Matinee Classics - Jo Van Fleet Biography & Filmography

Jo Van Fleet ACTOR

JO VAN FLEET BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Jo Van Fleet was born on December 30th, 1914 in Oakland, California. She later went on to study drama at the HB Studio in Greenwich Village in New York City and also studied acting at the New York Neighborhood Playhouse.

She first gained experience in the industry as a stage actress on Broadway and in 1954 won a Tony Award for her performance in a production of, "The Trip to Bountiful".

Following her stage experience she began working in films. First appearing in, "East of Eden" (1955) starring James Dean for which she earned an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Other film roles she soon added to her resume were roles in, "The Rose Tattoo" (1955), "I'll Cry Tomorrow" (1955), "The King and Four Queens" (1956), "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" (1957) starring Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas, "Wild River" (1960), "Rodger and Hammerstein's Cinderella" (1965), "Cool Hand Luke" (1967) starring Paul Newman and George Kennedy and "I Love You, Alice B. Toklas" (1968).

Along with her stage and film roles she appeared on a number of television shows such as, "Bonanza", "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", "The Wild Wild West", "The Dupont Show of the Month", "The Virginian", "77 Sunset Strip", "Route 66", "Mod Squad" and "Medical Center".

Jo was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contribution to the Motion Picture Industry.

She married only one time to William Bales in 1946 and they had one child and remained together until he passed away in 1990. Six years later Fleet passed away at the age of eighty one on June 10th, 1996 in Queens, New York.