One of MGM's more vivacious secondary stars during the 40s, petite and lovely Jean Porter was born in Texas in 1922 but left the state at a young age to pursue her dream as an actress. Following some vaudeville experience, she made her uncredited film debut in 1939 (age 14) and slowly graduated to sweet-natured ingénues in light, wholesome "B" fare. Most were sentimental trifles, such as Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble (1944) and Easy to Wed (1946), or western action with such obvious titles as Heart of the Rio Grande (1942) and Home in Wyomin' (1942). Despite her promise and talent, none of her approximately 30 films managed to set her apart and top stardom remained elusive.
One of MGM's more vivacious secondary stars during the 40s, petite and lovely Jean Porter was born in Texas in 1922 but left the state at a young age to pursue her dream as an actress. Following some vaudeville experience, she made her uncredited film debut in 1939 (age 14) and slowly graduated to sweet-natured ingénues in light, wholesome "B" fare. Most were sentimental trifles, such as Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble (1944) and Easy to Wed (1946), or western action with such obvious titles as Heart of the Rio Grande (1942) and Home in Wyomin' (1942). Despite her promise and talent, none of her approximately 30 films managed to set her apart and top stardom remained elusive.
Jean's finest screen roles perhaps came with The Youngest Profession (1943) and Till the End of Time (1946), where she met future husband, director Edward Dmytryk. They married in 1948 and had three children: Richard, Victoria and Rebecca, the latter becoming a wildlife rescuer and rehabilitator. Not long into their marriage, Dmytryk was branded a Communist as one of the "Hollywood Ten" (he was admittedly once a member of The American Communist Party) and the next decade or so would be a dark period of time for them.
Unable to work, the blacklisted director moved his family to England where he found some employment. In 1951, however, Dmytryk decided to return to the States and was jailed for six months before giving testimony and being granted a reprieve. As a result, he was allowed to return to directing. Jean's last film would be The Left Hand of God (1955) starring Humphrey Bogart and Gene Tierney, which was directed by her husband. Throughout their ordeal Jean and Edward remained a loyal couple and in later years wrote a book together called "On Screen Acting" in 1984. Happily married until his death at age 90 of heart and kidney failure in 1999, Jean continued to be a regular attendee of film-related events and a by-line contributor for "Classic Images", a popular magazine for classic film fans, in which she reminisced about Old Hollywood. She died in 2018 at the age of 95.
External links
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/nm0692156
Wikipedia: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3807704
Facebook: No data
Instagram: No data
X: No data
Filmography (Movies)
The Left Hand of God
Character:Mary Yin
Release Date:02/09/1955
G.I. Jane
Character:Jan Smith
Release Date:06/07/1951
Kentucky Jubilee
Character:Sally Shannon
Release Date:18/05/1951
Cry Danger
Character:Darlene LaVonne
Release Date:23/02/1951
Roller Derby Girl
Character:
Release Date:10/07/1949
Two Blondes and a Redhead
Character:Catherine Abbott
Release Date:05/11/1947
That Hagen Girl
Character:Sharon Bailey
Release Date:01/11/1947
Sweet Genevieve
Character:Genevieve
Release Date:23/10/1947
Little Miss Broadway
Character:Judy Gibson
Release Date:19/06/1947
Betty Co-Ed
Character:Joanne Leeds
Release Date:28/11/1946
Till the End of Time
Character:Helen Ingersoll
Release Date:23/07/1946
What Next, Corporal Hargrove?
Character:Jeanne Quidoc
Release Date:21/11/1945
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood
Character:Ruthie
Release Date:05/10/1945
Twice Blessed
Character:Kitty
Release Date:31/05/1945
Thrill of a Romance
Character:Ga-Ga Bride (uncredited)
Release Date:23/05/1945
San Fernando Valley
Character:Betty Lou Kenyon
Release Date:15/09/1944
Bathing Beauty
Character:Jean Allenwood
Release Date:27/06/1944
Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble
Character:Katy Anderson
Release Date:04/05/1944
Nazty Nuisance
Character:Kela
Release Date:06/08/1943
The Youngest Profession
Character:Patricia Drew
Release Date:26/02/1943
Calaboose
Character:Major Barabara
Release Date:29/01/1943
Fall In
Character:Joan
Release Date:20/11/1942
Better Not Roll Those Eyes
Character:
Release Date:09/11/1942
About Face
Character:Sally
Release Date:16/04/1942
Two Pair of Shoes
Character:
Release Date:30/03/1942
Heart of the Rio Grande
Character:Pudge
Release Date:11/03/1942
Hellzapoppin'
Character:Chorine (uncredited)
Release Date:25/12/1941
Never Give a Sucker an Even Break
Character:Passerby (uncredited)
Release Date:10/10/1941
Kiss the Boys Goodbye
Character:Girl Going to Audition (uncredited)
Release Date:01/08/1941
One Million B.C.
Character:Shell Person - Loana's Sister
Release Date:05/04/1940
The Under-Pup
Character:Penguin Girl
Release Date:31/08/1939
Song and Dance Man
Character:Girl (uncredited)
Release Date:11/03/1936
The Gambling Sex
Character:Classmate
Release Date:21/11/1932
Television Appearances
Images
