Gwyneth Paltrow’s mother, Blythe Danner is an 81-year-old American actress who has been active on the silver screen since the late 1960s. She was married to the late Hollywood film director and producer, Bruce Paltrow whom she met while working on a Broadway show in 1969. Her marriage birthed the internationally acclaimed actress Gwyneth Paltrow and Jake Paltrow who is an actor, writer, and director.
The veteran actress is a two-time Emmy award winner and she isn’t showing any signs of backing out of her career even after her close brush with death. The proud grandmother has continued to entertain her fans and hopes to keep at it as long as she can.
Blythe Danner’s Early Life
Blythe Danner was born on February 3, 1943, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is currently 81 years old. Her parents were Katherine and Harry Earl Danner and she was the youngest of three children. Blythe’s father was a banker.
The name ‘Blythe’ is a Welsh name meaning “joyous.” Gwyneth’s mother was given the name by her aunt. This would later inspire Danner to give her daughter a Welsh name too. In high school, the award-winning actress captained the swimming team. After high school, she got a degree in drama from Bard College.
Read Also: Gwyneth Paltrow’s Parents: Meet Blythe Danner and Bruce Paltrow
Blythe Danner’s Career
After college, Gwyneth Paltrow’s mother, Blythe Danner joined a theater group in Boston thereby kick-starting her acting career. In 1970, at the age of 27, she played in Butterflies Are Free which won her a Tony award as best supporting actress. This role required Danner to appear in her underwear for much of the time she spent on stage.
While many thought that Blythe Danner would build on her growing success, she retreated from the Broadway stage for 10 years. Fans were displeased but the young actress at the time was focused on raising her kids. When Blythe resumed the stage, she became synonymous with portraying the good wife. In 2005, Gwyneth’s mother became the first actress to be nominated for 3 Emmy awards in the same year. Danner has won 2 Emmys so far.
According to IMDb, Blythe Danner has been involved in 116 TV shows and movies. Below are some of her works:
- Happiness for Beginners (2023) as Gigi
- Ridley Jones (2021-2023) voicing Grandma Jones
- American Gods (2021) as Demeter
- Meet the Parents (2000) playing Dina Byrnes
- Meet the Fockers (2004) as Dina Byrnes
- The X Files (1998) portraying Cassidy
- Inside the Third Reich (1982) as Margarete Speer
- To Kill a Clown (1972) playing Lily Frischer
- Y.P.D (1968) as Felicia
Blythe Danner Survived Oral Cancer that Claimed Her Husband’s Life
It was while working in London that Gwyneth Paltrow’s mother, Blythe Danner felt a lump in her neck exactly where her deceased husband Bruce had found his. When she visited the hospital, she was diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma in March 2018. Her husband who the actress regarded as the heart of their family fought this same oral cancer from 1999 until he succumbed to it in 2002. Danner’s family hasn’t gotten over the devastating loss.
At first, Blythe kept the diagnosis private from her family believing it was in their best interest. She didn’t want them to worry. In the end, she broke the news to them which sent shock waves through her daughter Gwyneth Paltrow. Danner determined to live showed strength and courage while battling the illness. She underwent multiple medical surgeries, radiation, chemotherapy, and even combined alternative treatment options.
Today, Gwyneth’s mother is standing strong and is contributing her quota in raising awareness about sneaky oral cancer. She wished they had known more when her husband Bruce had shown signs. His voice became hoarse but he delayed visiting the doctor until months later. By then, the damage had been done. Blythe hopes to make people go for early checkups to avoid the tragedy that befell her family.
Blythe Danner Didn’t Support Gwyneth Paltrow’s Acting Career at First
Funny as it sounds, Danner didn’t want her daughter to become an actress. She and her husband tried to shield their children from the pressures that came from being an entertainment star. For this reason, they raised Gwyneth and her brother in New York a distance away from Hollywood. Somehow, the more they tried to isolate their daughter the more strong-willed she became.
Blythe will come to terms with reality and accept her daughter’s career choice. The two even acted together and have continued to support each other. Not only is Gwyneth a movie star, she has gone on to become so successful attracting both praise and hurtful criticisms. Thankfully, she has her mother’s thick skin and can shrug off most of the snide comments from trolls.
Where is Blythe Danner Now?
Gwyneth Paltrow’s mother continues to grace our screens and hopes to continue doing so for the foreseeable future. She hasn’t allowed the death of her husband of over three decades to slow her down. She also hinted that her heart isn’t open for another relationship but is focused on spending time with her family and entertaining her fans.
When Blythe isn’t acting, she tries to keep a low profile from the public but once in a while, she pops up to the waiting cameras of paparazzi. She has been spotted at different times hanging out with her children and grandchildren. Other times she is seen shopping at Gwyneth’s GOOP store in New York.
