Gwen Van Dam, Character Actress, Dead at 96

Claire Franken

5 January 2025 at 12:37 pm·1-min read

Gwen Van Dam, a prolific character actress who appeared in TV and film, has died. She was 96.

Van Dam’s death was confirmed by her son, Dirk Smillie, who told our sister site The Hollywood Reporter that she died in her West Los Angeles home on Dec. 19, after a recurrence of cancer.

More from TVLine

Leah Remini Mourns Scientology and the Aftermath Co-Host Mike Rinder: 'He Was My Anchor'
Keller Fornes, Star of Great American Family's County Rescue, Dead at 32
Jeff Baena, Film Director and Husband of Aubrey Plaza, Dead at 47; Family Laments 'Unimaginable Tragedy' in Official Statement

Starting off her decades-long career in the 1950s, Van Dam’s first TV roles included Dark Shadows, The Brady Bunch (as the teacher who gushed about Marcia, Marcia, Marcia in front of Jan, in the episode “Her Sister’s Shadow”) and Mannix.

Van Dam’s other TV credits included Where the Bears Are, Days of Our Lives, The French Atlantic Affair, Moonlighting, Pushing Twilight and One Mississippi. She played Mrs. Trotter in four episodes of Prime Video’s Homecoming, starring Julia Roberts, and most recently appeared in Prime Video’s As We See It and Hulu’s Interior Chinatown.

Van Dam’s many film roles included a sanitarium nurse in John Carpenter’s original Halloween, Stand by Your Man, Stir Crazy and Star Trek: Generations.

Best of TVLine

Parade
The Sussexes' Friend Divulges Rare Detail About Princess Lilibet
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are also parents to 5-year-old son Prince Archie.
Good Housekeeping
Harrison Ford Makes Rare Red Carpet Appearance With His Daughter
It's the pair's first formal sighting together since 2013.
Variety
Matthew Perry Gifted Lisa Kudrow the ‘Friends’ Cookie Jar in 2004. She Found the Note He Left Inside It 20 Years Later and After His Death: ‘Timing Is Everything’
Lisa Kudrow revealed during an interview on “The Drew Barrymore Show” (via People) that she recently discovered a note the late Matthew Perry left for her inside the “Friends” cookie jar, which he gifted her after they wrapped filming the series finale in January 2004. Kudrow wouldn’t reveal what the letter said but mused: “Timing …
InStyle
Princess Charlotte's $1,800 Necklace Reportedly Has a Surprising Connection to Prince Harry
She's got expensive taste.
BuzzFeed
"It's Completely Absurd": People Are Sharing Things That Rich People Have "Ruined" For Everyone Else
"It used to be for the masses — but now is totally out of reach for most people."
InStyle
Sophie Turner Posted a Rare PDA-Filled Couple Selfie With Her Aristocratic Boyfriend
She's in her mirror selfie era.
BANG Showbiz
Lily Allen’s husband requested ‘kinky sex’ from her before their split
After news broke the pair have parted ways, it’s emerged Lily Allen told on her podcast her husband requested “kinky sex” from her before their split.
BuzzFeed
Vin Diesel Gave An Update On His And Dwayne Johnson’s 9-Year Feud After His Unscripted Shoutout At The Golden Globes Blindsided Producers
You’re gonna wanna buckle in for this one.
BuzzFeed
Selena Gomez Was Left Totally Shocked By Jimmy Kimmel's Awkward And Unexpected Engagement Gift
There's no way you can guess what Jimmy gave Selena.
The Daily Beast
Ryan Reynolds Appears to Send Message After Baldoni Lawsuit
In his first public appearance since his wife Blake Lively sued her co-star Justin Baldoni for sexual harassment, Ryan Reynolds seemed to subtly address the matter by discussing the “different set of standards” women are held to. While presenting Jon M. Chu’s Wicked with a National Board of Review Award for Best Film on Tuesday night, Reynolds reflected on Wicked’s beating heart—its two leads Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Galinda (Ariana Grande)—and told the star-studded crowd: “Wicked is indeed w
WWD
Pamela Anderson Goes Monochrome in Toteme Trench Dress for ‘Jimmy Fallon’ Interview, Talks ‘The Last Showgirl’
The film hits theaters Friday.
Evening Standard
50 Cent, Wendy Williams and the other Hollywood stars who tried to warn us about P Diddy
As a new documentary is set to dive further into the disgraced hip-hop mogul’s alleged crimes, we take a look at the stars that warned us of Sean Combs’ behaviour long before the shocking allegations against him came to light
BuzzFeed
Here's How Wildly Different Joe Biden's Medal Of Freedom Picks Are Compared To Donald Trump's
I'm still waiting for a president brave enough to award Stacie Orrico with the honor.
Hello!
Paris Jackson reveals 5-year sobriety from alcohol and heroin in candid tribute: 'I almost missed it all'
Paris Jackson commemorated five years of sobriety with a reflective Instagram post
HuffPost
Khloé Kardashian And Scott Disick Address Rumors They 'Hooked Up'
The pair finally answered the question fans have been asking for years.
BuzzFeed
28 Funny Tweets From The Week Because Let's Face It, We All Could Use A Laugh Right Now
"sorry i looked at your instagram story 11 seconds after you posted it but you have to understand i haven’t put my phone down in 6 years" —@gorgeousbrains
BuzzFeed
"For Someone Who Hates Relevancy You Sure Love Clinging To It": 33 Times Celebs Put Their Exes On Blast
"I'm associated with the very thing that I detest: vapid, vacuous, plastic, constructed, mindless celebrity."
Entertainment Weekly
Marie Osmond pays tribute to late brother Wayne: 'I will miss you so very much'
"Wayne’s death has left another giant hole in my heart," Marie wrote of her brother, who died at 73 on Jan. 1.
HuffPost
Hulk Hogan Gets Booed So Hard By WWE Fans That It's Secondhand Embarrassing
The wrestling legend, who has been a vocal Donald Trump supporter, got the reception of a heel during Netflix's premiere of "Raw.”
HuffPost
Vin Diesel Addresses Rumored Beef With Dwayne Johnson After Spicy Golden Globes Callout
The pair have reportedly had a turbulent relationship for nearly a decade.

Latest stories