Jean Arthur, born Gladys Georgianna Greene, was a talented screen comedienne whose best asset was her distinctive, squeaky voice. Despite being muffled during her seven years in silent films, her voice was finally able to shine through with the advent of sound in cinema.
Born in upstate New York, 20 miles south of the Canadian border, Jean Arthur's year of birth has been cited as 1900, 1905, and 1908, while her place of birth has often been mistakenly listed as New York City. According to her obituary in the New York Times, her correct birth date and place are 1900 and upstate New York.
Jean Arthur made her screen debut in a bit part in John Ford's Cameo Kirby in 1923, followed by several years of playing unremarkable roles in comedy shorts and cheapie westerns. However, it was her appearance in Ford's The Whole Town's Talking in 1935, opposite Edward G. Robinson, that marked the beginning of her rise to fame.
Her career truly took off when she was chosen by Frank Capra to star with Gary Cooper in the classic social comedy Mr. Deeds Goes to Town in 1936. In this film, she played a pivotal role in rescuing the hero from a group of scheming individuals, cementing her status as a leading lady.
Jean Arthur continued to work with renowned directors, including George Stevens and Frank Capra, and received a Best Actress Academy Award nomination for her performance in The More the Merrier in 1943. Although she did not win the award, she went on to star in several successful films, including A Foreign Affair in 1948 and Shane in 1953.
After a brief hiatus, Jean Arthur returned to the screen in the 1960s, starring in the TV series The Jean Arthur Show in 1966. Although the show only ran for 11 weeks, it provided a final opportunity for audiences to appreciate her talents.
