Posted by Faye Bell on November 21, 1999 at 21:24:46:

Here is some background on JANE DARWELL, our Dolly Merriwether.

October 15, 1879 - August 13, 1967

The fifth member of GONE WITH THE WIND's cast to win an Academy Award, Jane Darwell once said she orignally wanted to be a circus fat lady. But, Patti Woodward (born in Palmyra, Missouri, the daughter of a railroad president), was discouraged by her father from pursuing that unusual occupation. Instead, she studied music and dramatics and made her stage debut in Chicago, in 1906. As Jane Darwell, the actress began a 50-year screen career in 1914 in ROSE OF THE RANCHO, played in many silent films, and successfully overcame the "sound barrier" in 1930.

Jane's skill was such that she could essay unsympathetic roles in THE OX-BOW INDICENT or CAGED as easily as the heartrending part of Ma Joad in John Ford's THE GRAPES OF WRATH, which won her that Oscar. She also appeared in six of Shirley Temple's successful movies, and in five additional John Ford films, as well as 150 other pictures. Her final, and very touching appearance was in the 1964 Walt Disney classic, MARY POPPINS. As with Hattie McDaniel, Jane Darwell's image was the eternal mother (or grandmother) and like Hattie, she died childless.

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