MEADOWS, Jayne 1920(?)–

(Jayne Meadows Allen)

PERSONAL

Original name, Jayne Cotter; born September 27, 1920 (some sources cite 1926), in Wu–ch'ang (now Wuchang), China; daughter of Francis James Meadows Cotter (an Episcopal priest and missionary) and Ida (a missionary; maiden name, Miller) Cotter; sister of Audrey Meadows (an actress); married Steve Allen (an actor, comedian, composer, and writer), July 31, 1954 (died, October 20, 2000); children: William Christopher Allen. Education: Trained with Stella Adler, Lee Strasberg, and David Craig.

Addresses: Publicist—Kevin Sasaki, Warren Cowan and Associates Public Relations, 8899 Beverly Blvd., Suite 919, Los Angeles, CA 90048.

Career: Actress and writer. Author of books, columns, stage plays, and television scripts. Founding member of Fund for Animals and Actors and Others for Animals.

Awards, Honors: Cosmopolitan Award, dramatic performance, 1949, for Enchantment; Emmy Award nomination, outstanding lead actress for a single appearance in a drama or comedy series, 1978, for "Luther, Voltaire, Plato, Nightingale," Meeting of Minds; award from National Organization for Women, 1981; Grammy Award nomination, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, 1985, for Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Computers; Emmy Award nomination, outstanding guest performer in a drama series, 1987, for "Visiting Daze," St. Elsewhere; American Book Award, 1988; International Platform Association Award, 1990, for Powerful Women in History; Living Legacy Award, Women's International Center, 1991; DramaLogue Award, best performance by a stage actress in a drama, 1993, for Lost in Yonkers; Emmy Award nomination, outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series, 1996, for High Society; Susan B. Anthony Award; additional Emmy Award nominations; honorary doctorates from various universities.

CREDITS

Television Appearances; Series:

Panelist, I've Got a Secret, CBS, 1952–1959.

The Steve Allen Show (also known as The Steve Allen Plymouth Show), NBC, 1956–1961, ABC, 1961.

Lynn Allen, a recurring role, Man and the Challenge, NBC, 1959–1960.

The Art Linkletter Show, NBC, 1963.

The Steve Allen Comedy Hour, CBS, 1967.

Nurse Chambers, Medical Center, CBS, 1969–1972.

Steve Allen's Laugh–Back, syndicated, 1976.

Multiple roles, Meeting of Minds (also known as Steve Allen's Meeting of Minds), PBS, 1977–1981.

Ruth Long, It's Not Easy, ABC, 1983.

Alice Morgan–DuPont–Sutting–Cushing–Ferruke, High Society, CBS, 1995–1996.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Queen of Hearts, Alice in Wonderland (musical; also known as Alice through the Looking Glass), CBS, 1985.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Ida, Now You See It, Now You Don't, NBC, 1968.

Reva Randall, James Dean (also known as The Legend), NBC, 1976.

Irma Caddish, Sex and the Married Woman, NBC, 1977.

Herself, The Gossip Columnist, syndicated, 1979.

Gertrude Hunnicutt, Miss All–American Beauty, CBS, 1982.

Herself, The Ratings Game (also known as The Mogul), The Movie Channel, 1984.

Matilda Hussey, A Masterpiece of Murder (also known as A Nice Deadly Weekend), NBC, 1986.

Charlotte Brink, "Parent Trap: Hawaiian Honeymoon" (also known as "Parent Trap IV: Hawaiian Honeymoon"), The Magical World of Disney, NBC, 1989.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Anna Ella Carroll, "Woman with a Sword," Hallmark Hall of Fame, NBC, 1952.

Mistress of ceremonies, Miss Universe Pageant, CBS, 1960.

Mistress of ceremonies, Miss Universe Pageant, 1961.

Rita, "Have I Got a Christmas Present for You," Hallmark Hall of Fame, NBC, 1977.

The 38th Annual Emmy Awards, NBC, 1986.

Grand marshal, The 54th Annual King Orange Jamboree Parade, NBC, 1987.

Lifetime Salutes Mom, Lifetime, 1987.

The Hollywood Christmas Parade, syndicated, 1989.

Judge, The 1990 Miss Universe Pageant, CBS, 1990.

Night of 100 Stars III (also known as Night of One Hundred Stars), NBC, 1990.

Tom Arnold: The Naked Truth 2, HBO, 1992.

Addicted to Fame, NBC, 1994.

James Dean: A Portrait, 1996.

Love, Lust, & Marriage: Why We Stray and Why We Stay, ABC, 1997.

Steve Allen's 75th Birthday Celebration, PBS, 1997.

The 67th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade, UPN, 1998.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

"Eva? Caroline?," Robert Montgomery Presents (also known as Robert Montgomery Presents Your Lucky Strike Theatre), NBC, 1952.

"Indian Summer," Kraft Television Theatre, NBC, 1952.

"Love Trap," Danger, CBS, 1952.

"Melville Goodwin, U.S.A.," Pulitzer Prize Playhouse, ABC, 1952.

