lauren chapin obituary

Her once-brown hair is strawberry blond, her face angular and unfreckled, her childhood chubbiness gone. I never went to school longer than a month, and it was hard to acclimate, to talk their lingo and try to fit in, especially when youre a movie star, and the kids think youre conceited, Ms. Chapin told the Dallas Times Herald. Loren Chapin Loren L. Corky Chapin, 89, of Rushville, MO, passed away Monday, October 15, 2018 at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Its neat. There was a boldness that I had not had before , The third show-biz child of non-show-biz parents, she won her first part before her seventh birthday, defeating 250 other girls to play the youngest offspring in Father Knows Best.. The kind actor ultimately passed away of respiratory failure in 1998 at the age of 91. I floated in the real seedy side of life from 14 up to 26, caught up in the free-sex, free-drugs, free-love society.. With this platform, she is an advocate for underprivileged and abused children; she has reportedly donated over $2 million to helping this demographic. Dr. and Mrs. Charisma, Lauren Chapin from 'Father Knows Best' did not live the same sweet childhood as her character. But today she helps others in a similar situation. Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content Skip to primary sidebar ABOUT US MEDIA PRIVACY TERMS DMCA CONTACT US AUTHORS DoYouRemember? The Home of Nostalgia STORIES MUSIC ICONS GAMES SHOWDOWN GUESS While talking to go-star.com in 1983, he commented, I wish there was some way I could tell the kids not to believe it. These B movies were also known as programmers, which only required less than a month to shoot. Official Sites. Fresh from radio and vaudeville, Elinors first film was Donald OConnors Mister Big. She spent three years in prison and bore two children out of wedlock. Her acting siblings faced a similar fate, with brother Billy best known for his own work as a child star along with brother Michael. Part of the reason Father Knows Best was canceled was due to a strike of the Writers Guild of America at the time. Her Father Knows Best job was what gave her stardom, but she was already in the midst of abuse. LAUREN CHAPIS OBITUARY. In that interview, Chapin revealed that she had been sexually abused by both her father and a friend of his she referred to only as Uncle. She discussed this further in her autobiography Father Does Know Best: The Lauren Chapin Story. My sincere sympathy to you and the family. In the early 1980s, Chapin taught natural childbirth and worked for a brokerage firm. In 1989 she co-authored with Andrew Collins the book Father Does Know Best: The Lauren Chapin Story. Currently, she manages singers and actors and performs in a live, interactive version of Father Knows Best for cruise lines, conventions, and other events. Sending you so much love in this difficult time. - IMDb Mini Biography By: with Regis and Kathie Lee. A celebration of her life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, at Lawren was born March 31, 1932 in Kathy Anderson, known also by the nickname Kitten, is the youngest of the family, adorable yet clueless. Betty Anderson, known as Princess, is your typical teenager, but since it was the 50s, it was all rosy and she was radiant, if sometimes a little too perfect. Website Design and Hosting by Media Fusion Technologies, Inc. Made in the USA. I am very sorry to hear of her passing. But it should be like that, and it can be like that., Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. We are so sorry to learn of the passing of Lauren. In place of cash, she got hooked on diet pills, speed, and heroin. Laura Rowley, Dear Chapis Family, WebObituary Service Details Condolences Lauren Mary Chapin Baptized Into The Hope of Christs Resurrection, Saturday, December 14, 2019. Has a son, Matthew Chapin. After Father Knows Best (1954) ended, her life went into a tailspin. She married at 16 years of age, became addicted to diet pills, and lost a court case in which her mother sued her for the $90,000 in her trust fund from the series; Lauren wound up with only $19,000. During their marriage of only three years, Ms. Chapin said, she suffered seven miscarriages and became addicted to heroin. Chapin tried to commit suicide by cutting off her left hand with a meat cleaver. Get in the comments and share your thoughts does Bud have a point? Margaret Anderson is the homemaker and matriarch of the family, who brought realism, devotion, and strength to the household. WebKnown as Kathy Kitten Anderson on the hit TV series, Father Knows Best, Lauren Chapin suffered through a disastrous childhood (which included exploitation and sexual abuse) and twenty years of misdirection that led her in and out of jails, prisons, and rehab centers. Her brother, Bud, also went on to marry and have a family. This wise and understanding dad was played by Robert Young, who made his sound-film debut in the 1931 Charlie Chan film The Black Camel. FATHER KNOWS BEST, from