Jean Arthur
Jean Arthur (born Gladys Georgianna Greene; October 17, 1900 – June 19, 1991) was an American actress celebrated as one of the defining screen personalities of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Known for her quick wit, expressive voice, and understated charm, she became one of the era’s most beloved comedic leading ladies, especially in the screwball comedy genre. Film historian James Harvey noted that “no one was more closely identified with the screwball comedy than Jean Arthur,” and her work
Arthur rose to prominence in the mid‑1930s and became best known for her collaborations with director Frank Capra, starring in Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), You Can’t Take It with You (1938), and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939). These films cemented her image as the relatable, spirited heroine of Depression‑era American cinema. She earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her performance in The More the Merrier (1943).
Although she famously disliked the pressures of Hollywood and often retreated from public life, Arthur continued to work selectively after the 1940s. She delivered a memorable dramatic turn as Marian Starrett in George Stevens’ classic Western Shane (1953). She later returned to acting on television, appearing in a 1965 episode of Gunsmoke and starring in the 1966 sitcom The Jean Arthur Show.
After leaving acting, Arthur taught drama at Vassar College and the North Carolina School of the Arts, where students remembered her as a passionate and generous instructor. She lived a largely private life in her later years and died in 1991 at the age of 90.
Born
Oct 17, 1900
Plattsburgh, New York, USA
Died
Jun 19, 1991
Known For
Acting
Movies
102 acting
0 crew
Popularity
1.1
Known For
Shane
1953
as Marian Starrett
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
1939
as Clarissa Saunders
You Can't Take It with You
1938
as Alice Sycamore
A Foreign Affair
1948
as Congresswoman Phoebe Frost
Seven Chances
1925
as Miss Smith the Country Club Receptionist (uncredited)
The Talk of the Town
1942
as Nora Shelley
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
1936
as Babe Bennett
Only Angels Have Wings
1939
as Bonnie Lee
Add to Watchlist
Movie will be added to your watchlist