Jean Parker was an American film, stage, and television actress whose career spanned over three decades, beginning in the pre-code era. She made her feature debut in 1932's Divorce in the Family, followed by an uncredited bit part in Rasputin and the Empress (1932). Parker had her breakthrough role opposite Katharine Hepburn and Joan Bennett in George Cukor's Little Women (1933), portraying Elizabeth March. She subsequently starred in Frank Capra's comedy-mystery Lady for a Day (also 1933), followed by the romantic comedy The Ghost Goes West (1935).
Parker continued to star in films through the 1940s, notably opposite Lon Chaney in Dead Man's Eyes (1944), and in the film noir Bluebeard (1944). Beginning in 1946, Parker appeared on Broadway in the original production of Born Yesterday. She appeared in two additional Broadway productions after: Loco (1946), in the title role, and Burlesque (1946–1947).
By the 1950s, Parker's career had slowed, though she appeared in a small number of films, such as The Gunfighter (1950) and Those Redheads from Seattle (1953). She made her final film appearance in 1965's Apache Uprising before retiring from acting.
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1951 | Pulitzer Prize Playhouse | Sally Field | Episode: "The Wisdom Tooth" | |
1953 | Cowboy G-Men | Dixie Shannon / Mayor Crystal Colby | 2 episodes | |
1954 | Stories of the Century | Cattle Kate | Episode: "Cattle Kate" | |
1954 | The Lone Wolf | Agnes Henshaw | Episode: "The Department Store Story" | |
1954 | Adventures of the Falcon | Madge Reynolds | Episode: "The Big Heist" | |
1955 | The Eddie Cantor Comedy Theatre | Edith | Episode: "The Mink Coat" | |
1955 | Damon Runyon Theater | Dolly | Episode: "Barbeque" | |
1956 | Matinee Theater | Amelia | Episode: "Dinner at Antoine's" | |
1956 | Private Secretary | Edmee Esmond | Episode: "Cat in the Hot Tin File" | |
1956 | The Red Skelton Hour | Clara Appleby | Episode: "Appleby's Invention" | |
1959 | Frontier Doctor | Liz Lambert | Episode: "The Woman Who Dared" |
Year | Title | Role | Venue | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1946 | Loco | Loco Dempsey | Biltmore Theatre, New York City | [7] |
1946–1947 | Burlesque | Bonny King | Belasco Theatre, New York City | [7] |
1948–1949 | Born Yesterday | Billie Dawn | National Broadway tour | [7] |
1949 | Light Up the Sky | Touring production; New York and Boston appearances | [8] | |
1951 | Detective Story | Mary McLeod | Gayety Theatre, Montreal | [9] |
Jean Parker was an American film, stage, and television actress whose career spanned over three decades, beginning in the pre-code era. She made her feature debut in 1932's Divorce in the Family, followed by an uncredited bit part in Rasputin and the Empress (1932). Parker had her breakthrough role opposite Katharine Hepburn and Joan Bennett in George Cukor's Little Women (1933), portraying Elizabeth March. She subsequently starred in Frank Capra's comedy-mystery Lady for a Day (also 1933), followed by the romantic comedy The Ghost Goes West (1935).
Parker continued to star in films through the 1940s, notably opposite Lon Chaney in Dead Man's Eyes (1944), and in the film noir Bluebeard (1944). Beginning in 1946, Parker appeared on Broadway in the original production of Born Yesterday. She appeared in two additional Broadway productions after: Loco (1946), in the title role, and Burlesque (1946–1947).
By the 1950s, Parker's career had slowed, though she appeared in a small number of films, such as The Gunfighter (1950) and Those Redheads from Seattle (1953). She made her final film appearance in 1965's Apache Uprising before retiring from acting.
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1951 | Pulitzer Prize Playhouse | Sally Field | Episode: "The Wisdom Tooth" | |
1953 | Cowboy G-Men | Dixie Shannon / Mayor Crystal Colby | 2 episodes | |
1954 | Stories of the Century | Cattle Kate | Episode: "Cattle Kate" | |
1954 | The Lone Wolf | Agnes Henshaw | Episode: "The Department Store Story" | |
1954 | Adventures of the Falcon | Madge Reynolds | Episode: "The Big Heist" | |
1955 | The Eddie Cantor Comedy Theatre | Edith | Episode: "The Mink Coat" | |
1955 | Damon Runyon Theater | Dolly | Episode: "Barbeque" | |
1956 | Matinee Theater | Amelia | Episode: "Dinner at Antoine's" | |
1956 | Private Secretary | Edmee Esmond | Episode: "Cat in the Hot Tin File" | |
1956 | The Red Skelton Hour | Clara Appleby | Episode: "Appleby's Invention" | |
1959 | Frontier Doctor | Liz Lambert | Episode: "The Woman Who Dared" |
Year | Title | Role | Venue | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1946 | Loco | Loco Dempsey | Biltmore Theatre, New York City | [7] |
1946–1947 | Burlesque | Bonny King | Belasco Theatre, New York City | [7] |
1948–1949 | Born Yesterday | Billie Dawn | National Broadway tour | [7] |
1949 | Light Up the Sky | Touring production; New York and Boston appearances | [8] | |
1951 | Detective Story | Mary McLeod | Gayety Theatre, Montreal | [9] |