Jeanette Nolan, Radio and TV Character Actress, Dies at 86

Jeanette Nolan, a beloved actress whose career spanned seven decades across radio, stage, film, and television, died Friday, June 5, 1998, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. She was 86. The cause was complications from a stroke, according to hospital officials.

Nolan first rose to fame during the Golden Age of Radio in the 1930s and ’40s, where her expressive voice made her a favorite among listeners. She appeared in hundreds of broadcasts, bringing life to a wide range of characters and earning a reputation as one of the medium’s most dependable and dynamic performers.

She made her film debut in 1948, playing Lady Macbeth opposite Orson Welles in his adaptation of Macbeth—a bold and controversial performance that launched her on-screen career. In the years that followed, Nolan became a sought-after character actress, particularly in Westerns and crime dramas. She brought grit, warmth, and emotional depth to her roles on series such as Gunsmoke, Perry Mason, The Virginian, and The Fugitive.

In the 1960s and ’70s, she was a frequent guest star on popular television shows and often appeared alongside her husband, actor John McIntire. The couple, who were married for more than 50 years, worked together in several productions, including Wagon Train, The Virginian, and Psycho, in which Nolan provided the voice of Norma Bates.

Later in life, Nolan continued to work steadily, lending her voice to animated films like Disney’s The Rescuers and The Fox and the Hound.

The actress’s final resting place is Tobacco Valley Cemetery in Eureka, Montana.