Jan Shutan (November 5, 1932 – October 7, 2021) was an American actress who died of old age at 88. She was married twice; first to Robert H. Shutan with whom she had two children, Peter Henry Shutan and Anne Shutan. She was preceded in death by her second husband David Levinson who died in November 2019. He was the father of her three step-children: Sid, Melissa, and Amy Levinson.
The late actress should be more popular with people who were TV watchers in the ’60s and ’70s, as many of her works fall within this time frame. Jan was born in the City of Los Angeles and raised in the home of Hollywood, Beverly Hills. She obtained her high school diploma at Beverly Hills High School and was raised in affluence by her wealthy parents.
Although that helped her get a good foot ahead of many others in her acting career, the actress still had to hustle for acting gigs. Her career took off in 1963 and she retired in 1981 after playing Helen in a TV movie titled This House Possessed. While it became obvious that she had retired, her whereabouts became quite a mystery until it emerged that she died in Beverly Hills in October 2021.
Profile Summary of Jan Shutan
- Birth Name: Janice Dottenheim
- Full Name: Jan Shutan Levinson
- Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Date of Birth: November 5, 1932
- Died On: October 7, 2021
- Jan Shutan’s Age at Death: 88
- Ethnicity: Caucasian
- Nationality: American
- Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
- Jan Shutan’s Parents: Henry and Shirley Dottenheim
- Marital Status: Divorced/Widowed
- Jan Shutan’s Husband: Robert H. Shutan (divorced in the ’70s) and David Levinson (1980 – 2019)
- Jan Shutan’s Children: Two, Peter Henry Shutan (Son) and Anne Shutan (Daughter)
- Step-children: Three (Sid, Melissa, and Amy Levinson)
- Jan Shutan’s Height: 5 Feet 5 Inches (165 cm/1.65 m)
- Jan Shutan’s Net Worth at Death: $6 Million
- Famous for: Career as an Actress
- Years Active: 1963 – 1981
Jan Shutan Was 88 Years Old and Living In Beverly Hills When She Died
Jan Shutan’s acting debut was in an episode of Arrest and Trial, a 1963 television series. Most of her works were television series and a few of them were short films. Some of her works include Ben Casey (1963- 1966), Barnaby (1965), Dick Tracy (1967, short film), Room 222 (1969- 1970), The Seven Minutes (1971), Message to My Daughter (1973), Dracula’s Dog (1978 horror film), and Mother, Juggs & Speed (1978).
In 1969, Jan appeared in the Gene Roddenberry Sci-Fi TV series, Star Trek: The Original Series. She played the role of Lieutenant Mira Romaine, a Starfleet sciences division specialist of the 23rd century. She also played a minor role in Sons and Daughters, a 1974 television series that aired for a short while on CBS. In 1981, she appeared in a TV film titled This House Possessed and took a back sit in the industry after that.
Jan Shutan was brought up by her parents in Beverly Hills. After her many years in the movie industry, Jan retired but continued to reside in Beverly Hills until her death on the 7th of October 2021. On the occasion of Beverly Hills’ 100th year anniversary, her daughter Anne Shutan and her husband Scott MacInnis spent the day having fun with Jan and her late husband, David Levinson.
The Star Trek Actress Was Married to Robert H. Shutan and David Levinson
Jan Shutan was a very beautiful woman in her prime and she caught the eyes of many men. Two men were lucky to call her their wife: Robert H. Shutan and David Levinson.
Meet Robert H. Shutan, Jan Shutan’s First Husband
Robert H. Shutan was born on May 12, 1918. He was about 14 years older than Jan but this was no hindrance to Cupid’s arrow. Robert and Jan got married but sadly, the couple’s love didn’t last forever or till death did them path; it hit the rocks sometime in the ’70s. And they both found love elsewhere.
Robert got married to a woman named Georgia Franklin-Shutan, who was a lawyer; she is currently an inactive member of the Colorado Bar. While Jan got married to David Levinson.
