Luana Patten was one of the first child stars to work for Walt Disney Studios, appearing in films such as Song of the South, Fun and Fancy Free, and Melody Time. She had a promising career as a young actress, but she faded from the spotlight as she grew older. She died at the age of 57 from respiratory failure, leaving behind a legacy of classic Disney films.
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Early Life and Career
Luana Patten was born on July 6, 1938, in Long Beach, California. She was a model at the age of three and was hired by Walt Disney when she was eight. She made her film debut in the 1946 musical Song of the South, playing a poor white child who was fascinated by the stories told by Uncle Remus. She co-starred with Bobby Driscoll, another child actor who worked for Disney.
Patten and Driscoll appeared together in several more films, such as So Dear to My Heart, a sister film to Song of the South, and the Pecos Bill segment of Melody Time. They also appeared as themselves in the live-action scenes of Fun and Fancy Free, alongside Edgar Bergen and his ventriloquist dummies.
Patten was praised for her natural and charming performances, and she became one of the most popular child stars of the 1940s. She was also one of the first two contract players for Walt Disney Studios, along with Driscoll.
Later Roles and Retirement
Patten left film for eight years after her contract with Disney expired. She returned as an ingénue in Rock, Pretty Baby!, a 1956 musical comedy. She followed that with several more films and TV episodes, such as Home from the Hill, Johnny Tremain, Joe Dakota, A Thunder of Drums, and Follow Me, Boys!.
She also appeared in various TV shows, such as Wanted: Dead or Alive, Wagon Train, Rawhide, Bonanza, Perry Mason, F Troop, Dragnet, and Adam-12. She played different roles in each show, showing her versatility as an actress.
However, Patten never achieved the same level of fame and success as she did as a child star. She retired from the film and TV industry in 1970, except for a brief cameo in the 1988 horror film Grotesque.
Personal Life and Death
Patten was married and divorced three times. Her first husband was Ronny D. Huntley, whom she married in 1955 and divorced in 1959. Her second husband was John Smith, an actor who co-starred with her in Cimarron City. They married in 1960 and divorced in 1964. Her third husband was Jerry Don Mays, whom she married in 1970 and divorced in 1973.
Patten had no children from any of her marriages. She lived a quiet life away from Hollywood after her retirement. She died on May 1, 1996, at Long Beach Memorial Hospital from respiratory failure. She was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Cypress, California.
Legacy and Influence
Luana Patten is remembered as one of the first and most beloved child stars of Walt Disney Studios. She starred in some of the most iconic and controversial films produced by Disney, such as Song of the South, which has been criticized for its depiction of African Americans and slavery.
She also influenced other child actors who worked for Disney, such as Hayley Mills and Kurt Russell. She was one of the few child stars who successfully transitioned to adult roles without losing her innocence and charm.
She is also recognized as a pioneer of live-action animation hybrid films, which combine live actors with animated characters or backgrounds. She appeared in three such films: Song of the South, Fun and Fancy Free, and Melody Time. These films paved the way for other live-action animation hybrid films produced by Disney and other studios, such as Mary Poppins, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, Enchanted, and Space Jam.
Luana Patten’s cause of death may have been tragic, but her life and career were remarkable. She left behind a legacy of memorable films that are still enjoyed by generations of Disney fans.