"End of the Line," The Web, CBS, 1953.

"Five Minutes to Die," Danger, CBS, 1953.

"Flamingto," Danger, CBS, 1953.

Suspense, CBS, 1953.

Guest, The Tonight Show, NBC, between 1953 and 1956.

Guest, The Arthur Godfrey Show, CBS, 1954.

Guest, The Jackie Gleason Show, CBS, 1954.

Guest, Your Show of Shows, NBC, 1954.

The Chesterfield Hour, CBS, 1954.

"The Old Maid," Kraft Television Theatre, ABC, 1954.

Guest panelist, What's My Line?, CBS, multiple appearances, between 1954 and 1967.

Alice, "The Sport," Jane Wyman Presents the Fireside Theatre (also known as The Jane Wyman Show), NBC, 1955.

Cora, "Red Gulch," The U.S. Steel Hour, ABC, 1955.

Guest, The Dorsey Brothers, NBC, 1955.

Leslie Abbott, "The Drop of a Hat," Studio One, CBS, 1956.

"Steve Allen," This Is Your Life, NBC, 1958.

Guest, The Arthur Murray Show, NBC, 1958, 1959.

Liza Vincent, "Top Executive," The Ann Sothern Show, CBS, 1959.

Jean Fletcher, "The Man Who Thought for Himself," General Electric Theater, CBS, 1960.

Guest, The Red Skelton Show, CBS, 1960, 1963.

Celebrity guest, I've Got a Secret, CBS, 1961.

Myra, "Seven Keys to Baldpate," The DuPont Show of the Week, NBC, 1962.

Guest, Password, CBS, 1962, 1964, 1965.

Guest, The Judy Garland Show, CBS, 1964.

Mrs. Bredan, "Does My Mother Have to Know?: Parts 1 & 2," The Eleventh Hour, NBC, 1964.

Guest, The Milton Berle Show, ABC, multiple appearances, 1965.

Guest, The Hollywood Palace, ABC, 1968, 1969, 1970.

Eleanor, "Next Week, East Lynne," Here Come the Brides, ABC, 1969.

Lil, "Through a Stained Glass Window," The Outsider, NBC, 1969.

Guest, The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, CBS, 1969.

Laura Trenton, "Lucy Stops a Marriage," Here's Lucy, CBS, 1970.

"Love and the Many Married Couple," Love, American Style, ABC, 1970.

Ida Huntington, "Harbor Division," Adam–12, NBC, 1973.

Guest, $10,000 Pyramid, 1974.

Guest, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, NBC, 1974.

Guest, Vaudeville, syndicated, 1974.

Myrna Foster, "The Business of Love/Crash Diet Crisis/I'll Never Fall in Love Again," The Love Boat, ABC, 1978.

Jessica Humboldt, "Sign of the Ram," Hawaii Five–0, CBS, 1979.

Marlene Baker, "Sighting 4026: The Atlantic Queen Incident," Project U.F.O., NBC, 1979.

Nadine Winslow, "Cowboy/The Second Mrs. Winslow," Fantasy Island, ABC, 1979.

"The Cheerleaders/Marooned," Fantasy Island, ABC, 1979.

Edwina Garth, "Til Life Us Do Part," Trapper John, M.D., CBS, 1980.

(As Jayne Meadows Allen) Gertrude Benson, "Dumb Luck/Tres Amigos/Hey, Jealous Lover," The Love Boat, ABC, 1980.

Contessa, "Night in the Harem/Druids," Fantasy Island, ABC, 1981.

Gwen Finley, "April in Boston/Saving Grace/Breaks of Life," The Love Boat, ABC, 1982.

Melissa, "Cause for Concern," Trapper John, M.D., CBS, 1982.

Holly Harkins, "The Beverly Hills Social Club," Matt Houston, ABC, 1983.

"Naughty Marietta/The Winning Ticket," Fantasy Island, ABC, 1983.

"What's the Matter with Kids?/Island of Horrors," Fantasy Island, ABC, 1983.

Mrs. Tate, "Soap Gets in Your Eyes/A Match Made in Heaven/Tugs of the Heart," The Love Boat, ABC, 1984.

(As Allen) Fran Clark, "Detours," Hotel, ABC, 1985.

Lila Lee Amberson, "Murder by Appointment Only," Murder, She Wrote, CBS, 1986.

Rosie, Crazy Like a Fox, CBS, 1986.

Olga Osoranski, "Russian Roulette," St. Elsewhere, NBC, 1987.

Olga Osoranski, "Visiting Daze," St. Elsewhere, NBC, 1987.

Olga Osoranski, "The Abby Singer Show," St. Elsewhere, NBC, 1988.

Uncle Buck, CBS, 1990.

Lady Astute, "Despair in Monterey Bay," Mathnet segment, Square One TV, PBS, 1991.

Herself, "The Triumph of DeVille," Civil Wars, ABC, 1992.

(As Allen) Ida Benbow, "A Kick in the Caboose," Sisters, NBC, 1993.