left: Robert Young, Lauren Chapin, 1954-60. ph: TV Guide / Courtesy Everett Collection. Keith Hoover officiating. You must verify that you are not a robot. So, grab a copy and dig in. Lauren Chapin was born on May 23, 1945 in Los Angeles, California. "I'm an encourager. "I believed that God didn't want me in His house," Chapin recalled. The wholesome Anderson family was what everyone else aspired to be, but not everyone in the cast enjoyed equally safe lives before and after their time on the show. But when she breaks into her cheek-splitting grin and pealing laughter, the young Kathy Anderson comes through loud and clear. "It was amazing. Much love, Dan(ny)! She became a drug addict and was sent to a psychiatric institution after she attempted suicide. Find out here. She appeared in 203 episodes in the series. Chapin was awarded five Junior Emmys for Best Child Actress. Two of her older brothers were also child stars, Billy and Michael Chapin. A few other standouts include Alfred Hitchcocks Secret Agent in 1936 and the tense Nazi drama The Mortal Storm in 1940, co-starring Jimmy Stewart; the film apparently irked Nazi leader Adolf Hitler with its strong anti-Nazi sentiments, so Hitler banned it and began a pattern of banning all MGM films from that point until the end of World War II. from 69 to 76. That was the Andersons, a family we watched with our own family, enjoying seeing what they got into in the 60s and beyond. The show did everyone a disservice. She also is working on an autobiography, due out next spring, titled Father Does Know Best.. I remember you telling so many fond stories and sharing memories of Lauren. It was total abandonment, she said. View obituary. But what in this life made him turn against the wholesome lessons taught on Maple Drive? Her smile lit up everything she walked into a room. But it was then canceled again and moved back to CBS for its final two seasons. Id like to be the father, but not a boob. There was no mean spiritedness to it. Funeral service will be 2:00 PM, Friday, October 19, 2018 at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home, Atchison, KS, with Rev. During her traumatic, turbulent adolescence, Ms. Chapin became a has-been at 14, married at 16 and a heroin addict by her early 20s. In Killeen, of all places, Chapin laughs. The character of Betty married and had a family of her own. She now shares her testimony in churches nationwide and has written a book, "Father Does Know Best.". In 1967, she was arrested in Los Angeles for trying to cash a bogus check. I have many fond memories of her from that time. We spent a lot of time together in the marching band. The child star discovered, though, that growing up didn't guarantee an idyllic American lifestyle. Address Line 2 should not be longer than 255 characters. Holding you all close in my heart as you grieve. Thanks for giving us one of the greatest TV moms in history! They never even said goodbye. She was 50. Young did get comfortable on TV after that, quickly transitioning to Window on Main Street for one season before hitting the jackpot again, with Marcus Welby, M.D. His bike was known as the Orange Blossom Special. Showing Editorial results for lauren chapin. Its time to press the rewind button on life. To escape, she said, at the age of 16 she married a classmate she had known only 30 days. She thanks her faith with helping her through life, and it has seen her become an Honorable Mayor in Florida, Texas, and Oklahoma. I think we were all well motivated, but what we did was run a hoax. Address Line 1 should not be longer than 255 characters. Funeral service will The show contributed to a lot of the problems between men and women that we see today. Of the show, she reflected in a 1989 interview, Our shows were written to be entertaining, but the writers had something to say. Lauren Ann Chapin (born May 23, 1945, Los Angeles, California) is an American former child actress, most remembered for her role as the youngest child "Kathy Anderson" (nicknamed "Kitten") in the television show Father Knows Best which was produced between 1954 and 1960. We will always cherish the many memories and ensure her legacy lives on through our actions. So sad but so wonderful to remember the great times I got to share with Lauren. This high-speed junkie also made music history by inventing the F-1 guitar pick. I dont want to do William Bendix onThe Life of Riley. Out of that cameFather Knows Best., Obviously it worked, but not without a cost in that the show created so idealized a version of Robert Young, that its something that began to affect him in his real life. WebLauren Chapin. We all thought it was life as we wanted it to be.. Yay or nay? Summer Chapin, Other Works When he decided to do the show, he had a very specific vision in mind for the character of insurance salesman Jim Anderson. Elsewhere. IwasntJim Anderson, he said, but it was hard for the public to accept that, and it got to be a pain in the ass. I dont know if people compared themselves