Gwen Van Dam obit

Gwen Van Dam, a Character Actress for 70 Years, Dies at 96

After rejecting Columbia Pictures' contract offer on the advice of Montgomery Clift, she appeared in everything from ‘The Brady Bunch’ and ‘Coming Home’ to ‘Interior Chinatown’ and a Lil Wayne music video. 

She was not on the list.

Gwen Van Dam, whose 70-year career as a character actress for film, television and the stage included turns in True Confessions, Halloween, Coming Home, Stir Crazy and The Trip to Bountiful, has died. She was 96.

 

Van Dam, who compiled about 140 acting credits on IMDb, died Dec. 19 at her home in West Los Angeles after a recurrence of cancer, her son, Dirk Smillie, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Van Dam remained a busy actress until the end, appearing on the first five episodes of Prime Video’s Homecoming in 2018, on Netflix’s Grace and Frankie in 2019 and on two installments of Hulu’s Interior Chinatown last year. She recently finished a play, too.

Her TV résumé included The Brady Bunch, Mannix, Maude, House Calls, Days of Our Lives, Moonlighting, 227, Knots Landing, Star Trek: Generations, ER, Gilmore Girls, Charmed, New Girl, Criminal Minds, Angie Tribeca and Modern Family.

Meanwhile, she spent the past decade showing up in music videos for U2, Smashing Pumpkins, Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Panic! at the Disco and Mastodon, even though she wasn’t all that familiar with those artists, her son noted.

In 2011, she had a rare starring turn in a Los Angeles Group Rep production of Horton Foote’s The Trip to Bountiful.

“In the lead role of Carrie Watts, Gwen Van Dam has big shoes to fill — Geraldine Page (the film) and Lillian Gish (the play),” a L.A. Stage Times reviewer wrote. “Ms. Van Dam chooses rightly to make her own path and use her own assets and experiences. She brings a sweetness and vulnerability to the role. You will love … traveling this important journey with her.”

She appeared in productions for 14 L.A.-based theater companies during her career.

One of three kids, Gwendolyn Greta Van Dam was born in San Francisco on Nov. 5, 1928. She discovered a love of acting at San Jose State and after graduation in 1950 wrote a letter to Gertrude Lawrence seeking help on how to land roles in New York. The English actress suggested she contact her husband, producer Richard Aldrich, and he cast her in The Guardsman, his touring stage show.

While studying with famed acting teacher Mira Rostova at the Herbert Berghof Studio in New York, she was offered a screen test for a role in From Here to Eternity (1953) and a contract with Columbia Pictures.

Van Dam, however, turned it all down after fellow Rostova student Montgomery Clift said to her, “Are you sure you want to move to Hollywood? It could destroy you.” She would admit it was the worst mistake of her career.

Yet she persevered, and in early big-screen roles, she played a nurse in Jean Seberg’s Lilith (1964) and was in Husbands (1970) from John Cassavetes and in The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977) from Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker.

Every New Year’s Day, Van Dam and her late husband, Scottish-born actor Bill Smillie, hosted a party at their home, and their frequent guests included actors Len Lesser, Marvin Kaplan and Tina Louise.

She met Smillie when he was the property manager on The Guardsman. They wed in Carmel in October 1959 and were together until his death in November 2003 at age 81.

Her sister, Jeanie, died a week after she did at age 94.

In addition to her son, survivors include her children, Claudia, and her grandchildren, Lorelei, Amanda and Crystal. A memorial service is planned for next month in Hollywood.

 

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Storm (2019)

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1 episode

 

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2018

 

Issa Rae in Insecure (2016)

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8.1

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Sleepwalk (2018)

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7.4

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Lady at the House

2018

 

Kayla Fields in The Ugly Christmas Sweater (2017)

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2017

 

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2017

1 episode

 

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2017

1 episode

 

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2017

 

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2017

 

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8.1

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Recoil

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2016

 

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2016

1 episode

 

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9.2

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2016

 

Michael Dempsey and Stephanie Michels in Walk (2016)

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2016

 

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7.0

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2016

1 episode

 

Jonah Ray in Hidden America with Jonah Ray (2016)

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7.6

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Mary

2016

1 episode

 

Reset (2015)

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7.8

Tina

2015

 

Any Day (2015)

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5.0

Geraldine

2015

 

Joe Mantegna, Paget Brewster, A.J. Cook, Adam Rodriguez, Aisha Tyler, Kirsten Vangsness, and Ryan-James Hatanaka in Criminal Minds (2005)

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8.1

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1 episode

 

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1 episode

 

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8.1

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2013

1 episode

 

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1 episode

 

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7.8

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2011

1 episode

 

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2010

 

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2010

1 episode

 

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2010

 

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2010

 

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2009

 

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2008

 

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2008

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2008

 

