Born in Oakland, CA. Trained for the stage at New York City's Neighborhood Playhouse; member of the Actors Studio. She made her professional debut in 1944 and her first New York appearance in 1946. Over the next twenty years, she rose to prominence on Broadway, winning a number of awards for her strong character portrayals, including the 1954 Tony® Award for her performance in Horton Foote's The Trip to Bountiful. She won the best supporting actress Academy Award for her very first screen role, as James Dean's brothel-madam mother in EAST OF EDEN (1955). She appeared sporadically but prominently in other films (THE ROSE TATTOO, 1955, I'LL CRY TOMORROW, 1955, GUNFIGHT AT THE O.K. CORRAL, 1957, COOL HAND LUKE, 1967, THE GANG THAT COULDN'T SHOOT STRAIGHT, 1971), achieving her best performances in portraying women much older than herself. From the early 1950s through 1980, Van Fleet appeared often on television in dramatic specials, series television and made-for-TV movies. Her last film appearance was in SIEZE THE DAY (1986), starring Robin Williams.  Supporting Actress 1955: EAST OF EDEN 1 nomination, 1 Award