unfavorably to us, but maybe it helped with the realization that a family can exist without killing each other.. Dear Chapis & Hirn familyhow sad I am to know Lauren is no longer with us here on earth. Nothing caught her attention. She was so cute describing how much she loved them! I will love you forever my friend!! You are all in my thoughts and prayers. Then came the battle with addiction. Father really does know best. She appeared in 203 episodes in the series. I am praying for all of you. Its the sweetness and the kindness that people had toward one another, Elinor proposes as to the shows appeal. Dr. and Mrs Chapis, I am so sorry for your loss. It was an honor to call her a friend! I became an incorrigible child. She is also credited with the statement, If you love your children, you will keep them out of show business. In place of acting gigs, Chapin ended up taking a variety of jobs, from dog groomer to cocktail waitress, from insurance claims examiner to flight attendant. On her own terms, Chapin now manages actors and singers, and she herself performs in interactive versions of Father Knows Best for public events. Her addictions would later turn to heroin. Lauren Chapin was the envy of little girls around the country when she played Kathy "Kitten" Anderson on the 1950s sitcom Father Knows Best. But, she revealed, I couldnt get a job. My friends here love me for who I am now, for what I do now, not who I was.. Every script always solved a little problem that was universal. We cant have it exactly like life; it would be too boring. Plosker; Review: Finding Annie by Katherine Turner; Review: Bring - Lauren S. Chapin, 50, of Liberty, died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008, at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas Kansas City, Mo. Postal Code value should not be longer than 11 characters. These days thankfully she is clean and made a bit of a comeback in 2016 when she was a part of the series School Bus Diaries. Its time to revisit a legendary program that began on the radio in 1949 and hit television from 1954 until 1960 and introduced viewers to their favorite CBS family. Lauren had an incredible amount of love reserved for Gabriel and her favorite role was that of a mother. So sorry to hear of your loss. From 1928 until the mid-50s, Young acted in over 100 films that hovered around tier B status. Beloved daughter of Deborah Mace After this, she continued rocking TV, even reuniting with her old television spouse in the season five finale of Marcus Welby, M.D. My heart is broken that you left this world to soon! But when her career abruptly ended, the child actress who played Kitten became a drug addict, unwed mother and prison inmate. All that changed March 18, 1979: Chapin became a born-again Christian at the Eagle's Nest Church in Los Angeles. January 29, 2023 (72 years old) The scars remain. Billy Chapin, who as a child actor held his own against Robert Mitchums murderous preacher in Charles Laughtons brilliant The Night of the Hunter, died Friday following a lengthy illness. Not many historically important series experience such a network shuffle. They shared their love of books and helping guide others to the right book. A lot of people say that Father Knows Best was too perfect, that life isnt like that. We lost Lauren Ann Chapis to this world on November 17, 2022, weeks after enjoying her 56th birthday with family on October 23rd. Amy. Chapin was awarded five Junior Emmys for Best Child Actress. Ms. Chapins mother was a creative, classically trained pianist supportive of her daughters ambitions. People may want to be free, but they still want a nuclear family., As to it being criticized for not being a reflection of real life, she noted, We thought it was. Narmada Kidney Foundation > Uncategorized > lauren chapin obituary. | She had a quick wit, great intelligence, and a determined way about her to defy the odds her entire life. Loren Chapin Loren L. Corky Chapin, 89, of Rushville, MO, passed away Monday, October 15, 2018 at the University of Kansas Medical Center. At 77 years old, she is an ordained minister and manages singers and actors while also performing herself, in a live, interactive version of Father Knows Best for conventions and other events. Seasoned might not be adequate enough to describe her experience. However, her film career began to suffer after speaking out in opposition to Senator Joseph McCarthy, the chief figure in the anti-communist investigations and subsequent blacklisting that occurred. Kathy Garver includes a profile of Chapin in her book X Child Stars: Where Are They Now? January 28, 2023 (87 years old) View obituary. By how many american ships were sunk Despite the acclaim of her film work, its her role onFather Knows Bestfor which she is most known (and for which she won three Emmys). Please rest in peace. Afterward, things slowed a bit, until she landed the role of Tony Randalls girlfriend in the popular 70s TV version of The Odd Couple, playing Miriam Welby one more