Janet Beecher

From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia Janet Beecher October 21 1884 August 6 1955 was an American stage and screen actress Beecher was a supporting player and lead on the Broadway stage between the 1900s and 1940s Her Broadway debut came in The Education of Mr Pipp 1905 Her final Broadway play was The Late George Apley 1944 Between 1915 and 1943 she appeared in about fifty motion pictures She remains perhaps bestremembered as a character actress during Hollywoods golden age often seen in roles as firm but compassionate matriarchs She was known for her roles as Ginger Rogers mother in The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle 1939 Tyrone Powers mother in the adventure film The Mark of Zorro 1940 and Henry Fondas mother in Preston Sturges screwball comedy The Lady Eve 1941 She retired from film business in 1943 but managed to play a role in the television series Lux Video Theatre in 1952