ACTRESS Jane Withers died on Saturday at the age of 95 at her home in Burbank, her family announced.
A cause of death was not released for the film icon – who has long been considered one of the most famous child star’s in Hollywood history.
Jane’s daughter, Kendall Errair, released a statement about her mom’s passing on Saturday morning.
She wrote: “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.”
Kendall also added that Jane’s short first name was chosen by her mother with the idea and hope that one day, it’d be “able to fit up onto a giant marquee,” TMZ first reported.
The entertainment legend got her star in showbiz at just the age of three in Atlanta, Georgie.
She first broke out onto the scene by tap dancing and singing but soon got her own radio program where she interviewed celebrities who came into town.
LEGEND LOST
After building some professional momentum, she moved to Los Angeles where her career took off.
Jane went on to star in a number of smaller roles in the early 1930’s but hit her big break in 1934 as she acted opposite Shirley Temple in the film Bright Eyes.
She played an older, privileged girl that was difficult to Shirley’s character.
After Bright Eyes, Jane began to land lead roles rather than supporting characters.
The young star led the way on projects such as Ginger, Paddy O’ Day and Little Miss Nobody as she became a massive box office star.
She also started in This Is The Life, Rascals, Checkers, Wild and Wooly, My Best Gal along with many others.
Despite appearing in a number of projects throughout the 1940’s, Jane’s star power began to fade as she got older – something many child actors have experienced.
LONG HOLLYWOOD HISTORY
At the age of just 21, she “retired” from acting in 1947.
However, about ten years later, she returned to work and had a famous role opposite James Dean in 1956’s movie Giant.
She also became known and widely loved as Josephine The Plumber in a long-running series of commercials for the cleaner, Comet.
In the decades that followed, she went on to act on and off while also branching out to voiceover acting.
She led her voice to several Disney movies and radio with over 71 credits to her name.
Fans of the beloved Hollywood presence mourned the loss on Twitter.
One admirer wrote: “Rest in Peace Jane Withers… a great loss.”
“A legend gone. Godspeed, Jane Withers,” someone else said.
A third wrote: “She was an icon. Rest peacefully Jane you will be missed!”
