Arthur, Jean

Arthur, Jean (b. Gladys Georgianna Greene)

(1905–91) movie actress; born in New York City. As a teenager she modeled for popular artist Howard Chandler Christy and this led to some small roles in the New York theater. She made her movie debut in Cameo Kirby (1923) and continued to appear in unsatisfying roles until 1932 when she went back to act on the New York stage. She returned to films in 1934 but didn't find her true screen persona until 1935 in The Whole Town's Talking. From then on, as a husky-voiced, no-nonsense, independent woman, her presence in a series of movies such as Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936) guaranteed both critical and popular acceptance. Her last major role was in Shane (1953) but she appeared in occasional television and theater productions and in 1956 she had her own television comedy series. She taught drama at Vassar and other colleges for several years.