Herself, "Steve Allen: Hi–Ho, Steverino!," Biography, Arts and Entertainment, 1994.

Marianne, "Daddyshack," Tom, CBS, 1994.

Herself, "No Muse Is Good Muse," The Nanny, CBS, 1997.

Mrs. Cochran, "Shaggy Dog, City Goat," Homicide: Life on the Street (also known as Homicide and H: LOTS), NBC, 1998.

Guest, TVography, Arts and Entertainment, c. 1998.

Connie Masters, "The Roast," Diagnosis Murder, CBS, 1999.

"The Honeymooners," Inside TV Land, TV Land, 2000.

Herself, "Jackie Gleason: The Great One," Biography, Arts and Entertainment, 2001.

Herself, "Tribute to Katharine Hepburn," Larry King Live, Cable News Network, 2003.

Appeared in Dr. Kildare, NBC; Matlock, NBC and ABC; appeared as a guest in several talk shows and variety programs.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Ruth, Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, ABC, 1980.

Mrs. Moffett, Rise and Shine, CBS, 1981.

Voice of Mrs. St. Fawn, The Jackie Bison Show (animated short pilot), NBC, 1990.

Film Appearances:

Sylvia Burton, Undercurrent, Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer, 1946.

Janet Thayar Brant, Song of the Thin Man, Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer, 1947.

Mildred Haveland, Lady in the Lake, Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer, 1947.

Mrs. Selkirk, Dark Delusion (also known as Cynthia's Secret), Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer, 1947.

Frances Augur, The Luck of the Irish, Twentieth Century–Fox, 1948.

Selina Dane, Enchantment, RKO Radio Pictures, 1948.

Michal, David and Bathsheba, Twentieth Century–Fox, 1951.

Nurse Jane Adams, The Fat Man, Universal, 1951.

Panelist, It Happened to Jane (also known as Jane from Maine and Twinkle and Shine), Sony Pictures Releasing, 1959.

Betty Duquesne, College Confidential (also known as Campus Confidential), MCA/Universal, 1960.

Adele Hobart, Norman … Is That You?, Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer, 1976.

Mrs. Thomas, Da Capo, Adams Filmi, 1985.

Pamela, Murder by Numbers (also known as Murder 1, Murder 2), Video Ban, 1990.

Voice of Mitch's mother, City Slickers, Columbia, 1991.

Herself, The Player, Fine Line, 1992.

It's Not My Fault, 1992.

Mitch's mother, City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (also known as City Slickers: The Legend of Curly's Gold and City Slickers II), Columbia, 1994.

Herself, Casino, Universal, 1995.

Dot, The Story of Us, PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, 1999.

Stage Appearances:

Millicent Cornish, Spring Again, Henry Miller's Theatre, New York City, 1941–1942, then Playhouse Theatre, New York City, 1942.

Another Love Story, Fulton Theatre, New York City, 1943–1944.

The Odds on Mrs. Oakley, 1944.

Gwynneth, Kiss Them for Me, Belasco Theatre, New York City, then Fulton Theatre, both 1945.

Many Happy Returns, Playhouse Theatre, 1945.

Nell Nash, The Gazebo, Playwrights' Company, Lyceum Theatre, New York City, 1958–1959.

The Four Poster, Chicago, IL, 1960.

Helen Hobart, Once in a Lifetime, Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles, 1977, then Circle in the Square, New York City, 1978.

Lost in Yonkers, 1990.

Night of 100 Stars III (also known as Night of One Hundred Stars), Radio City Music Hall, New York City, 1990.

Also appeared in Hello from Bertha, Los Angeles production.

Major Tours:

Over 21, U.S. army camps in the United States and Bermuda, 1944.

Tonight at 8:30, U.S. cities, 1970–1971.

Melissa Gardner, Love Letters, U.S. cities, 1989–2000.

Toured in the solo show Powerful Women in History.

RECORDINGS

Albums:

Everything You Wanted to Know about Computers, c. 1984.

Other albums include Alice in Wonderland, For Children Only, and Shakin' Loose with Mother Goose. Also recorded with sister Audrey Meadows as the Meadows Sisters, RCA Victor.

Singles:

(With Steve Allen) "What Is a Husband?"/"What Is a Wife," Dot, 1956.

WRITINGS

Teleplays:

(With others) Meeting of Minds (series; also known as Steve Allen's Meeting of Minds), PBS, 1977–1981.

(Story) "What's the Matter with Kids?/Island of Horrors," Fantasy Island (episodic), ABC, 1983.

Stage Plays:

Author of The Eternal Bed, Stop–Gap Theatre, Los Angeles.

Columns for Periodicals:

Author of a column for Carte Blanche.

OTHER SOURCES

Books:

Kennedy, Harold K., No Pickle, No Performance: An Irreverent Theatrical Excursion from Tallulah to Travolta, Doubleday, 1978.

Periodicals:

Reader's Digest, July, 1988, p. 129.

Electronic:

Jayne Meadows Official Site, http://www.jaynemeadows.com, September 5, 2004.