Jean Porter

Known for ActingBorn 1922-12-08Died 2018-01-13Cisco, Texas, USA

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.Read more

Movies & web series

Racing Blood

The RKO Story: Tales From Hollywood

Heart of the Rio Grande

Little Miss Broadway

San Fernando Valley

Calaboose

Twice Blessed

The Abbott and Costello Show

77 Sunset Strip

Hellzapoppin'

Betty Co-Ed

The Under-Pup

Never Give a Sucker an Even Break

Song and Dance Man

Sea Hunt

Cry Danger

Thrill of a Romance

The Gambling Sex

About Face

Fall In

Kiss the Boys Goodbye

The Left Hand of God

Till the End of Time

G.I. Jane

Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble

Kentucky Jubilee

Sweet Genevieve

Two Blondes and a Redhead

Bathing Beauty

Roller Derby Girl

One Million B.C.

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood

What Next, Corporal Hargrove?

That Hagen Girl

The Youngest Profession

Nazty Nuisance

Climax!

Better Not Roll Those Eyes

Two Pair of Shoes