Jean Adair, a petite and birdlike actress, transitioned to the screen after establishing herself on stage with a series of roles that showcased her versatility as a performer. Born Violet McNaughton in Ontario, Canada, Adair began her acting studies in Chicago, laying the foundation for a successful career.
Following extensive touring with local stock companies and a few seasons on the vaudeville Orpheum Circuit, where she performed in one-act plays, Adair landed a starring role on Broadway in the 1922 comedy hit "It's a Boy!". This breakthrough performance marked the beginning of a long and prosperous career, during which she was never out of work.
Despite her impressive stage presence, Adair's appearances on screen were relatively scarce. One notable exception was her waltz with Gene Kelly in the minor musical "Living in a Big Way" (1947). However, it is her iconic performance as Martha Brewster, one of two eccentric spinster aunts, in the original stage version of the long-running black farce "Arsenic and Old Lace" (1944) that she is most remembered for.
In the film adaptation of "Arsenic and Old Lace", Adair reprised her role alongside Josephine Hull, who played her sister, and together they brought to life the two bumbling aunts who dispatched lonely old men by poisoning their elderberry wine. This unforgettable performance cemented Adair's place in the annals of cinematic history, and her portrayal of Martha Brewster remains an indelible part of American comedy.
