Actresses who died on April 26

Take a focused look at the actresses who passed away on April 26. Dive into curated bios, achievements, and cultural milestones verified by our editors.

• 1961 Gail Russell

  Gail Russell was an American film and television actress best known for her roles in classic films during the 1940s, including "The Uninvited" and "Angel and the Badman." She was noted for her striking beauty, talent, and the tragic personal struggles that affected her promising career. [bio]

• 1973 Irene Ryan

  Irene Ryan was an American actress best known for her role as Daisy 'Granny' Moses in the long-running television sitcom 'The Beverly Hillbillies.' She was a veteran performer with a career spanning vaudeville, radio, film, television, and Broadway. [bio]

• 2005 Maria Schell

  Maria Schell was an internationally acclaimed Austrian-Swiss actress known for her emotionally expressive performances in European and American films from the 1940s through the 1970s. [bio]

• 2015 Jayne Meadows

  Jayne Meadows was an American actress, author, and television personality known for her extensive work in film, television, and on the stage. She was particularly recognized for her appearances on television panel shows, her dramatic and comedic roles, and for co-hosting talk shows with her husband, Steve Allen. [bio]