Spring Byington

Spring Dell Byington (October 17, 1886 – September 7, 1971) was an American actress. Her career included a seven-year run on radio and television as the star of the notable sitcom December Bride. She was a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract player who appeared in films from the 1930s to the 1960s. Some of her notable appearances were in movies such as You Can't Take It with You, December Bride, Little Women, Mutiny on the Bounty and Jezebel. She even received a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Penelope Sycamore in You Can't Take It with You (1938). Byington was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the daughter of Edwin Lee Byington, an educator and superintendent of schools in Colorado, and his wife Helene Maud (Cleghorn) Byington, who later became a doctor. Spring performed in amateur shows as a student and became a professional actress with the Elitch Garden Stock Company. She had an illustrious career in the industry, which spanned acting on stage, films, radio and television. She spoke Spanish and also studied Brazilian Portuguese in her later years.