Somewhere I've read that Jane Wyman had second thoughts about her divorce from Ronald Reagan and in 1951 made an effort
-
Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Jane Wyman
wbrainard — 19 years ago(June 20, 2006 09:23 AM)
Somewhere I've read that Jane Wyman had second thoughts about her divorce from Ronald Reagan and in 1951 made an effort to get back together with him. This was short-lived; Ronnie was involved romantically with Nancy Davis bb68y this time and any stories of a Wyman/Reagan re-marriage went by the boards. Months after Nancy became the second Mrs. Reagan Jane went down the altar again with band leader Freddie Karger. The marriage lasted from late 1952 till December 1954 when Wyman sued for divorce. That month Miss Wyman and the Reagan children converted to the Catholic church. Karger and Wyman wed again in March 1961; this marriage lasted longer ending in 1965. Karger remarried and was till his death in 1979. Miss Wyman has never remarried since the second Karger divorce.
-
alireland-1 — 19 years ago(June 25, 2006 06:38 AM)
This is all true. They actually lived together for a brief time after their divorce in an attempt to reconcile, but it didn't work.
I'm not sure it was Jane who made the effort, though. Reagan was devastated when Wyman dumped him and reportedly begged her to take him back. He was even stalking her at one16d0 point, allegedly. -
wmteebe — 19 years ago(July 29, 2006 11:40 AM)
Regarding HER children converting??? Michael was very up set at the way He thougth SHE was being used by the church. Read His book. I think Maureen was a bit too liberal. SHE divorced Mr. Karger BEFORE He died. He seems to have had a drinking problem?
-
wbrainard — 19 years ago(September 16, 2006 10:48 PM)
Karger died in 1979 some 15 years after he and Jane Wyman divorced. I've read Michael Reagan's books. I never heard of Fred Karger having a problem with alcohol. Jane Wyman has devoted a lot of time and money to Catholic Charities and the Arthritis Foundation. Maureen Reagan died in 2001 from deadly melanoma cancer. Miss Wyman and Nancy Reagan attended Maureen's funeral. That was the last time Jane Wyman was seen in public. She is still living, age 92, mentally very sharp but in frail health from diabetes and arthritis. I've read that in 2003 she sold her condo in Rancho Mirage and has since lived in an assisted living facility.
-
asakolinsky — 19 years ago(February 02, 2007 06:50 PM)
Anne Edwards in her rather biased sloppily researched book on The Reagans attempts to infer some sort of hypocracy on Ms. Wyman's part because she didn't attend the reception for Maureen's 2nd wedding but was herself divorced. As I recall at the time of Maureen's second wedd111cing Wyman was still married to Karger (though perhaps seperated and she didn't convert until after her 1st divorce from him) and while they did obtain a 2nd civil divorce Wyman did not re-marry and I recall reading that she and her pal Loretta Young both obtained some special dispensation from the Bishop so they could receive communion. Given Wyman's graciousness at Michael's wedding one suspects she was either asked or offered not to attend Maureen's reception to avoid any problems (Edwards suggest at the time of Maureen's 3rd wedding in the 80's that Nancy was concerned that Wyman would make some sort of scene - again not sourced - this seems more like the imaginings of a rather brittle paranoid second wife - for the record Wyman was already busy working on the Falcon Crest pilot at this time). She and Maureen had their differences but were pretty close and it is very possible that her objections to Maureen's wedding were personal not religious - as it turns out the marriage didn't succeed (and again she was very supportive during the dissolution of Michael's 1st marriage - regardless of her Catholicism). During the 80's Wyman was very clear she wasn't the marrying kind. A very tough and smart lady whose character is constantly being assailed by Reagan worshippers who can't reconcile themselves to the fact that not only did she reject Reagan but their is no indication she ever regretted it.
In terms of her split from him their is some good stuff in Fay Wray's book which suggests she was more than fed up and considering divorce before becoming pregnant with Christine. -
cmjohnson87 — 18 years ago(March 11, 2008 03:13 PM)
Yes at the time that she made Johnny Belinda, Jane did get involved with "lew ayres" and at the time when Ronald Reagan was informed he said something to the lines of "that an affair might do her good" shortly thereafter though they filed for divorce. Jane still loved/appreciated Ronnie though even til her dieing days I believe. She said at his death "America has lost a great president and a great, kind gentleman".
The reason why she never discussed him was because she considered it in bad taste to talk of ex spouses,former loves etc.etc.
Miss Wyman truly was a queen among women, a living icon. We were blessed to have her among us. -
asakolinsky — 18 years ago(April 05, 2008 08:25 AM)
Her supposed romance with Lew Ayres is nothing more than gossip. He became a good friend on the set of Johnny Belinda. In her 1949 Photoplay cover story she indicates that their freindship was platonic not romant16d0ic. It has been well documented that Reagan had a tendency to bury his head in the sand if he didn't want to deal with something. Wyman's discontent with his union involvement, her role as the breadwinner during the time he was in the service, her career ascension and the premature birth and subsequent death of Christine Reagan (while Mr. Reagan was very ill himself) all undermined the marriage. Reagan has admitted that he should have been paying more attention to his own family and less to saving the world. Jane initiated the divorce and publically said it was her fault but it takes two.