So Long, Mrs. Gipper The First

AP Photo.

Jane Wyman has died at 93. A ripe old age, to be sure, and one that she certainly earned. While she'll be remembered for many roles, to me she'll always be Hayley Mills's Aunt Polly in Pollyanna and, of course, Angela Channing on "Falcon Crest" (where she showed three emotions during the whole run of the series--"flinty," "steely" and "hard").

But before either of those, she was Ronald Reagan's wife. They were married for several years and had two children. During a 1960s interview, Jane explained the reasons she never talked about Reagan:

"It's not because I'm bitter or because I don't agree with him politically. I've always been a registered Republican. But it's bad taste to talk about ex-husbands and ex-wives, that's all. Also, I don't know a damn thing about politics."

Well, we figured out that last part when you said you were a Republican.

Anyway, Jane, rest in peace. Thanks for the flicks and for being the best TV bitch of the 80s! (Those dressmakers' dummies on "Dynasty" could have learned a lot from you--but failed to.)