Jean Porter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jean Porter
Porter in 1945
Born	Bennie Jean Porter (1922-12-08)December 8, 1922 Cisco, Texas, U.S
Died	January 13, 2018(2018-01-13) (aged 95) Los Angeles, California, U.S
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1936–1961
Spouse(s)	Edward Dmytryk ​ ​ (m. 1948; his death 1999)​
Children	3

Bennie Jean Porter (born December 8, 1922 – died January 13, 2018) was an American actress. She was known for her roles in movies like The Youngest Profession (1943) and Bathing Beauty (1944). She also appeared in Abbott and Costello in Hollywood (1945) and The Left Hand of God (1955).

Jean Porter was married to Edward Dmytryk, a famous film director. He was part of a group of filmmakers who faced difficulties in the movie industry during the 1950s.

Early Life and Talents

Jean Porter was born in Cisco, Texas. Her father worked for a railway, and her mother was a music teacher. When she was a baby, people in her hometown called her the "Most Beautiful Baby" in Eastland County.

At just 10 years old, Jean hosted her own radio show. It was a half-hour show every Saturday morning on the WRR station in Dallas, Texas. She also spent a summer working with Ted Lewis's Vaudeville Band, showing her early talent.

Jean Porter's Acting Career

Starting in Hollywood

When Jean was 12, in 1935, she moved to Hollywood. She took dancing lessons at a special school. There, a director named Allan Dwan noticed her. Jean acted in Dwan's 1936 musical movie, Song and Dance Man. However, her name wasn't listed in the movie's credits.

Porter in the trailer for Twice Blessed (1945)

Jean started with small parts in movies like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938). She also appeared in One Million B.C. (1940). By 1941, she became a regular actress for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, a big movie studio.

Becoming a Film Actress

Jean Porter was not the biggest star, but she was very active in movies during the 1940s. She often played sweet and funny young characters. She appeared in almost 30 films. She worked alongside famous stars like Esther Williams, Mickey Rooney, and the comedy team Abbott and Costello.

Television Roles and Retirement

In the 1950s, Jean Porter also appeared on television. She was a regular on shows like The Red Skelton Show and The Abbott and Costello Show. Her last TV roles were on Sea Hunt and 77 Sunset Strip.

In 1955, she worked with her husband, Edward Dmytryk, again in the movie The Left Hand of God. Jean Porter stopped acting in 1961.

Personal Life and Writing

Jean Porter married film director and writer Edward Dmytryk on May 12, 1948. She was 25 years old. It was her first marriage.

At one point, Edward Dmytryk faced difficulties in his career and was unable to work in the U.S. Because of this, Jean and Edward moved to England. While there, they had their first child. They later returned to the U.S. in 1950. Jean found herself in a tough situation, needing to support her family without a steady acting job. Actor Dick Powell helped her get a role in the movie Cry Danger.

Jean Porter also enjoyed writing. She wrote an unpublished book called The Cost of Living, which was about her life with her husband. She also wrote Chicago Jazz and Then Some, a book about jazz pianist Jess Stacy. With her husband, she co-wrote a book called On Screen Acting.

Death

Jean Porter passed away peacefully in Canoga Park, California, on January 13, 2018. She was 95 years old. She was survived by two daughters and a stepson.

Filmography