Person Biography:
Spring Byington was a beloved character actress, known for her gentle face, warm voice, and sweet on-screen presence. Born on October 17, 1886, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, she was one of two daughters to a college professor and school superintendent. After her father's death, her mother placed the children with their maternal grandparents while she studied to become a doctor.
Byington developed an early interest in theater and formed an acting company that toured mining camps in the Colorado Springs area. She later joined a repertory company that traveled to Buenos Aires, where she married the company's manager, Roy Carey Chandler, and had two children. The couple divorced, and Byington returned to New York with her children, never remarrying.
She made her Broadway debut at age 31 in the comedy "A Beggar on Horseback" and went on to play various roles in the 1920s. Byington gained a strong reputation for her comedic skills and eventually transitioned to film, making her breakthrough in 1933 with the role of Marmee in "Little Women." She became a popular character actress, known for her warm and understanding on-screen presence, and appeared in numerous films throughout the 1930s and 1940s.
Byington's career slowed down in the 1950s, and she turned to television, starring in the popular sitcom "December Bride" from 1954 to 1959. She continued to work in television throughout the 1960s, making her last film appearance in 1960. Byington retired to her Hollywood Hills home, enjoying traveling and reading during her retirement years. She passed away in 1971 from cancer, leaving behind two daughters, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