What Robert Shutan Did for a Living
Robert Shutan was born in Chicago, Illinois to Arthur Joe Shutan and May Flower Shutan. He attended Hyde Park High School in Chicago and then obtained a degree from The University of California, Los Angeles in 1939. Three years later, in 1942, he graduated from Boalt Hall, Berkeley, with a J.D. and was subsequently admitted into the Californian Bar.
Rather than go directly to law practice, Robert reported for training with the Navy. This was a war period and he wanted to serve his country. He served on the deck of the USS Dempsey as a deck officer, in mostly antisubmarine warfare in the South and Central Pacific.
At the end of the war, Robert went back to practicing law, with a specialty in bankruptcy and corporate reorganization. He co-founded the Shutan & Throat law firm together with a colleague at law. In 1980, the firm consolidated with a bigger firm, Sidley and Austin, to become its Los Angeles office and by so doing, Shutan and Throat extended their scope of practice.
Robert retired from active law practice at age 72, in 1990. He died 18 years later, in 2008, and a memorial service was held in his honor on November 9, 2008.
The Actress Remarried In 1980, to David Levinson
Jan Shutan got married to David Levinson on December 24, 1980. They met on the set of Sons and Daughters. David revealed in an interview that he had found her attractive from the get-go but stayed off because she was married. At the time, he had just recently gotten separated from his wife, sometime around July or August in 1973/4. Unfortunately for Jan and yet, fortunately for David, Jan got separated from her husband while on set.
David walked in on her looking sad over the separation and immediately he learned of the reason for her sadness, he stepped right to his game and asked her out. The couple fell in love and became an item in 1974. Jan however didn’t change her name again; she had changed her maiden name to that of her first husband, Robert Shutan.
The couple didn’t have any children together, but each had offspring from their previous marriages.
Jan and David Levinson Remained Married Until He Passed In November 2019
David Levinson was an American Producer and Writer. He was born on August 4, 1939, and brought up in Chicago, Illinois. At age 23, Levinson left his family to pursue a career in television in Los Angeles.
David’s career spanned a total of fifty-five years, during which he worked on many hit movies. His notable works include Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1985) and Nikita (2010). David was a recipient of an Emmy Award for his excellent production of The Bold Ones: The Senator.
Jan Shutan’s second husband, David Levinson, passed on the 4th of November 2019, at age 80. His family announced his obituary in the Los Angeles Times and asked well-wishers to donate to any cancer charity of choice in lieu of sending flowers to them. A memorial service was held in his honor on November 8, 2019, in Los Angeles.
Jan Shutan Had a Son (Peter Henry Shutan) and a Daughter (Anne Shutan) from Her First Marriage
Yes, Jan Shutan had two children, with her first husband Robert H. Shutan. Their names are Anne Shutan and Peter Henry Shutan. Whereas Jan grew up with a passion for acting and entertaining, her children never had such ambitions.
Jan’s Daughter Anne Shutan Is a Woodworker Cum Artist
Anne is the daughter of Jan Shutan. She attended Beverly Hills High School. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Colorado College. After graduation, it was expected that she would take up a writing internship like many other English graduates; but she chose to follow her dreams, however unladylike they seemed.
From her childhood, Anne had been one to play in the yard, with dirt, trees, and what have you. So she set out to pursue working with her hands, fully armed with encouragement from her parents. Anne currently resides in Boulder, Colorado in USA, where she owns a business. The business provides durable and exquisite bespoke custom doors, custom furniture, sculpture, musical instruments, and judicial doors. Her wood pieces are highly sought after around the country.
Anne didn’t just come upon this success overnight; it took her years of training and studying her craft before she got started in Colorado. In 1985, the brilliance of her pieces earned her introduction to Jan De Swart —a renowned Dutch Master Woodworker and Sculptor. De Swart and Shutan had an instant rapport that led to the master speaking of sharing his secrets with her. He took her under his wings in Los Angeles, teaching her the intricacies of the trade. Sadly, De Swart passed away in 1987, bringing their relationship to an end.
Anne had been opportune to create some pieces for a client De Swart had turned down and this opened a doorway to even more business for her. This client was the same person who has engineered their meeting. Anne recalls that De Swart was first apprehensive when she took up the work but exuded so much pride and confidence upon its completion and hanging. He told his protégé that she was done needing him, slipped into a coma four days later, and died the very next day. Anne had assured him she will continue the legacy.
