Trivia

She was a devout Catholic, whose late husband died on the day before what would have been their 65th wedding anniversary.

Turned down the role of Old Rose in Titanic (1997) because she wanted to remain in retirement. The role went to Gloria Stuart.

Was an invaluable member of the March of Dimes charitable organization since 1943. Donations were directed toward the March of Dimes at the time of her death.

Won three consecutive Emmy Awards for her portrayal of Margaret Anderson on Father Knows Best (1954).

She was directly descended, on her mother's side, from the van Renssalaer family, one of the earliest Dutch families to settle in the Colonies, as early as 1638, and which at one time owned most of what is now New York City. Renssalaer County in upstate New York is named after them. From the same line, she was also a great-great-great-great-granddaughter of Philip Livingston, signer of the Declaration of Independance.

Jean Vander Pyl played the wifely role opposite Robert Young on the "Father Knows Best" radio program in 1949. However, both Young and Eugene B. Rodney, Young's partner in ownership and production of the series, wanted Wyatt to play the role when it went to television.

Those who fondly recall her in the archetypal 1950s family sitcom Father Knows Best (1954) may be surprised to learn that when the series debuted in 1954, it did so poorly in the ratings that CBS canceled it in March 1955. A flood of protests came from viewers insisting that the series be reinstated. It was moved to an earlier time, and it gradually became a hit.

She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6350 Hollywood Blvd. on February 8, 1960.

Received a special tribute as part of the Annual Memorial tribute at The 79th Annual Academy Awards (2007).

In Lost Horizon (1937) she worked for director Frank Capra. In Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986), the first assistant director was Frank Capra III.

Joined Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall and other Hollywood stars on a flight to Washington in 1947 to protest the House Un-American Activities Committee hearings.

Along with Ricardo Montalban, she was among several established Hollywood actors who has a role on the original Star Trek (1966) series (episode "Journey to Babel") in addition to appearing 20 years later in a feature film (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)).

She stated that she received more fan mail for her role as Spock's mother than for any other role she played throughout her career, despite only appearing in a single episode of the original Star Trek series ("Journey To Babel"), and in a single scene of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.

Following her death, she was interred with her husband, Edgar Bethune Ward, in the San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, CA.

Gave birth to her first child at age 26, son Christopher Ward on June 22, 1937. Child's father was her husband, Edgar Ward.

Best remembered by the public for her starring role as Margaret Anderson on Father Knows Best (1954).

Despite her somewhat patrician bearing and impeccable upper-class accent, she was actually born in New Jersey and raised in New York City.

In 1986 she received the Women's International Center (WIC) Living Legacy Award.

Daughter of Christopher (March 19, 1882-July 30, 1931) and Euphemia (née Waddington) Wyatt (April 1, 1884-January 31, 1978). Both were born and raised in the state of New York.

Universal placed an ad in movie industry Trade Papers in early 1936 promoting Carl Laemmle's 30th Anniversary Celebration. The ad included a list of planned productions for 1936. One listed title was "Strangers At the Feast", to star Margaret Sullavan. She was soon replaced by Jane Wyatt before the project was canceled and the movie eventually was never made.

Gave birth to her second child at age 33, son Michael Ward on September 10, 1943. Child's father was her husband, Edgar Ward.

Attended Miss Chapin's School and Barnard College.

Was a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) (Actors Branch).