Jo Ann Sayers (born Miriam Lucille Lilygren, October 22, 1918 – November 14, 2011)[3] was an American actress who was active on Broadway and in Hollywood films. Her film career spanned the 1930s through the 1950s.
Biography
Sayers was born in Seattle, Washington.[4] She was a budding actress as a child, participating in dances, taking piano and violin lessons, and acting in school plays. She enrolled in Pre-law at the University of Washington, also taking drama classes. A talent scout noted her in a student production and invited her to Hollywood for a screen test. She was offered a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Her first credited film role was in 1938.[citation needed]
In 1940, she was selected for the titular role in the Broadway production of My Sister Eileen, opposite Shirley Booth, who was two decades Sayers' senior, which opened on December 26, 1940.[5]
Marriages
She remained in the Broadway cast until June 1942, when she left to marry Anthony A. Bliss, a New York lawyer and patron of the performing arts.[6]
They married on June 10, 1942, and had three children, but later divorced. Sayers later worked in summer theater, radio and television. She married a second time in 1968 to architect Charles K. Agle;[4] they remained together until his death in Princeton, New Jersey.[citation needed]