tie-in to her acting mentor and great friend, Robert Young. Lauren was in and out of jail for years. She moved to Killeen, Texas, and later to Orlando, Fla. If I could say anything to make up for all the years I lent myself to [that], it would be, YouKnow Best.. But today she has found solace as a born-again Christian and a high school science teacher in the small central Texas town of Killeen. At that time, Ms. Chapin had a steady job with a brokerage firm, was sober and drug free. So very sorry for the loss of Lauren. As the title claims, and Robert Youngs honest portrayal proves Father Knows Best. We always laughed about you being my OB. In addition to using drugs, she sold them too and was later arrested in Hollywood, California for forging a check. When she came back to her family, her son urged her to visit local churches. "I praise God I was able to come through it all. May you find peace in her incredible legacy. Many artists found themselves in the crosshairs of the second Red Scare, including Lucille Ball. Leave It To Beaver Show Secrets You Wont Believe, crosshairs of the second Red Scare, including Lucille Ball, Meet Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas Children and Grandchildren. In Lauren Chapin's fictional black-and-white world, father always knew best. We lost Lauren Ann Chapis to this world on November 17, 2022, weeks after enjoying her 56th birthday with family on October 23rd. Publicity Listings My love to all the family. - Lauren Chapin, a restaurant critic for The Kansas City Star for eight years, has died. The Cast Of Father Knows Best Then And Now 2022, Kathy Garver includes a profile of Chapin in her book, Welcome Back, Kotter Officially Ended After This Happened, Revisiting John Waynes Final, Touching Oscars Speech. Dear Chapis Family, I am so sorry to hear of Lauren's passing. State/Province value should not be longer than 100 characters. He competed in speedway motorcycle racing throughout the 70s, 80s & 90s. If anybody was mean-spirited, I think it was Princess occasionally. And her troubled childhood was shoved aside when she got to set, and the young girl had a job to complete. A prototypical domineering, greed-driven stage mother, she hitched her star to Lauren's older brother, who could do no wrong. pop music critic, and their two daughters, Brenna, 16, and Maren, 14. She worked as a fund-raiser for "Hope and Help," an AIDS foundation. Actually, it's hard to imagine. We are so sorry for your loss. Search instead in Creative? We lost Lauren Ann Chapis to this world on November 17, 2022, weeks after enjoying her 56 th Seasoned child star Elinor Donahue, just like TV mom Jane Wyatt, took over from someone else; Elinor came in to replace Sally Fraser after the pilot. Robert Young was a prototype film actor before he jumped right into the deep end of television with Father Knows Best and it would not be a stretch to say Young made the show, having won two Emmy Awards for Jim Anderson, out of four nominations. Surviving along with her parents is her son Gabriel Zurga; siblings Greg (and Lisanne) Chapis and Anne (and Patrick) Chapis Hirn and their children Katie, Jason, Trexler and Erikson. Wyatt retired from acting after suffering a mild stroke in the early 90s, but she recovered well and remained in good health for the rest of her life until passing away in 2006 at the ripe age of 96. James Anderson, also known as Bud, is the archetypal wisecracking teen who often went to Dad with some misguided notion, only for father to guide Bud back on track. He was raised in Clemson, SC by his parents, the late Enoch and Martha Stockman. My Name Email Jim Anderson is the patriarch of the family and works as an insurance agent. Her own mother, listed as Summer-Healy Chapin, allegedly battled Chapin in court to claim her $90,000 trust fund money; it is reported that Chapin could only secure $19,000 for herself. I know that. She embodied simpler times for all ages as soon as time starts taking effect. Living Stars of Classic TV - as of May 2016, The American Family in TV Family Portraits. Robert Young was a prototype film actor before he jumped right into the deep end of television with Father Knows Best and it would not be a stretch to say Young made the show, having won two Emmy Awards for Jim Anderson, out The Andersons came out of my conversations about what we thought would be representative of a middle-class American family, if there was such a thing. As a short-statured, baby-faced 14-year-old, type cast to millions as the all-American little sister, she found herself icily rejected by the TV and movie industry, she said. Angelica Vega Martinez. The highlight of her life came when she adopted her son Gabriel following the loss of a baby daughter, Daria, who only lived for a few precious months. In 1989 she wrote a NY Times Best Selling Autobiography, Father Does Know Best: The Lauren Chapin Story. She was so type-cast when "Father Knows Best" ended its run in 1962 that Chapin found no work in Hollywood. Oh my sweet