Jane Wyman (January 5, 1917 - September 10, 2007)

When it comes to the power and intensity of drama no one beats Jane Wyman. For me she will always been Angela Gioberti Channing from the 1980's smash hit prime time soap opera "Falcon Crest." As the strong willed matriarch she commanded her empire with an iron hand. She battled everyone...everyone....her children...her husbands...her grandchildren...and so on and so on. No matter what anyone threw at Angela she was always fourteen steps ahead ready to catch it. Jane Wyman appeared in 208 of the show's 227 episodes. Her absence in the other 19 was due to complications from diabetes among other ailments. Among the slew of celebrity visitors to Angela's precious Tuscany Valley were Lana Turner, Jane Greer, Celeste Holm, Roscoe Lee Browne, Robert Stack, Eddie Albert, Cliff Robertson, E.G. Marshall and Leslie Caron to name a few. Wyman began in feature films in 1932 with an appearance in The Kid from Spain. 82 films followed including Brother Rat in 1938, Johnny Belinda in 1948, Stage Fright in 1950, The Blue Veil in 1951, Magnificent Obsession in 1954, Lucy Gallant in 1955 and How to Commit Marriage in 1969. How to Commit Marriage turned out to be her final motion picture appearance. She holds the record along with actor Regis Toomey for the longest on screen kiss which took place in the film You're in the Army Now (1941) lasted 3 minutes and 5 seconds. On August 30, 1955 the first episode of "Jane Wyman Presents the Fireside Theatre" aired. Wyman appeared in every episode of the series and received an Emmy nomination for her work. Between the premiere and the final episode on May 22, 1958, 91 episodes were produced. Other television credits include "The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show", "The Perry Como Show", "What's My Line?", "The Andy Williams Show", "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson", "General Electric Theater", "Summer Playhouse", "Lux Playhouse", "Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse", "Wagon Train", "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre", "The Bold Ones: The New Doctors", "The Love Boat", "Charlie's Angels" and "Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman." In 1973 she appeared in a pilot for a television program entitled "Dr. Amanda Fallon" of which she was to play the title role. Jane Wyman has been recognized with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, an Oscar Award for Johnny Belinda, a Golden Globe for "Falcon Crest" and several other well deserved accolades. She was one of the greatest performers to ever grace the screen and she can never be duplicated. As a deaf mute rape victim she made us cry and as a ruthless wine maker she made us love to hate her... As Jackie Gleason once said "If one minute you can make them laugh and then one minute you can make then cry, then you've done your job." Jane Wyman certainly proved his point several times over. Right now it is September 3rd, seven days away from the 1st anniversary of her passing. I can't believe it has been an entire year since we lost her. She is with the Lord now but thanks to the wonders of technology she will always be with us...now and forever. I know she's at peace and I know she's with her family and I know God will take care of her...because she was the best.

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