Advertisement
Advertisement
A photo of Janis Wilson

Janis Wilson 1930 - 2003

Janis Mae (Wilson) Petertyl of Spokane, Spokane County, WA was born on February 9, 1930 in Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, California United States, and died at age 73 years old on November 17, 2003 at Spokane in WA.
Janis Mae (Wilson) Petertyl
Janis Wilson Petertyl
Spokane, Spokane County, WA 99223
February 9, 1930
Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, California, United States
November 17, 2003
Spokane in WA
Female
Looking for another Janis Wilson?
ADVERTISEMENT BY ANCESTRY.COM
This page exists for YOU
and everyone who remembers Janis.
Share what you know,
even ask what you wish you knew.
Invite others to do the same,
but don't worry if you can't...
Someone, somewhere will find this page,
and we'll notify you when they do.

Janis Mae (Wilson) Petertyl's History: 1930 - 2003

Uncover new discoveries and connections today by sharing about people & moments from yesterday.
  • Introduction

    She was a child movie star.
  • 02/9
    1930

    Birthday

    February 9, 1930
    Birthdate
    Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, California United States
    Birthplace
  • Ethnicity & Family History

    Her husband's Obituary. PETERYTYL, SIDNEY V. August 10, 1929 - June 6, 2007 On June 6, 2007 Sidney Petertyl of Spokane, Washington departed for his next journey. Sidney was born in Michigan, and also lived in California and Texas. He attended Michigan State University and served in the Army, playing both the flute and picolo in the prestigious Hellcats Band. A genuine innovator, he developed navigation displays for the Apollo spacecraft and received patents for firefighting chemistry, ceramics, and thin-film electronics. As a writer and speaker, he communicated with nuance and clarity. His photographs radiated master of lighting and detail. Sidney was a constant thinker and a true romantic. His life was rich with culture, food, faraway places, and dear friends. He embraced religion, but he trusted faith. In 2003, his beloved wife of 47 years, Janis, passed away. He faced health issues with optimism and a sparkle in his eye; sadly, he could not overcome complications from a recent stroke. He is survived by his son Gary Petertyl, his grandchildren Anna Petertyl, Carly Petertyl, and Dylan Cassard, and his sister Sandra Hill. A memorial service to celebrate Sidney's life will be held September 23 at Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane, 4340 W. Fort Wright Drive. Janis and Sidney had one child, a son. Gary Wilson Petertyl advertising agency executive Gary Wilson Petertyl. American advertising agency executive. Member of American Marketing Association Midland Country Club (Michigan). Background Gary Wilson Petertyl was born on February 5, 1954 in Santa Barbara, California, United States. Son of Sidney Victor and Janis Wilson Petertyl. Education Bachelor of Business Administration, Grand Valley State College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1981. Career Accountant supervisor Spectrum Advertising, Grand Rapids, 1974—1976. Consultant William Dykstra Group, 1976—1979. Vice President Sefton Associates Inc., 1979—1983, senior vice president, 1984—1986, executive vice president, since 1986. Marketing manager, Herman Miller Inc., Grand Rapids, 1983—1984. Achievements Gary Wilson Petertyl has been listed as a noteworthy advertising agency executive by Marquis Who's Who. Membership Member of American Marketing Association Midland Country Club (Michigan). Connections Father: Sidney Victor Petertyl, inventer Mother: Janis Wilson, Child Movie Star.
  • Professional Career

    Janis Wilson Born February 9, 1930 in Santa Barbara, California, USA Died November 17, 2003 in Spokane, Washington, USA Birth Name Janice May Wilson Mini Bio (1) Janis Wilson was born on February 9, 1930 in Santa Barbara, California, USA. She was an actress, known for The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946), Watch on the Rhine (1943) and My Reputation (1946). She was married to Sidney Victor Petertyl. She died on November 17, 2003 in Spokane, Washington, USA. Spouse Sidney Victor Petertyl (12 November 1955 - 17 November 2003) (her death) (1 child, a son) Promising American juvenile actress who started quite big in a couple of Bette Davis' critically acclaimed tearjerkers of the early 1940s. After making her debut as Tina, an emotionally depressed child, who becomes the object of Davis' affection in Now, Voyager (1942), she moved directly in the role of Babette in the Lillian Hellman classic Watch on the Rhine (1943), as Davis' daughter. She retired from acting while still a teenager. Wilson claimed that, after filming The Creeper (1948) at the age of 18, she abandoned her acting career because she didn't photograph well. Later became a pianist, organist and choir director. She and her husband moved to Spokane, Washington in 1994. Janis Wilson died on November 17, 2003 of a stroke in Spokane, Washington, where she lived with her husband, Sidney Peteryl. He died on June 6, 2007 in Spokane. Met her future husband at age 12 on the Warner Brothers lot of "Now Voyager." Her husband Sidney was an inventor who designed high-contrast, flat-screen navigation display systems for airplanes and spacecraft. He also held patents for ceramics and firefighting products. Personal Quotes (2) I am the last surviving witness to the filming of Casablanca (1942), which was being filmed on the set right next door. I used to slip over there and watch it. I was 12 years old, and had just come off of filming my first movie Now, Voyager (1942) and went right in to Watch on the Rhine (1943). We shot the movies back-to-back, because that's the way Bette Davis liked to do it.
  • Personal Life & Family

