Lauren Chapin, 'Father Knows Best' star, dies at 80

Anna Kaufman, USA TODAYWed, February 25, 2026 at 3:22 PM UTC

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Lauren Chapin, the actress best known for playing the youngest child on the classic sitcom "Father Knows Best," has died. She was 80.

Chapin, who played Kathy "Kitten" Anderson during the latter half of the 1950s, died Tuesday, Feb. 25, according to a Facebook post from her son, Matthew Chapin. He cited cancer as her cause of death.

"After a long hard fought battle over the past 5 years, the time has come. My mother Lauren Chapin passed away from her battle with cancer tonight," he wrote. "I'm at a complete loss for words right now. Please keep my sister and family in your thoughts and prayers as we go through this incredibly tough time."

From left: Billy Gray, Jane Wyatt, Robert Young, Lauren Chapin and Elinor Donahue look at a newspaper as they eat at the kitchen table on an episode of the television series "Father Knows Best" in 1956.

Chapin, who left acting in her teens, appeared in nearly all of the over 200 episodes that aired of "Father Knows Best," winning five junior Emmys during her stint.

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Off the screen, Chapin's life was far from the picture-perfect family fun that defined the sitcoms of the time. The actress said her mother was an alcoholic who abandoned her to live with her father, whom she claims molested her, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

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"Revenge of the Nerds" and "Lizzie McGuire" actor Robert Carradine died Monday, Feb. 23, by suicide after living for two decades with bipolar disorder, his brother Keith Carradine confirmed to Deadline. He was 71. "In a world that can feel so dark, Bobby was always a beacon [of] light to everyone around him," the family said in a statement. Carradine starred as Bob Younger in "The Long Riders" alongside his actor brothers Keith and David, as Private Zab in "The Big Red One," and dorky underdog Lewis Skolnick in his breakout role, 1984's "Revenge of the Nerds," as well as its three sequels. Two decades later, he would go on to play Sam McGuire, dad to Hilary Duff in Disney Channel's "Lizzie McGuire."

In later years, she struggled with substance abuse and lost several children due to miscarriage, according to THR. She was married several times, and became entangled after high school with a man who turned her into a call girl and introduced her to heroine, the outlet reported. She got sober in 1970, and became a minister.

"Lauren's life was marked by both triumph and hardship. Like many child stars, she faced personal struggles after early fame. Yet her later years reflected remarkable resilience," a post to her website says. "She embraced faith, shared her testimony openly, and dedicated herself to helping others overcome addiction and adversity."

Chapin's other credits include "A Star is Born" (1954), "The Bob Hope Show" (1954) and "The Ed Sullivan Show" (1958). Her two older brothers, Billy and Michael, were also child actors.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lauren Chapin dead – 'Father Knows Best' star dies at 80

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