Jo Ann Sayers (born Miriam Lucille Lilygren, October 22, 1918 – November 14, 2011)[3] was an American actress who was active on Broadway and in Hollywood films. Her film career spanned the 1930s through the 1950s.
Jo Ann Sayers | |
|---|---|
 Ann Sayers in 1954 | |
| Born | Miriam Lucille Lilygren October 22, 1918 Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Died | November 14, 2011 (aged 93) Princeton, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Washington |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1938–1953 |
| Spouses | Anthony A. Bliss
(m. 1942; div. 1967)Charles K. Agle
(m. 1968; died 1987) |
| Children | 3[1][2] |
Biography
editSayers was born in Seattle, Washington.[4] She was a budding actress as a child, participating in dances, taking piano and violin lessons, and acting in school plays. She enrolled in Pre-law at the University of Washington, also taking drama classes. A talent scout noted her in a student production and invited her to Hollywood for a screen test. She was offered a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Her first credited film role was in 1938.[citation needed]
In 1940, she was selected for the titular role in the Broadway production of My Sister Eileen, opposite Shirley Booth, who was two decades Sayers' senior, which opened on December 26, 1940.[5]
Marriages
editShe remained in the Broadway cast until June 1942, when she left to marry Anthony A. Bliss, a New York lawyer and patron of the performing arts.[6]
They married on June 10, 1942, and had three children, but later divorced. Sayers later worked in summer theater, radio and television. She married a second time in 1968 to architect Charles K. Agle;[4] they remained together until his death in Princeton, New Jersey.[citation needed]
Death
editSayers died on November 14, 2011, aged 93, in Princeton, New Jersey.[7]
Selected filmography
edit
- Main Street to Broadway (1953) (uncredited) .... Bride in Musical Number
- The Light of the Western Stars (1940) .... Majesty Hammond
- The Man With Nine Lives (1940) .... Nurse Judith Blair
- Drunk Driving (1939) .... Mrs. Jones
- The Women (1939) (uncredited) .... Debutante
- Fast and Loose (1939) .... Christina 'Chris' Torrent
- Honolulu (1939) .... Nurse
- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1939) .... Susan
- Young Dr. Kildare (1938) .... Barbara
References
edit- ^ "Obituaries: Jo Ann S. Agle". Town Topics. December 7, 2011. Archived from the original on August 23, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
- ^ Holland, Bernard (August 12, 1991). "Anthony A. Bliss, is Dead at 78; an Executive in Opera and Dance". The New York Times.
- ^ "Obituary - Jo Ann S Agle". Town Topics. December 7, 2011. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
- ^ a b Lentz, Harris M. III (2012). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2011. McFarland. p. 305. ISBN 9780786491346. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
- ^ Playbill magazine excerpt Archived 2006-04-12 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Anthony A. Bliss Papers Archived 2010-09-25 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Obituaries". Town Topics. towntopics.com. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
External links
edit