    Janis became a pianist, organist and choir director. Born Janice Mae Wilson February 9, 1930 Santa Barbara, California, U.S. Died November 17, 2003 (aged 73) Spokane, Washington, U.S. Occupation Actress Years active 1942–1948 Spouse(s) Sidney Victor Petertyl ​(m. 1955)​ Children 1 Janis Mae Wilson (February 9, 1930 – November 17, 2003) was an American child actress of the 1940s. She is probably best known for her roles in Now, Voyager and Watch on the Rhine opposite Bette Davis as well as for the films The Strange Love of Martha Ivers and Snafu. Career Born in Santa Barbara, California, twelve-year-old Janis' mother had her dentist put bands on her teeth in order for her to win her first role as Tina Durrance, a little girl rejected and unloved by her mother, in the 1942 Bette Davis drama Now, Voyager. Warner Bros. considered Wilson a “sensational discovery” and due to her fondness for the young actress, Davis convinced the studio to cast her as her daughter in her next film Watch on the Rhine. Wilson starred in just five more films before retiring at age 18 after appearing in the 1948 horror film The Creeper. Personal life Wilson initially met her future husband Sidney Victor Petertyl on the Warner Bros. lot in 1942 when she was just twelve years old and filming Now, Voyager. They were married in Santa Barbara in 1955 when Janis was 25. The Petertyls had one son and eventually settled in Grand Rapids, Michigan where they lived for 31 years. The family later moved to Spokane, Washington (state) in 1994. In 1996, Wilson stated that she was working on a book about her years as a child actress in Hollywood and her special relationship with Bette Davis. Wilson died of a stroke in Spokane on November 17, 2003. Filmography (selection) The Creeper (1948) (Nora Cavigny) Heading For Heaven (1947) (Janie Elkins) The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946) (Martha – as a child) My Reputation (1946) (Penny Boardman) Snafu (film) (1945) (Kate Hereford) Watch on the Rhine (1943) (Babette) Now, Voyager (1942) (Tina Durrance) References
  • 11/17
    2003

    Death

    November 17, 2003
    Death date
    Stroke.
    Cause of death
    Spokane in WA
    Death location
  • share
    Memories
    below
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 Memories, Stories & Photos about Janis

Watch on the Rhine was her second movie at age 12.
Watch on the Rhine was her second movie at age 12.
Bette Davis played her mother in this film.
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
Comments
Leave a comment
The simple act of leaving a comment shows you care.
Janis Wilson - Child Actress
Janis Wilson - Child Actress
Now Voyager - Tina is having ice cream with Miss Vale.
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
Comments
Leave a comment
The simple act of leaving a comment shows you care.
Janis Wilson in NOW VOYAGER after her transformation into a happy teen.
Janis Wilson in NOW VOYAGER after her transformation into a happy teen.
Janis in her party dress.
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
Comments
Leave a comment
The simple act of leaving a comment shows you care.
Janis Wilson in The Strange Loves of Martha Ivers.
Janis Wilson in The Strange Loves of Martha Ivers.
She was a very talented actress.
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
Comments
Leave a comment
The simple act of leaving a comment shows you care.
Color Poster.
Color Poster.
The movie is in B & W.
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
Comments
Leave a comment
The simple act of leaving a comment shows you care.
Janis is in this film, NOW VOYAGER with Bette Davis.
Janis is in this film, NOW VOYAGER with Bette Davis.
Bette Davis helps her become a happy child in this film.
Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.
Comments
Leave a comment
The simple act of leaving a comment shows you care.
Loading...one moment please loading spinner
Be the 1st to share and we'll let you know when others do the same.
ADVERTISEMENT BY ANCESTRY.COM
Advertisement

Janis Wilson's Family Tree & Friends

Janis Wilson's Family Tree

Parent
Parent
Partner
Child
Sibling
Advertisement
Advertisement
Friendships

Janis' Friends

Friends of Janis Friends can be as close as family. Add Janis' family friends, and her friends from childhood through adulthood.
Advertisement
Advertisement
1 Follower & Sources
Loading records
ADVERTISEMENT BY ANCESTRY.COM
Advertisement
Other Biographies
Back to Top