Born in 1922 (one source says December 30, 1919); in Oakland, CA; died June 10, 1996, in Queens, NY. Actress. Van Fleet gained prominence as the award-winning actress who characterized strong and determined women. After receiving adegree from the College of the Pacific in California, Van Fleet began her theatrical studies at the Neighborhood Playhouse and the Actors Studio. She first appeared on Broadway in 1946 in The Winter's Tale. Her other stage creditsinclude The Glass Menagerie, King Lear, Death of a Salesman, Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mama's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feelin' So Sad, and The Trip to Bountiful, for which she won an Antoinette Perry Award. Her first film, Elia Kazan's East of Eden, afforded her an Oscar for best supporting actress. She appeared in television's Bonanza and the Mod Squad, among others. Van Fleet alsomade two full-length productions for television--Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella and Robin Williams' Seize the Day. Her other major film credits include I'll Cry Tomorrow, Cool Hand Luke, I Love You, Alice B. Toklas, and Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
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