After his death, she moved to Newfane, Vermont, and made her business better and even bigger. In 1994, six years after setting up shop, Anne got a big break. She was listed by the International Contemporary Furniture Fair as a featured new artist. The woodworker moved back to Colorado in 1994 and has remained there to date. Many of her works are up for exhibition in galleries and grace the pathways of many fine homes. She is also passionate about supporting women in varying forms of arts and leads the yearly regional workshop of No Limits for women in the arts.
Anne Shutan is married to a man named Scott MacInnis. Not much is known about Scott or his relationship with the woodworker cum artist.
Meet Jan Shutan’s Son, Peter Henry Shutan
Peter Henry Shutan is Jan Shutan’s son and brother to Anne Shutan. He attended the University of California, Davis in 1981; then obtained his law degree from Southwestern University School of Law. On December 11, 1986, he was admitted into the Californian Bar and remains a member to date.
That same year, he began working as a prosecutor with the office of the Los Angeles City Attorney. For many years, Peter was assigned varying positions in the fight against gang violence. In 1996, a new program called CLEAR was created and Peter was put in charge of the Colorado branch. By 1998, he was appointed as the countywide Director and assumed the position till 2001.
To date, Peter continues to work at effectively proffering solutions to problems related to juvenile delinquency, truancy, and gang prevention/intervention.
Fun Facts About The Actress Who Played Lieutenant Mira Romaine On Star Trek: The Original Series
Jan Shutan Was a Winner of Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts
Arthur Godfrey’s Talent Scouts was an American show that started airing on the radio in 1946 and extended to TV on December 6, 1948. It was hosted by Arthur Godfrey, with sponsorship from Lipton Tea. The idea of the show was for talent scouts to bring their discoveries to show their talents before an audience. The audience’s applause was graded by a meter and the contestant with the highest rating was declared the winner.
She Did Many Commercials During Her Active Days
In a bid to supplement her earnings from acting on television shows and series, Jan took up several commercial gigs. She advertised a vast range of products including Tareyton, an American cigarette brand that is currently owned by the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. Other products she advertised included cars and even soaps.
Jan Has Several Step-children and Grandchildren
Jan had two biological children, in addition to three step-children through her second marriage to David Levinson. David had been previously married and had three children with his ex-wife, two females and a male child.
His first child and son named Sidney has a wife named Amy. Sidney’s sisters are named Melissa (husband Manny) and Amy Levinson. Jan also had step-grandchildren, David’s grandchildren named Tess, Mira, Emilio, Santiago, and Mia Bella.
Her Children Attended The Same High School as Her
Anne and Peter Shutan attended Beverly Hills High School, the same as their mother. To Jan, it was a great feat to have her children attend her Alma mater. It was even doubly great to have them excel in both their academics and extracurricular activities. Her daughter, Anne, won Athlete of the Year in 1976.
She Began Acting at Age 32 and Her Acting Career Lasted 18 Years
Jan always had a flair for acting, probably because she was raised in the midst of many actors and actresses. Her acting career began in 1963 and spanned a total of 18 years. She retired in 1981 at the age of 50.
Jan Shutan a.k.a. Mira Romaine Has an Active Fandom
Jan played the role of Mira in Star Trek: The Original Series 52 years ago when she was 36 years old. Star Trek lovers fell in love with the beautiful intelligent young lieutenant who came on the scene and stole the heart of Lt. Commander Montgomery Scott. On her 84th birthday, fans of Mira and the Commander took to a forum on The Trek BBS to wish the actress well and reminisce on her role and love life in the movie.
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KEY DETAILS
- Jan Shutan was 88 years old and was living in Beverly Hills where she was born when she died.
- Robert H. Shutan was her first husband and their marriage ended in a divorce.
- She married a second time to David Levinson and they reminded together until David died in 2019.
- Jan had two children with her first husband—a son and a daughter named Peter Henry Shutan and Anne Shutan.
- The late actress known for playing Lieutenant Mira Romaine on Star Trek: The Original Series retired in 1981.
