Bernadette Withers (February 5, 1946 – October 25, 2019) was an actress best known for playing Ginger on '' Bachelor Father'', Janis on ''

Karen Karen may refer to: * Karen (name), a given name and surname * Karen (slang), a term and meme for a demanding woman displaying certain behaviors People * Karen people, an ethnic group in Myanmar and Thailand ** Karen languages or Karenic l ...

'', and Valerie in '' The Trouble with Angels''. Some sourcesHarris M. Lentz III, Obituaries in the Performing Arts, page 437, McFarland, Incorporated, 2019 claim that actress

Jane Withers Jane Withers (April 12, 1926 – August 7, 2021) was an American actress and children's radio show host. She became one of the most popular child stars in Hollywood in the 1930s and early 1940s, with her films ranking in the top ten list for ...

was her aunt, but since Jane Withers had no siblings she did not have any nieces.

Acting career

As a child Bernadette Withers began acting in small uncredited film roles, including a child at an audition in ''

I'll Cry Tomorrow ''I'll Cry Tomorrow'' (1955) is a biopic that tells the story of Lillian Roth, a Broadway star who rebels against the pressure of her domineering mother and struggles with alcoholism after the death of her fiancé. It stars Susan Hayward, Richard ...

'' (1955), and parts in '' Stranger at My Door'' (1956) and '' All Fall Down'' (1962). She went on to play Valerie in '' The Trouble with Angels'' (1966). Withers found guest starring roles in numerous television series. On '' Leave it to Beaver'' she played Kitty in ''Wally’s Glamour Girl'' (Season 4, Episode 10), and on ''

Wagon Train ''Wagon Train'' is an American Western series that aired 8 seasons: first on the NBC television network (1957–1962), and then on ABC (1962–1965). ''Wagon Train'' debuted on September 18, 1957, and became number one in the Nielsen ratings. It ...

'' she played Alma Hardy in ''The Jonas Murdock Story'' (Season 3, Episode 27). She was also in ''

Buffalo Bill, Jr. ''Buffalo Bill, Jr.'' is a half-hour western series that aired in syndication starting in March 1955. The last new episode was broadcast in September 1956. The series was produced by Gene Autry's Flying A Productions, and distributed by CBS Tel ...

'', ''

Father Knows Best ''Father Knows Best'' is an American sitcom starring Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray and Lauren Chapin. The series, which began on radio in 1949, aired as a television show for six seasons and 203 episodes. Created by E ...

'', ''

My Three Sons ''My Three Sons'' is an American television sitcom that aired from September 29, 1960, to April 13, 1972. The series was broadcast on ABC during its first five seasons, before moving to CBS for the remaining seasons. ''My Three Sons'' chronicl ...

'', and ''

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet ''The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet'' is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from October 3, 1952, to April 23, 1966, and starred the real-life Nelson family. After a long run on radio, the show was brought to television, where it ...

''. From 1957 to 1962 Withers had the recurring role of Ginger, Kelly’s best friend, in '' Bachelor Father''. During the program’s five seasons Ginger had two different sets of parents, and three last names – Farrel, Loomis and Mitchell. During the 1964 television season she had the recurring role of Janis on ''

''.

Later life

After her acting career ended Withers became a partner in a software company. She was married twice, and had two children.Kathy Garver and Fred Ascher, X Child Stars: Where Are They Now?, page 60 (E-Book), Taylor Trade Publishing, 2016 She died in

Dana Point, California Dana Point () is a city located in southern Orange County, California, United States. The population was 33,107 at the 2020 census. It has one of the few harbors along the Orange County coast, and with ready access via State Route 1, it is a po ...

, on October 25, 2019.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Withers, Bernadette 1946 births 2019 deaths American child actresses American television actresses Actresses from Greater Los Angeles 20th-century American actresses 21st-century American women