Anjanette Comer, acclaimed actress, dies at 86 in Los Angeles

Anjanette Comer, the actress best remembered for her roles in the 1965 black comedy The Loved One and the 1966 Western The Appaloosa, died at age 86 on September 20 in Los Angeles, sources said. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the news, adding that her family did not disclose a cause of death but that she had been in declining health for several months.

Comer rose to prominence in the early 1960s after a string of television appearances caught the eye of studio executives. She signed a contract with 20th Century Fox and became a fixture of the era’s “new wave” of young talent, sharing the screen with stars such as Peter O’Toole and John Wayne. Her performance as Mrs. DeMille in The Loved One earned critical praise for its blend of wit and pathos, while The Appaloosa showcased her ability to hold her own in a male‑dominated genre. The actress’s career, however, never fully capitalized on that early momentum, and she drifted between supporting roles in films like Quick, Before It Melts, Guns for San Sebastian and the cult thriller The Baby. Industry observers note that a series of missteps — including a brief, ill‑fated foray into pop‑music promotion and a contract dispute that sidelined her from a major studio project — limited her visibility at a time when Hollywood was reshaping itself.

In recent years Comer stepped away from the screen, teaching acting workshops in Los Angeles and mentoring a new generation of performers. Former student and actress Zoe Saldana recalled her mentor’s “unwavering generosity” and “sharp eye for nuance,” saying the lessons she learned from Comer still inform her craft. Colleagues also praised her professionalism and quiet charisma, traits that made her a beloved figure on set even when she was not in the spotlight.

Comer’s family announced a private memorial service for close friends and relatives will be held next week, with a public celebration of her work slated for a retrospective at the Academy Film Archive later this fall. Her death marks the passing of a distinctive voice from a transformative period in American cinema, and film historians say her body of work will be revisited as an example of the era’s shifting gender dynamics and the fragile nature of stardom.