Jo Van Fleet
Known for
A specialist in playing women much older than herself, the American Jo Van Fleet was a stage-trained actress whose career spanned more than four decades. In 1954 she won a Tony Award for the Broadway production 'The Trip to Bountiful', and the following year she claimed the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in her film debut as James Dean's mother in Elia Kazan's 'East of Eden'. Afterward she left memorable roles in 'Gunfight at the O.K. Corral' and 'A Face in the Crowd'. Her dramatic intensity and her command of characterization made her one of the most respected supporting players of the Method.
Jo Van Fleet
15 Movies · 17 Series
A specialist in playing women much older than herself, the American Jo Van Fleet was a stage-trained actress whose career spanned more than four decades. In 1954 she won a Tony Award for the Broadway production 'The Trip to Bountiful', and the following year she claimed the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in her film debut as James Dean's mother in Elia Kazan's 'East of Eden'. Afterward she left memorable roles in 'Gunfight at the O.K. Corral' and 'A Face in the Crowd'. Her dramatic intensity and her command of characterization made her one of the most respected supporting players of the Method.
Movies
Plays Kate Trask
East of Eden
1955
Plays Arletta
Cool Hand Luke
1967
Plays Madame Dioz
The Tenant
1976
Plays Kate Fisher
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
1957
Plays Mother
I Love You, Alice B. Toklas!
1968
Plays Bessie
The Rose Tattoo
1955
Plays Ella Garth
Wild River
1960
Plays Ma McDade
The King and Four Queens
1956
Plays Big Momma
The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight
1971
Plays Katie Roth
I'll Cry Tomorrow
1955
Plays Nonna
80 Steps to Jonah
1969
Plays Mrs. Einhorn
Seize the Day
1986
Plays Mme. Dufresne
This Angry Age
1957
TV Shows
Plays Shirley
The Philco Television Playhouse
1948
Plays Mrs. Shrike
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
Plays Mother Vanda
Power
1980
Plays Jane Patterson
77 Sunset Strip
1958
Plays Hildy Hesse
Kraft Suspense Theatre
1963
Plays Hazel Quine
Route 66
1960
Plays Dr. Anna Chaloupka
Naked City
1958
Plays Alexandra Pulvarenti
Mannix
1967
Plays Annie Crabtree
The Mod Squad
1968
Plays Leah
Medical Center
1969
Plays Miss Wanda Kelsey
General Electric Theater
1953
Plays Mrs. Lombe
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
1958
Plays Amelia Bronston
The Wild Wild West
1965
Plays Irini Karabetas
Police Woman
1974
Plays Lee Calder
The Virginian
1962
Plays Mrs. Cissy Hawk
Thriller
1960
Plays Amy Wilder
Bonanza
1959
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
The Tenant
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jo Van Fleet still alive?
Jo Van Fleet passed away on June 10, 1996 at age 80.
What are the most famous roles of Jo Van Fleet?
Jo Van Fleet is best known for roles in Cool Hand Luke, The Tenant, East of Eden.
How many movies has Jo Van Fleet been in?
Over a 47-year career (since 1949), Jo Van Fleet has appeared in 15 movies and 17 TV shows.
What was Jo Van Fleet's first movie?
The career of Jo Van Fleet began with Concerning a Woman of Sin (1949).
What is Jo Van Fleet's most recent movie or series?
Jo Van Fleet's most recent release is Seize the Day, which premiered on September 9, 1986.
What TV shows has Jo Van Fleet appeared in?
On television, Jo Van Fleet has appeared in Bonanza, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Oscars, The Wild Wild West.
Jo Van Fleet
1915-12-29 · Oakland, California, USA
Catherine Josephine Van Fleet (December 30, 1914 – June 10, 1996) was an American stage, film, and television actress. During her long career, which spanned over four decades, she often played characters much older than her actual age. Van Fleet won a Tony Award in 1954 for her performance in the Broadway production The Trip to Bountiful, and the next year she won an Oscar for her supporting role in East of Eden.