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Jean Parker

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
78

Gender
Female

Birthday
August 11, 1915 (110 years old)

Place of Birth
Deer Lodge, Montana, USA

Jean Parker

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jean Parker (born Lois Mae Green; August 11, 1915 – November 30, 2005) was an American film and stage actress. She landed her first screen test while still in high school. She acted opposite such well-known actors as Katharine Hepburn, Robert Donat, Edward G. Robinson, Randolph Scott, and Laurel and Hardy. She was married four times and had one son, Robert Lowery Hanks.

Parker appeared in 70 movies from 1932 through 1966. In 1932, she posed as a flower girl and living poster in a float in the Tournament of Roses Parade, where she was seen by Ida Koverman, secretary to MGM mogul Louis B. Mayer. The following day the studio called her on the phone and invited her for a screen test.

Parker's film debut came in Divorce in the Family (1932). She had a successful career at MGM, RKO and Columbia including roles in such films as Little Women, Lady for a Day, Gabriel Over the White House, Limehouse Blues, The Ghost Goes West, and Rasputin and the Empress. In 1939, she starred opposite Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in RKO's The Flying Deuces.

Parker remained active in film throughout the 1940s, playing opposite Lon Chaney in Dead Man's Eyes, and a variety of other films. During World War II, she toured many of the veteran hospitals throughout the U.S. and performed on radio. In the 1950s, Parker co-starred opposite Edward G. Robinson in Black Tuesday; had a small but effective role in The Gunfighter, and appeared in A Lawless Street (1955). Her last film appearance was Apache Uprising (1966).

Parker also appeared on Broadway. In 1949, she replaced Judy Holliday in Born Yesterday on Broadway and enjoyed a successful run in this classic. She appeared on Broadway opposite Bert Lahr in the play Burlesque. She did summer stock in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, toured in the play Candlelight and Loco, and performed on stage in other professional productions. In 1954, Parker played the role of "Cattle Kate Watson of Wyoming" in an episode of the syndicated television series Stories of the Century, the first western program to win an Emmy Award. The series starred and was narrated by Jim Davis. Later in her career and life, Parker continued a successful stint on the West Coast theatre circuit and worked as an acting coach.

At age 83, Parker moved into the Motion Picture and Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California, where she died of a stroke on November 30, 2005, at the age of 90. She was survived by her son, Robert, and granddaughters Katie and Nora Hanks. She was buried at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills.

Known For

Acting

1990The Laurel & Hardy Story: An Affectionate Rememberenceas Self (archive footage)
1968Cargo of Loveas Denise
1965Apache Uprisingas Mrs. Hawks
1957The Parson and the Outlawas Sarah Jones
1955A Lawless Streetas Cora Dean
1955Matinee Theateras
1954Black Tuesdayas Hatti Combest
1954Stories of the Centuryas Ella Watson aka Cattle Kate
1953Those Redheads from Seattleas Liz
1953Private Secretaryas
1952Toughest Man in Arizonaas Della
1950The Gunfighteras Molly
1949Suspenseas
1946Rolling Homeas Frances Crawford
1945Adventures of Kitty O'Dayas Kitty O'Day
1944One Body Too Manyas Carol Dunlap
1944Dead Man's Eyesas Heather Hayden
1944Bluebeardas Lucille
1944Oh, What a Night!as Valerie
1944Detective Kitty O'Dayas Kitty O'Day
1944Lady in the Death Houseas Mary Kirk Logan
1944The Navy Wayas Ellen Sayre
1943The Deerslayeras Judith Hutter
1943Minesweeperas Mary Smith
1943Alaska Highwayas Ann Coswell
1943High Explosiveas Connie Baker
1942The Traitor Withinas Molly Betts
1942Wrecking Crewas Peggy Starr
1942Tomorrow We Liveas Julie Bronson
1942Hi, Neighboras Dorothy Greenfield
1942I Live on Dangeras Susan Richards
1942Soaring Starsas Herself
1942Hello, Annapolisas Doris Henley
1942The Girl from Alaskaas Mary 'Pete' McCoy
1942Torpedo Boatas Grace Holman
1941No Hands on the Clockas Mrs. Louise Campbell
1941The Pittsburgh Kidas Patricia Mallory
1941Flying Blindas Shirley Brooks
1941Power Diveas Carol Blake
1941Roar of the Pressas Alice Williams
1940Young America Fliesas Jane
1940Beyond Tomorrowas Jean Lawrence
1940Son of the Navyas Stevie Moore
1940Knights of the Rangeas Holly Ripple
1939The Flying Deucesas Georgette
1939Parents on Trialas Susan Wesley
1939Flight at Midnightas Maxine Scott
1939She Married a Copas Linda Fay
1939Zenobiaas Mary Tibbett
1939Romance of the Redwoodsas June Martin
1938The Arkansas Traveleras Judy Allen
1938Romance of the Limberlostas Laurie
1938Penitentiaryas Elizabeth Mathews
1937The Barrieras Necia Gale
1937Life Begins with Loveas Carole Martin
1936The Texas Rangersas Amanda Bailey
1936The Farmer in the Dellas Adie Boyer
1935The Ghost Goes Westas Peggy Martin
1935Murder in the Fleetas Betty Lansing
1935Princess O'Haraas Princess O'Hara
1935Sequoiaas Toni Martin
1934Caravanas Timka
1934Limehouse Bluesas Toni
1934A Wicked Womanas Rosanne Stroud, aka Rosanne Trice
1934Have a Heartas Sally Moore
1934Operator 13as Eleanor
1934Lazy Riveras Sarah Lescalle
1934You Can't Buy Everythingas Elizabeth 'Beth' Burton Bell
1934Two Aloneas Mazie
1933Little Womenas Beth
1933Lady for a Dayas Louise
1933What Price Innocence?as Ruth Harper
1933Storm at Daybreakas Danitza
1933Made on Broadwayas Adele
1933Gabriel Over the White Houseas Alice Bronson
1933The Secret of Madame Blancheas Eloise
1932Rasputin and the Empressas Princess Maria (uncredited)
1932Divorce In The Familyas Miss Lucile SmIth

Production