Janis Wilson

Janis Wilson
Wilson in The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946)
Born
Janice Mae Wilson

(1930-02-09)February 9, 1930
Santa Barbara, California, U.S.
DiedNovember 17, 2003(2003-11-17) (aged 73)
Spokane, Washington, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1942–1948
Spouse
Sidney Victor Petertyl
​
​
(m. 1955)​
Children1

Janis Mae Wilson (February 9, 1930 – November 17, 2003) was an American child actress of the 1940s. She is probably best known for her roles in Now, Voyager and Watch on the Rhine opposite Bette Davis as well as for the films The Strange Love of Martha Ivers and Snafu.

Career

Born in Santa Barbara, California, twelve-year-old Wilson's mother had her dentist put bands on her teeth[note 1] in order for her to win her first role as Tina Durrance, a little girl rejected and unloved by her mother, in the 1942 Bette Davis drama Now, Voyager.[2] Warner Bros. considered Wilson a “sensational discovery”[3] and due to her fondness for the young actress, Davis persuaded the studio to cast her as her daughter in her next film Watch on the Rhine.[4] Wilson starred in just five more films before retiring at age 18 after appearing in the 1948 horror film The Creeper.

Personal life

Wilson initially met her future husband Sidney Victor Petertyl on the Warner Bros. lot in 1942 when she was just twelve years old and filming Now, Voyager.[5] They were married in Santa Barbara in 1955 when Wilson was 25. The Petertyls had one son and eventually settled in Grand Rapids, Michigan where they lived for 31 years. The family later moved to Spokane, Washington in 1994. In 1996, Wilson stated that she was working on a book about her years as a child actress in Hollywood and her special relationship with Bette Davis.[5] Wilson died of a stroke in Spokane on November 17, 2003.

Filmography (selection)

Notes

  1. ^ Usually used to align and straighten teeth, rather than individual brackets bonded to each tooth, in the 1940's bands were often applied that were made of metal, cemented in place, and entirely surrounded each tooth, furnishing an anchor for wires and attachments. They were sturdy, but were more noticeable than other braces.[1]

References

  1. ^ Amorim, Lea (December 28, 2025). "Everything You Need To Know About Braces In The 1940S". license.acctphilly.org. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  2. ^ "Dentist Helps Janis Obtain Screen Role". The Pittsburgh Press. July 6, 1942. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  3. ^ "Bette takes chance with screen legend". The Daily Notes. Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. July 25, 1942. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
  4. ^ Day, Crosby (September 26, 1993). "Cautionary tale about fascism". The Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Bartel, Frank (December 22, 1996). "Retirees find plenty to like about Spokane". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
Wikimedia Commons logo
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Janis Wilson.

Content Disclaimer

Informasi ini disarikan dari Wikipedia dan disajikan kembali untuk tujuan edukasi. Konten tersedia di bawah lisensi CC BY-SA 3.0. Kami tidak bertanggung jawab atas ketidakakuratan data yang bersumber dari kontribusi publik tersebut.

  1. The information displayed on this website is sourced in part or in whole from Wikipedia and has been adapted for the purpose of restating it. We strive to provide accurate and relevant information, however:
  2. There is no guarantee of absolute accuracy. Wikipedia is an open, collaborative project that can be edited by anyone, so information is subject to change.
  3. It is not intended to constitute professional advice. The content displayed is for informational and educational purposes only. For important decisions (e.g., medical, legal, or financial), please consult a professional.
  4. Content copyright. Wikipedia is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License (CC BY-SA). This means that content may be reused with appropriate attribution and shared under a similar license.
  5. Responsible use. Any risk arising from the use of information from this website is entirely the responsibility of the user.