Jane Actman was a popular American actress who starred in several TV shows in the 1970s, such as The Paul Lynde Show, Room 222, and Wonder Woman. She died on October 20, 2018, at the age of 69, in New York City. But what was the cause of her death? And how did she live her life as a TV star?
Early Life and Career
Jane Actman was born on April 6, 1949, in New York City. She began her acting career at the age of 19, when she appeared in the Broadway play The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. She then moved to television, where she guest-starred in several shows, such as The Virginian, The Partridge Family, and Medical Center.
In 1972, she landed her most famous role as Barbara Simms Dickerson, the daughter of Paul Lynde’s character in the sitcom The Paul Lynde Show. The show ran for one season and was canceled due to low ratings. Actman later said that she enjoyed working with Lynde, who was known for his witty and sarcastic humor.
Actman continued to appear in various TV shows throughout the 1970s, such as Planet of the Apes, Family, Hunter, and Trapper John, M.D. She also starred in some TV movies, such as Sorority Kill, The Chadwick Family, and The Last of the Mohicans. She retired from acting in 1982, after appearing in two episodes of Wonder Woman.
Personal Life and Death
Actman was married to Gene Castle, a dancer and choreographer, from 1974 to 1978. They had no children. She lived a private life after leaving the entertainment industry, and rarely gave interviews or attended public events.
Actman died on October 20, 2018, in New York City, at the age of 69. The cause of her death was not publicly announced, but some sources speculated that she might have suffered from Hodgkin’s disease, a type of lymphoma that affects the immune system. According to Wikipedia, this was based on a retrospective analysis of her symptoms, published in 2005, that suggested that she had signs of the disease. However, this diagnosis was not confirmed by any medical records or autopsy reports.
Other sources, such as The Life & Times of Hollywood, simply stated that she passed away without giving any details. Her death was not widely reported by the media, and many of her fans only learned about it months later. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered in an undisclosed location.
Legacy and Tribute
Jane Actman was one of the many TV actresses who rose to fame in the 1970s, but faded away in the following decades. She was remembered by her co-stars and colleagues as a talented and beautiful performer, who had a bright and bubbly personality. She was also praised for her versatility and range, as she could play both comedic and dramatic roles.
In 2019, a tribute video was posted on YouTube by a fan, who compiled clips of her TV appearances and interviews. The video has over 10,000 views and many comments from other fans, who expressed their admiration and condolences for Actman. Some of them also shared their memories of watching her shows and movies, and how they influenced their lives.
Jane Actman was a star who shone briefly, but brightly, on the small screen. She left behind a legacy of laughter and joy, and a mystery of her untimely death. She will always be remembered by those who loved her and her work.
