
