Miss Terious (2008)

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Short

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2008

 

Along the Way (2007)

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6.0

Mrs. Hereck

2007

 

Matters of Life and Death (2007)

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7.4

Short

Grandma Barbara

2007

 

Have a Nice Death (2007)

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8.6

Short

Elsie Wonderbread

2007

 

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5.0

TV Movie

2006

 

Gabrielle Anwar, Craig Sheffer, and Chace Crawford in Long Lost Son (2006)

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5.5

TV Movie

Travel agent

2006

 

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7.7

Short

Disqualified Auditioning Gramma

2006

 

Matt LeBlanc in Joey (2004)

Joey

6.0

TV Series

Grandma

2005

1 episode

 

Emily Deschanel in Old Tricks (2004)

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7.7

Short

Flirting Granny 2

2004

 

Days Like These

4.3

Short

Grandpa's Wife

2004

 

Alyssa Milano, Holly Marie Combs, and Shannen Doherty in Charmed (1998)

Charmed

7.2

TV Series

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2003

1 episode

 

Stereotypes

6.2

Short

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2003

 

Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham in Gilmore Girls (2000)

Gilmore Girls

8.2

TV Series

Mrs. Van Wyck

2003

1 episode

 

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Without a Trace

7.0

TV Series

Emma

2002

1 episode

 

Legion of the Dead (2001)

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3.2

Old Woman

2001

 

George Clooney, Anthony Edwards, Julianna Margulies, Ming-Na Wen, Noah Wyle, Laura Innes, Alex Kingston, Eriq La Salle, Kellie Martin, Paul McCrane, Michael Michele, Erik Palladino, Maura Tierney, and Goran Visnjic in ER (1994)

ER

7.9

TV Series

Etta

2000

1 episode

 

Traces of Us

Maggie

1999

 

Priscilla Inga Taylor, Edward Blatchford, Jason Hayes, Wendi Kenya, and Trevor Merszei in Malibu, CA (1998)

Malibu, CA

5.7

TV Series

Old Woman

1999

1 episode

 

Michelangelo Kowalski in Love Street (1994)

Love Street

6.3

TV Series

Older Jessica

1994

1 episode

 

William Shatner and Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: Generations (1994)

Star Trek: Generations

6.6

El Aurian Survivor

1994

 

Bakersfield P.D. (1993)

Bakersfield P.D.

8.5

TV Series

Doug's Mother

1993

1 episode

 

John Mahoney and Kurt Deutsch in The Human Factor (1992)

The Human Factor

8.0

TV Series

1992

1 episode

 

Civil Wars (1991)

Civil Wars

6.8

TV Series

Woman on Subway

1992

1 episode

 

Neil Patrick Harris in Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989)

Doogie Howser, M.D.

6.5

TV Series

Woman

1991

1 episode

 

Donna Mills, Joan Van Ark, Michele Lee, Constance McCashin, John Pleshette, and Ted Shackelford in Knots Landing (1979)

Knots Landing

6.9

TV Series

Sales Clerk

1990

1 episode

 

Marla Gibbs, Regina King, Curtis Baldwin, Kia Goodwin, Alaina Reed-Hall, Jackée Harry, Helen Martin, and Hal Williams in 227 (1985)

227

6.7

TV Series

Mrs. Pembrook

1990

1 episode

 

Alyssa Milano, Tony Danza, Katherine Helmond, Danny Pintauro, and Judith Light in Who's the Boss? (1984)

Who's the Boss?

6.6

TV Series

Woman

1989

1 episode

 

Kim Delaney, Rue McClanahan, Deidre Hall, Stepfanie Kramer, and Susan Ruttan in Take My Daughters, Please (1988)

Take My Daughters, Please

6.2

TV Movie

Margaret

1988

 

Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd in Moonlighting (1985)

Moonlighting

7.6

TV Series

Waitress

1988

1 episode

 

Our House (1986)

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7.2

TV Series

Judge Farrow

1988

1 episode

 

Blair Brown in The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd (1987)

The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd

8.1

TV Series

Mrs. Feldman

1987

1 episode

 

Angie Dickinson and Lynda Carter in Stillwatch (1987)

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5.6

TV Movie

1987

 

Days of Our Lives (1965)

Days of Our Lives

5.3

TV Series

Imelda

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1983–1987

11 episodes

 

The Ladies Club (1985)

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5.4

Woman No. 1

1985

 

Shadow Chasers (1985)

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7.7

TV Series

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1985

1 episode

 

T.J. Hooker (1982)

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6.1

TV Series

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1985

1 episode

 

A Touch of Scandal (1984)

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5.3

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1984

 

The Awakening of Candra (1983)

The Awakening of Candra

5.8

TV Movie

Mrs. Stern

1983

 

Second Thoughts (1983)