friend, whom I met at Spring Mill. Chapin remembers grueling 16-hour work days and on-set tutors who helped her get through junior high. This even led to a suicide attempt in January of 1991. Born and raised in Pottstown, PA Lauren was the daughter of Nicholas and Marilyn Chapis. Her stardom had totally vanished. She nearly died from viral encephalitis and hepatitis. She was 50. She lived her life to the fullest and never let the fact that she was born with a major congenital heart condition define her life. Our dad Ron was Pottsgrove HS librarian and knew Lauren well. I started running away from home. RememberingLauren Ann Chapis, 56Thursday, November 17, 2022. WebLauren Ann Chapin (born May 23, 1945, Los Angeles, California) is an American former child actress, most remembered for her role as the youngest child "Kathy Anderson" (nicknamed But she never got her share of the spotlight until she put teenage angst on the television with Betty Anderson. Did you ever watch any of the reunion movies like Home for Christmas that aired in 1977? She attempted to return to school, but it was a discipline for which she was unprepared, she said. A heroin dealer held her "in bondage" as a prostitute. Five years later, Ms. Chapin had a second child, her daughter Summer, out of wedlock. Jane ended up in a similar situation. Her mother was an alcoholic and her father molested her when she was 16, Chapin said. lauren chapin obituary. It usually revolved around not wanting to tell the truth, either out of embarrassment, or not wanting to hurt someone. Fun fact: a Denver eccentric millionaire built a mansion replica of the Shangri-La from this film, which still stands today. On top of that, when it came time to move on from Father Knows Best, she couldnt find work. My sincerest of condolences to Dr. and Mrs. Chapis. So these compacted shoots allowed for a hectic schedule that could pack six to eight movies per year. ", Chapin, 54, was an innocent 8-year old when she auditioned and beat out 250 other girls for the part of Kathy Anderson on "Father Knows Best.". "I can relate to so many people on so many levels," Chapin said Friday before participating in a weekend women's conference at Citychurch in downtown Oklahoma City. Lauren S. Chapin, 50, of Liberty, Mo., died Wednesday, December 10, 2008, at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City. In December, Ms. Chapin will marry Killeen firefighter Robert Kelley. WebLauren Chapin was just 9 years old when she was selected from 250 girls who answered a casting call for the TV series Father Knows Best." My heartvfelt condolences on the loss of Lauren. I remember her fondly from high school. He passed away last night after a long illness but now is in the arms of his Savior. She started on Father Knows Bestwhen she was roughly nine but her own childhood before the show was wildly I think Lauren will meet her doctor in Heaven. And the bad thing is, the model is so deceitful. The Robert Young Community Mental Health Center is named after the actor, who used his platform and personal struggles to speak on the importance of mental health. lauren chapin obituary. From sandboxes, to basements, to player pianos, and proms Lauren always reminded me she was older (and wiser) than me! June 16, 2022. may it help to know that other's care! The beloved series gave her a fast foothold into the industry, as she left with roughly 200 episodes under her belt, but the 50s classic would be a high note for her. It was wonderful. Friends introduced her to Christianity, something she always had rejected, she said, because she believed Christians were squares. Lauren attended the University of Delaware and then received her Master of Library Science from Drexel University. Wallace Gordon Renn. I tried a lot of philosophies before I found the peace Id been looking for, she said. I will never forget that infectious joyfulness. View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro. Id been typecast as Kathy Anderson. She said she did not believe a marriage to the childs father would last. 0:04. I think the world is hankering for a family. She provided a wonderful counterpart to Robert Young. Since you have selected United States as your country, you must provide a valid state. Lauren enjoyed traveling, be it abroad with her family or zig-zagging the country on road trips with never enough CDs for the journey. Memorial contributions may be made in honor of Lauren and her lifetime love of reading to the Pottstown Regional Public Library, 500 East High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464 or a favorite charity. My deepest condolences at Laurens passing. By 1962, when she was about 16, she was married to a man named Jerry Jones but within two years they split up. Ronald was born on September 10, 1941 in Florence, SC. Jane began her career on both the silver screen and Broadway, with her first film being 1934s One More River, though most people first remember her from Frank Capras incredible 1937 picture, Lost