Jane Withers
ActingAbout Jane Withers
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jane Withers (April 12, 1926 – August 7, 2021) was an American actress, model, and singer. Beginning a prolific career as a child actress at the age of 3, Withers was a Young Artist Award–Former Child Star "Lifetime Achievement" Award honoree, best known for being one of the most popular child film stars of the 1930s and early 1940s, as well as for her portrayal of "Josephine the Plumber" in a series of TV commercials for Comet cleanser in the 1960s and early 1970s, and probably best known for playing the obnoxious Joy Smythe in the film Bright Eyes, where she paired with Shirley Temple.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Jane Withers reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Comedy
The majority of Jane Withers's filmography leans towards the Comedy genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 18% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Jane Withers remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Shooting High, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Jane Withers Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Jane Withers's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Jane Withers.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | The Hunchback of Notre Dame II | Gargoyle Laverne (voice) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1996 | The Hunchback of Notre Dame | Additional Laverne Dialogue (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1993 | Shirley Temple: America's Little Darling | Self | Flop | Similar → |
| 1975 | All Together Now | Helen Drummond | Flop | Similar → |
| 1974 | Mitzi... A Tribute to the American Housewife | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 1963 | Captain Newman, M.D. | Lt. Grace Blodgett | Hit | Similar → |
| 1961 | The Right Approach | Liz Fargo | Flop | Similar → |
| 1957 | Armored Attack! | as Clavdia Kurin | Average | Similar → |
| 1956 | Giant | Vashti Synthe | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | Danger Street | Pat Marvin | Flop | Similar → |
| 1946 | Affairs of Geraldine | Geraldine Cooper | Flop | Similar → |
| 1944 | Faces in the Fog | Mary Elliott | Flop | Similar → |
| 1944 | My Best Gal | Kitty O'Hara | Flop | Similar → |
| 1943 | The North Star | Clavdia Kurin | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | Johnny Doughboy | Ann Winters / Penny Ryan | Flop | Similar → |
| 1942 | The Mad Martindales | Kathy Martindale | Flop | Similar → |
| 1941 | Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 2 | - | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | Small Town Deb | Patricia Randall | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | A Very Young Lady | Kitty Russell | Flop | Similar → |
| 1941 | Meet the Stars #6: Stars at Play | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | Her First Beau | Penelope 'Penny' Wood | Flop | Similar → |
| 1941 | Golden Hoofs | Jane Drake | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Youth Will Be Served | Eadie-May | Flop | Similar → |
| 1940 | Shooting High | Jane Pritchard | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | High School | Jane Wallace | Average | Similar → |
| 1939 | Pack Up Your Troubles | Colette | Average | Similar → |
| 1939 | Chicken Wagon Family | Addie Fippany | Flop | Similar → |
| 1939 | Boy Friend | Sally Murphy | Flop | Similar → |
| 1939 | Hollywood Hobbies | Self (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1939 | The Arizona Wildcat | Mary Jane Patterson | Average | Similar → |
| 1938 | Always in Trouble | Geraldine "Jerry" Darlington | Average | Similar → |
| 1938 | Keep Smiling | Jane Rand | Flop | Similar → |
| 1938 | Rascals | Gypsy | Average | Similar → |
| 1937 | Checkers | Checkers | Flop | Similar → |
| 1937 | 45 Fathers | Judy | Flop | Similar → |
| 1937 | Angel's Holiday | June 'Angel' Everett | Average | Similar → |
| 1937 | The Holy Terror | Corky | Flop | Similar → |
| 1936 | Pepper | Pepper Jolly | Flop | Similar → |
| 1936 | Little Miss Nobody | Judy Devlin | Average | Similar → |
| 1936 | Paddy O'Day | Paddy O'Day | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | This Is the Life | Geraldine Revier | Average | Similar → |
| 1935 | The Farmer Takes a Wife | Della | Average | Similar → |
| 1935 | Ginger | Ginger | Flop | Similar → |
| 1935 | The Good Fairy | Girl in Orphanage (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | Bright Eyes | Joy Smythe | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | Imitation of Life | Peola's Frontrow Classmate (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | Buddy's Garage | Cookie (voice) (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1933 | Buddy's Day Out | Cookie / Elmer (voice) (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1933 | Mary Stevens, M.D. | Little Girl in Lobby (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1933 | Zoo in Budapest | Little Girl at Zoo (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
Jane Withers - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Jane Withers?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Jane Withers is "Shooting High" with a rating of 8.0/10.
How many movies has Jane Withers acted in?
Jane Withers has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Jane Withers?
Other notable films include "Giant", "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", and "Paddy O'Day".