Lauren Chapin, actor known for ‘Father Knows Best’ and ‘A Star is Born,’ dies at 80

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Lauren Chapin, who starred as Kathleen Anderson in the popular 1950s TV show “Father Knows Best,” has passed away at the age of 80.

Matthew Chapin, the son of the actor, shared the sad news on Facebook that his mother had passed away after a five-year fight with cancer. He expressed being deeply heartbroken and didn’t share any further information about her death or illness.

Matthew Chapin asked for your thoughts and prayers for his sister and her family, who are facing a very difficult time.

Lauren Chapin was born in Los Angeles on May 23, 1945, and started her acting career in the 1950s. She had small roles in films like the 1954 movie “A Star Is Born,” featuring Judy Garland and James Mason, and also appeared on television shows such as “Lux Video Theatre” and the popular sitcom “Father Knows Best.”

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“Father Knows Best” was a popular TV show that ran from 1954 to 1960, airing on both CBS and NBC. It starred Robert Young as Jim Anderson, the father of a typical middle-class family. Lauren Chapin played Kathy, also known as “Kitten,” the youngest of Jim and Margaret Anderson’s three children. Elinor Donahue and Billy Gray played her older siblings on the show.

Jane Wyatt’s most significant acting work was her role on the Emmy-winning sitcom “Father Knows Best,” which aired for six seasons and over 200 episodes. After the show ended, she made a single guest appearance on “General Electric Theater.” Years later, in 1976, she appeared in the film “The Amorous Adventures of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza” and participated in two reunion specials for “Father Knows Best.” In 1980, she co-starred with Gary Coleman in the movie “Scout’s Honor.”

She didn’t act again until the late 2010s, when she played an elderly school bus driver in the YouTube series “School Bus Diaries,” which ran from 2016 to 2017, as noted by IMDb.

Besides her acting career, Chapin was deeply religious and openly shared her faith by speaking at events, working with church groups, and volunteering. She also used her industry knowledge to help launch the careers of up-and-coming actors, including Jennifer Love Hewitt, and dedicated herself to numerous charities. Chapin received recognition for her efforts, including five Junior Emmy Awards and honorary mayoral titles from Oklahoma, Texas, and Florida.

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In 1989, Lauren Chapin published her memoir, “Father Knows Best: The Lauren Chapin Story.” The book detailed her experiences on the popular TV show, but also bravely revealed alleged emotional and sexual abuse she suffered from family members behind the scenes. It also covered her life after the show, including her battles with drug addiction, suicide attempts, difficult relationships, and legal issues.

According to her website, Lauren Chapin’s life story shows that while becoming famous can bring attention, it’s qualities like hard work, integrity, and kindness that truly matter in the end.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, she is remembered by her son, daughter Summer, and brother Michael Chapin.

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2026-02-26 01:01