Anjanette Comer, an actress who gained prominence during the 1960s, died at UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center in May at the age of 86. According to a death certificate filed with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, she had been battling leukemia and experienced heart complications.
Comer was born on August 7, 1939, in Dawson, Texas. She began her entertainment career through television appearances on programs including My Three Sons, The Donna Reed Show, Gunsmoke, and Ben Casey. Her guest role on the ABC drama Arrest and Trial earned her a supporting actress Emmy nomination. She transitioned to film with a supporting role in Quick, Before It Melts in 1964 and gained recognition for her performance in the funeral industry satire The Loved One, where critic Bosley Crowther praised her portrayal of a mortuary employee. She also appeared in The Appaloosa opposite Marlon Brando and in several other productions including Banning, Rabbit, Run, and the 1973 horror film The Baby.
Comer’s career trajectory was significantly affected by personal decisions made during the 1960s. She declined leading roles opposite Robert Redford in Barefoot in the Park and Warren Beatty in Bonnie and Clyde, both released in 1967, with those opportunities subsequently going to Jane Fonda and Faye Dunaway respectively. Additionally, she withdrew from Funeral in Berlin during production, eventually being replaced by Eva Renzi. In a 1981 interview, Comer attributed these career decisions to a romantic relationship with an actor who discouraged her film work, acknowledging she was young and inexperienced at managing sudden stardom.
Comer was married to screenwriter and director Robert Klane from 1976 to 1983. Her later filmography included appearances in Lepke, Fire Sale, Steven Soderbergh’s The Underneath, and various television guest appearances on shows spanning several decades. She is survived by her older sister, Jerra Tillman.
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