Horizon. When she became pregnant with her son Matt, now 15, she decided to keep her child but end the relationship. In 1992, Kristy got diagnosed with bipolar disorder and mostly stopped acting after Empty Nest with mostly voice-over work after that. Phone Number value must not be longer than 20 characters. She had been typecast as Kitten Anderson, and her unsuccessful job hunt made her mother drink more, and soon, as Lauren says, I became an incorrigible child. Additionally, she married at the youngand illegalage of 16 and was then divorced by 18. She said her relationship with her father was even more turbulent. She is well known as a licensed and ordained evangelist and advocate for Israel. Weblauren chapin obituary. He is survived by his son, Britt Stockman (Lauren) and granddaughters, Addison With sympathy, A celebration of her life will be held at 1:00p.m., Saturday, | As she toldPeople, I dont remember my mother ever kissing me.. There probably isnt, but that was what we were looking for. The dialogue, the situations, the characters they were all totally false. Get in the comments and tell us everything you recall about this series! She played Kate Honeycutt for two years of Days of Our Lives in the mid-80s and then in the mid-90s portrayed Rebecca Quinn on Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. 0:57. It is what we wanted to do for our children. I am so sorry to hear of your loss but so happy to hear about the very full and rewarding life Lauren led. Kriegshauser Brothers Funeral Service 2556 South Brentwood Boulevard Saint Louis, MO LAUREN CHAPIN OBITUARY Chapin, Lauren Mary Sat., Dec. 14, 2019, When acting roles failed to come, she worked as a flight attendant, dog groomer, insurance claims examiner, carhop, and cocktail waitress. Michael also appears in Its A Wonderful Life. She is also known for roles in School Bus Diaries (2016), The 36th Prime Time Emmy Awards (1984), Scout's Honor (1980), The Adventures of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza (1976), A Star is Born (1954), The Bob Hope Show (1954) and The Ed Sullivan Show (1958). I had lived in fear, in low self-esteem, but as I allowed Christ in, all those things that had made me afraid and ashamed were softened and released and healed., She has shared that message through numerous speaking and television appearances. Lauren Chapin first began acting in 1952, following her two older brothers Billy and Michael into the limelight. Kids growing up in the 50s knew one important truth: Father Knows Best. After seven years of heavy heroin abuse, Ms. Chapin was sentenced to prison for attempted forgery. WebLauren S. Chapin, 50, of Liberty, Mo., died Wednesday, December 10, 2008, at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City. Kansas City, Mo. Peace! Today, Donahue is 85 years old and has added author to her credentials, as in 1998, she published a memoir entitled In the Kitchen with Elinor Donahue, reliving her memories of Hollywood and providing more than 150 top-grade recipes. Despite being so sure of himself on screen and offering sage counsel, the man himself suffered from depression and alcoholism for much of his life. I remember her as a high school studentsharp wit, great humor with a passion for .Duran Duran (!! It has a warmth and loving energy to it that was very special. You all will be in my prayers. The popular show lasted eight seasons, from 1954 to 1962, and now is in syndication. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this most difficult time. She even played Spocks mother in a 1967 episode of the original Star Trek and reprised it for the 1986 film. One of Billys final acting roles was the 1971 horror-action flick Werewolves on Wheels, but he took some time off after because it sparked a new love for the actor: racing. )I always think of her when I hear their music! Please enter a valid Email Address. WebReview: The INFJ Revolution by Lauren Sapala; Review: Gia by Patricia Kirsch; Review: An Audible Silence by J.A. Without a college degree, Chapin became a certified natural child-birth teacher. Lauren was such a bright light in your family and we're really going to miss her. He actually didnt have much of a choice either; as an MGM contract player, Young was obligated to accept any film assigned to him or risk being placed on suspension without pay. The child star discovered, though, that growing up didn't guarantee an idyllic American lifestyle. Robert Young introduces one of his five real daughters, Kathy Young , to his daughter on television series Father Knows Best. Obituary. Lauren S. Chapin 1958-2008 Send Flowers Share LIBERTY, Mo. People did perceive it as real life. And today at 85 years old, he lives in Topanga, California, and is a motorcycle collector and businessman. Im not their token actress. Today she is 76 and also seems to have received recognition for her involvement in the arts, including by big names on Broadway, and she is active on YouTube with her own channel sharing anecdotes and words of faith.