Once a painfully shy child who hid behind her mother’s skirt, Yvonne Lime Fedderson went on to become a confident Hollywood actress and lifelong humanitarian.
Yvonne passed away peacefully of natural causes at her home in Paradise Valley, Arizona, on Friday, January 23, 2026. She was 90.
Born in Glendale, California, she was enrolled in drama classes to overcome her shyness and began acting professionally by age 10. Her film debut came in 1956 with The Rainmaker, where she impressed so greatly opposite Burt Lancaster and Katharine Hepburn that Paramount Pictures signed her without a screen test.
She gained wider recognition in 1957 with I Was a Teenage Werewolf and appeared that same year in Elvis Presley’s Loving You. In 1958, she starred in Dragstrip Riot and continued working steadily in film and television, with appearances on shows such as Happy, Dobie Gillis, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., and My Three Sons, her final role in 1968.
Beyond acting, Yvonne’s greatest legacy was her humanitarian work. In 1959, she co-founded Childhelp, a nonprofit dedicated to helping abused and neglected children. Her dedication earned her five consecutive Nobel Peace Prize nominations between 2000 and 2005.
Yvonne married television producer Don Fedderson in 1969, and they had one daughter, Dionne. In her later years, she lived quietly with her daughter, focusing on family and the enduring mission of Childhelp.
From Hollywood sets to a lifetime of service, Yvonne Lime Fedderson is remembered for both her talent and her compassion.