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5.3

Matron

1983

 

A Day for Thanks on Walton's Mountain (1982)

Mother's Day on Waltons Mountain

6.9

TV Movie

Nurse

1982

 

Help Wanted: Male (1982)

Help Wanted: Male

6.7

TV Movie

Dr. Quinn

1982

 

Hart to Hart (1979)

Hart to Hart

6.7

TV Series

Nurse #1

1981

1 episode

 

The Two Lives of Carol Letner (1981)

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4.8

TV Movie

Matron

1981

 

Robert De Niro and Robert Duvall in True Confessions (1981)

True Confessions

6.3

Mrs. Fazenda

1981

 

Stand by Your Man (1981)

Stand by Your Man

6.5

TV Movie

Mrs. Sims

1981

 

The Best Little Girl in the World (1981)

The Best Little Girl in the World

6.3

TV Movie

O.R. Nurse

1981

 

Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor in Stir Crazy (1980)

Stir Crazy

6.7

Mrs. Beatty

1980

 

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Loni Anderson in The Jayne Mansfield Story (1980)

The Jayne Mansfield Story

5.2

TV Movie

Vivian

1980

 

Robert Blake, Collin Boone, Amber Rose Gold, Barbara Harris, Erica Stansbury, and Jessica Stansbury in Second-Hand Hearts (1980)

Second-Hand Hearts

4.5

Waitress at Frankie's

1980

 

Gideon's Trumpet (1980)

Gideon's Trumpet

7.1

TV Movie

Mrs. Lawrence

1980

 

House Calls (1979)

House Calls

6.6

TV Series

Mrs. Maxwell

1980

1 episode

 

The French Atlantic Affair (1979)

The French Atlantic Affair

6.4

TV Mini Series

Barney's Wife

1979

3 episodes

 

Joni (1979)

Joni

6.6

Nurse Pauline

1979

 

Terror Out of the Sky (1978)

Terror Out of the Sky

4.6

TV Movie

Ms. Logan

1978

 

Halloween (1978)

Halloween

7.7

Sanitarium Nurse (uncredited)

1978

 

Lou Ferrigno and Bill Bixby in The Incredible Hulk (1977)

The Incredible Hulk

7.0

TV Series

Mayor Claire Murphy

1978

1 episode

 

Lassie: A New Beginning (1978)

Lassie: A New Beginning

6.0

TV Movie

Mrs. Waldrup

1978

 

Jane Fonda, Jon Voight, and Bruce Dern in Coming Home (1978)

Coming Home

7.3

Mrs. Harris

1978

 

Winners

TV Series

Mrs. Lacey

1977

1 episode

 

The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977)

The Kentucky Fried Movie

6.4

Mrs. Burke (segment "Catholic High School Girls in Trouble")

1977

 

S.W.A.T. (1975)

S.W.A.T.

6.7

TV Series

Nurse Thompson

1976

1 episode

 

Bea Arthur in Maude (1972)

Maude

7.3

TV Series

Woman

1976

1 episode

 

Teenage Seductress (1975)

Teenage Seductress

3.7

Mother

1975

 

Robert Forster in Nakia (1974)

Nakia

7.3

TV Series

Ruth

1974

1 episode

 

Bloody Trail (1972)

Bloody Trail

4.0

1972

 

Pete 'n' Tillie (1972)

Pete 'n' Tillie

6.2

Party Guest (uncredited)

1972

 

Mike Connors in Mannix (1967)

Mannix

7.4

TV Series

Nora Kohler

Woman on Balcony

1970–1972

2 episodes

 

Calliope

5.1

Housewife

1971

 

Eve Plumb, Florence Henderson, Susan Olsen, Robert Reed, Ann B. Davis, Christopher Knight, Mike Lookinland, Maureen McCormick, and Barry Williams in The Brady Bunch (1969)

The Brady Bunch

6.8

TV Series

Mrs. Watson

1971

1 episode

 

Alex Roman in Pinocchio (1971)

Pinocchio

3.7

Madam Suburbia

1971

 

Peter Falk, John Cassavetes, and Ben Gazzara in Husbands (1970)

Husbands

7.1

Gwen - "Jeanie" Singer

1970

 

Joel Crothers, Jonathan Frid, and Lara Parker in Dark Shadows (1966)

Dark Shadows

8.1

TV Series

Mrs. Hopewell's Secretary (uncredited)

1966

1 episode

 

Lilith (1964)

Lilith

6.8

Nurse (uncredited)

1964

 

Robert Montgomery Presents (1950)

Robert Montgomery Presents

7.7

TV Series

1955

1 episode

 

Soundtrack

Peter Falk, John Cassavetes, and Ben Gazzara in Husbands (1970)

Husbands

7.1

performer: "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair" (1854) (uncredited)

1970