Elizabeth Ann Wedgeworth (born January 21, 1935 in Abilene, Texas) is an American actress, best known for her role as Lahoma Vane Lucas on the daytime dramas Another World (1967-1970) and Somerset (1970-1973).
She attended the University of Texas and was a childhood friend and high school classmate of Jayne Mansfield.
Wedgeworth later joined the cast of Three's Company in 1979 as Lana Shields and was promptly written out of the series in mid-season with no explanation given in the story for Lana's disappearance.
Wedgeworth revealed to author Chris Mann that she wasn't "fired" but asked to be let go. After shooting a couple of episodes of Three's Company, Wedgeworth said some of the cast members were complaining about the size of her role. She said afterwards, her part dwindled down to practically "nothing." Wedgeworth asked the producers to write the part of Lana back to the way it was intended and promised to be, or else release her from the show so she could pursue other opportunities. The producers there upon released her from the show.
In 1978 she won a Tony Award for Best Supporting Actress on Broadway in Neil Simon's Chapter Two.
She also played recurring roles on the sitcoms Evening Shade and Roseanne. Interestingly, in 1982, she worked with Linda Bloodworth-Thomason in her first series, Filthy Rich, playing ditsy but good-natured Bootsie Westchester.
Ann played Patsy Cline's feisty mother, Hilda Hensley, in the 1985 biopic Sweet Dreams.
Most recently, Ann was seen in The Hawk Is Dying with Paul Giamatti that was shown at the Sundance Film Festival.
She was Rip Torn's first wife, before Torn married Geraldine Page. They have a daughter, actress Danae Torn. She is currently married to acting teacher and director Ernie Martin, and they have a daughter, actress/writer Dianna Martin.
Attended The University of Texas at Austin (graduated 1957).
Attended high school in Dallas with Jayne Mansfield.
Wedgeworth (Lana Shields) had the shortest run on "Three's Company" (1977) in the 1979-1980 season.
Childhood friends with actress Jayne Mansfield.
Won Broadway's 1978 Tony Award as Best Actress (Featured Role - Play) for "Chapter Two."
Won a Drama Desk Award for her role in "A Lie of the Mind" (1986).
Over fifteen years after their divorce she appeared with ex-husband Rip Torn in the film Birch Interval (1976). By this time he was married to actress Geraldine Page.
Wife of director / acting teacher Ernest "Ernie" Martin, and the mother of lovely daughters, Danae Torn and Diánna Martin.
Wedgeworth joined the seasoned cast of "Three's Company" (1977) in 1979 as bosomy neighbor/divorcée Lana Shields who had strict and assertive designs on 'John Ritter's Jack Tripper character. It was a tawdry, one-note character that really didn't fit in with the harmless leering and silly, physical slapstick of the show. She was promptly written out of the series in mid-season with no explanation given in the story for Lana's disappearance. Later Wedgeworth revealed that she wasn't "fired" but asked to be let go. After shooting a couple of episodes of the show, Wedgeworth said, some of the cast members were complaining about the size of her part and the character dwindled down to practically "nothing". Wedgeworth asked the producers to write the part of Lana back to the way it was intended or release her.
