- Jane Withers starred opposite Shirley Temple in 1934's "Bright Eyes."
- As an adult, Withers played Vashti Snythe alongside Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean in the 1956 drama "Giant."
- Withers died August 7 at age 95.
Jane Withers, a major child acting star of the 1930s who found renewed popularity in the 1960s as Josephine the Plumber in classic Comet cleanser commercials, has died. She was 95.
Her daughter, Kendall Errair, confirmed Withers died Aug. 7 surrounded by loved ones in Burbank, California. No cause of death was given.
"My mother was such a special lady. She lit up a room with her laughter, but she especially radiated joy and thankfulness when talking about the career she so loved and how lucky she was," Errair said in the statement obtained by USA TODAY.
In her first major role at 8-years-old, opposite "America's Sweetheart" Shirley Temple in 1934's "Bright Eyes," Withers stole the spotlight as spoiled, obnoxious Joy Smythe.
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"I had to play the meanest, creepiest little girl that God ever put on this planet," Withers recalled in 2000. "I ran over Shirley with a tricycle, and a baby buggy. And I thought, 'Oh dear, everybody’s going to hate me forever because I was so creepy mean to Shirley Temple!'"
Quite to the contrary, audiences loved Withers. The young actress signed a seven-year contract with Fox Film Corporation, appearing in three to five films a year. Her first starring role, in the 1935 film "Ginger," began filming on Wither's 9th birthday. She played an orphan adopted by a rich family after her uncle's arrest.
Other titles included "Paddy O’Day," "Little Miss Nobody," "Wild and Wooly" and "The Arizona Wildcat." A theater owners poll named Withers one of the top money-making stars in 1936 and 1937.
Her popularity led to Jane Withers dolls, hair bows, socks and mystery novels. At her peak, she was earning $2,500 a week and $50,000 a year in endorsements. Unlike other child stars, her earnings did not disappear.
She explained in 1974: "Fortunately, my dad had a great love of California land. He kind of dibble-dabbled in real estate in a marvelous way."
As an adult, Withers starred as the oil-rich Vashti Snythe — alongside Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean — in the 1956 drama "Giant."
Withers underwent a fame resurgence in the 1960s and 1970s portraying overall-clad, smart-alecky Josephine the Plumber in classic Comet cleanser commercials. Ever the professional, Withers took a course in plumbing to fully understand the part for the the one-minute commercials. The ads ran from 1963-1974.
After voice actress Mary Wickes died in 1995, Withers voiced the gargoyle Laverne in 2002's animated "Hunchback of Notre Dame II."
An interviewer in 1974 asked Withers how she managed to escape the troubles that plagued many child stars in adulthood. A lifelong Presbyterian, she commented: "I always took my troubles to the good Lord, and I never failed to get an answer."
Contributing: Associated Press
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