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Jean Porter
Jean Porter in Thrill of a Romance still cropped.jpg
Porter in 1945
Born
Bennie Jean Porter

(1922-12-08)December 8, 1922
Died January 13, 2018(2018-01-13) (aged 95)
Los Angeles, California, U.S
Occupation Actress
Years active 1936–1961
Spouse(s)
(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.

Jean Porter in Twice Blessed trailer
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

Year Title Role Source
1936 Song and Dance Man Girl Uncredited
1938 The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Pauline Uncredited
1939 The Under-Pup Penguin girl Uncredited
1940 One Million B.C. Shell person Uncredited
1941 The Hard-Boiled Canary Girl Uncredited
Kiss the Boys Goodbye Girl going to audition Uncredited
Never Give a Sucker an Even Break Passerby Uncredited
Henry Aldrich for President Student Uncredited
Hellzapoppin' Chorine Uncredited
Babes on Broadway Chorus girl Uncredited
1942 Born to Sing Dancer Uncredited
Heart of the Rio Grande Pudge
Home in Wyomin' Young fan Uncredited
Fall In Joan
1943 Calaboose Major Barabara
The Youngest Profession Patricia Drew
That Nazty Nuisance Kela
Young Ideas Southern co-ed Uncredited
1944 Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble Katy Anderson
Bathing Beauty Jean Allenwood
San Fernando Valley Betty Lou Kenyon
1945 Thrill of a Romance Ga-ga bride Uncredited
Twice Blessed Kitty
Abbott and Costello in Hollywood Ruthie
What Next, Corporal Hargrove? Jeanne Quidoc
1946 Easy to Wed Frances Uncredited
Till the End of Time Helen Ingersoll
Betty Co-Ed Joanne Leeds
1947 Little Miss Broadway Judy Gibson
Sweet Genevieve Genevieve Rogers
That Hagen Girl Sharon Bailey
Two Blondes and a Redhead Catherine Abbott
1951 Cry Danger Darlene
Kentucky Jubilee Sally Shannon
G.I. Jane Jan Smith
1953 The Clown Jean Uncredited
1954 Racing Blood Lucille Mitchell
1955 The Left Hand of God Mary Yin
1961 Sea Hunt Marna Gould Season 4, Episode 31, (final appearance)
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