Jean Arthur

Biography

Jean Arthur, born in Plattsburgh, New York, as Gladys Georgianna Greene, was an American actress whose screen career stretched from silent movies in the 1920s to the early 1950s. After early silent work, she became known for comedy roles, especially as hardworking women with a heart of gold. Frank Capra cast her in Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), You Can't Take It with You (1938), and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), the last two with James Stewart. She also starred in Only Angels Have Wings (1939), The Devil and Miss Jones (1941), The Talk of the Town (1942), and The More the Merrier (1943), which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Later films included A Foreign Affair (1948) and Shane (1953), her final movie and biggest box-office hit. She also acted on Broadway, including the musical Peter Pan, and appeared on television.

90years old at death

Born October 17, 1900Plattsburgh
Died June 19, 1991Carmel-by-the-Sea
Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22
Gladys Georgianna Greene (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 22
Career span: 28 years1925 to 1953

Genres

Romance68%, 15 films
Comedy64%, 14 films
Drama50%, 11 films
Western18%, 4 films
Crime14%, 3 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

A role that slipped away
By this point in her career, Jean Arthur's box-office appeal was strong enough that she became one of four finalists for the part of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939).
A role that slipped away
In 1945 Arthur was cast as the lead in Garson Kanin's play Born Yesterday. Her nerves and insecurity overwhelmed her, so she quit the production before it reached Broadway, which let a then-unknown Judy Holliday take the part.
About the name
Arthur took her stage name from Joan of Arc and King Arthur, two of her heroes, after Fox Film Studios discovered her doing commercial modeling in New York City.

Jean Arthur movies on Netflix

Shane1953IMDb rating 7.6as Marian Starrett
A Foreign Affair1948IMDb rating 7.3as Phoebe Frost
A Lady Takes a Chance1943IMDb rating 6.3as Molly J. Truesdale
The More the Merrier1943IMDb rating 7.6as Constance Milligan
The Talk of the Town1942IMDb rating 7.5as Nora Shelley
The Devil and Miss Jones1941IMDb rating 7.6as Mary Jones
Arizona1940IMDb rating 6.8as Phoebe Titus
Too Many Husbands1940IMDb rating 6.5as Vicky Lowndes
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington1939IMDb rating 8.1as Saunders
Only Angels Have Wings1939IMDb rating 7.6as Bonnie Lee
You Can't Take It with You1938IMDb rating 7.8as Alice Sycamore
Easy Living1937IMDb rating 7.5as Mary Smith
History Is Made at Night1937IMDb rating 7.3as Irene Vail
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town1936IMDb rating 7.8as Babe Bennett
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford1936IMDb rating 6.9as Paula Bradford
The Plainsman1936IMDb rating 6.8as Calamity Jane
If You Could Only Cook1935IMDb rating 7.0as Joan Hawthorne
The Whole Town's Talking1935IMDb rating 7.3as Wilhelmina 'Bill' Clark
The Silver Horde1930IMDb rating 5.8as Mildred Wayland
The Canary Murder Case1929IMDb rating 6.0as Alice LaFosse
Seven Chances1925IMDb rating 7.8as Miss Smith the Country Club Receptionist
The Iron Horse1925IMDb rating 7.2as Reporter

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington1939 Comedy, Dramaas Saunders
IMDb rating 8.1130K votes
Shane1953 Drama, Westernas Marian Starrett
IMDb rating 7.648K votes
You Can't Take It with You1938as Alice Sycamore
IMDb rating 7.831K votes
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town1936as Babe Bennett
IMDb rating 7.825K votes
Only Angels Have Wings1939as Bonnie Lee
IMDb rating 7.618K votes
The More the Merrier1943as Constance Milligan
IMDb rating 7.68.4K votes
A Foreign Affair1948as Phoebe Frost
IMDb rating 7.39.6K votes
The Talk of the Town1942as Nora Shelley
IMDb rating 7.510K votes

Most often with

Frank Capra directed three of these films, George Stevens three and John Ford two. Edgar Buchanan appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Edgar Buchanan

William Demarest

Paul Harvey

Porter Hall

Edward Arnold

H.B. Warner

Frank CapraDirector, 3 films

George StevensDirector, 3 films

John FordDirector, 2 films

Films together

Edgar Buchanan4 films together, 1940 to 1953
Edgar Buchanan's page
- Shane1953IMDb rating 7.6Arthur as Marian StarrettBuchanan as Fred Lewis
- The Talk of the Town1942IMDb rating 7.5Arthur as Nora ShelleyBuchanan as Sam Yates
- Arizona1940IMDb rating 6.8Arthur as Phoebe TitusBuchanan as Judge Bogardus
- Too Many Husbands1940IMDb rating 6.5Arthur as Vicky LowndesBuchanan as McDermott
William Demarest3 films together, 1937 to 1941
William Demarest's page
- The Devil and Miss Jones1941IMDb rating 7.6Arthur as Mary JonesDemarest as First Detective
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington1939IMDb rating 8.1Arthur as SaundersDemarest as Bill Griffith
- Easy Living1937IMDb rating 7.5Arthur as Mary SmithDemarest as Wallace Whistling
Paul Harvey3 films together, 1935 to 1940
Paul Harvey's page
- Arizona1940IMDb rating 6.8Arthur as Phoebe TitusHarvey as Solomon Warner
- The Plainsman1936IMDb rating 6.8Arthur as Calamity JaneHarvey as Yellow Hand
- The Whole Town's Talking1935IMDb rating 7.3Arthur as Wilhelmina 'Bill' ClarkHarvey as 'J.G.' Carpenter
Porter Hall3 films together, 1936 to 1940
Porter Hall's page
- Arizona1940IMDb rating 6.8Arthur as Phoebe TitusHall as Lazarus Ward
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington1939IMDb rating 8.1Arthur as SaundersHall as Senator Monroe
- The Plainsman1936IMDb rating 6.8Arthur as Calamity JaneHall as Jack McCall
Edward Arnold3 films together, 1937 to 1939
Edward Arnold's page
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington1939IMDb rating 8.1Arthur as SaundersArnold as Jim Taylor
- You Can't Take It with You1938IMDb rating 7.8Arthur as Alice SycamoreArnold as Anthony P. Kirby
- Easy Living1937IMDb rating 7.5Arthur as Mary SmithArnold as J.B. Ball
H.B. Warner3 films together, 1936 to 1939
H.B. Warner's page
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington1939IMDb rating 8.1Arthur as SaundersWarner as Senate Majority Leader
- You Can't Take It with You1938IMDb rating 7.8Arthur as Alice SycamoreWarner as Ramsey
- Mr. Deeds Goes to Town1936IMDb rating 7.8Arthur as Babe BennettWarner as Judge May
Frank CapraDirector, 3 films, 1936 to 1939
All films by Frank Capra
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington1939IMDb rating 8.1Arthur as Saunders
- You Can't Take It with You1938IMDb rating 7.8Arthur as Alice Sycamore
- Mr. Deeds Goes to Town1936IMDb rating 7.8Arthur as Babe Bennett
George StevensDirector, 3 films, 1942 to 1953
All films by George Stevens
- Shane1953IMDb rating 7.6Arthur as Marian Starrett
- The More the Merrier1943IMDb rating 7.6Arthur as Constance Milligan
- The Talk of the Town1942IMDb rating 7.5Arthur as Nora Shelley
John FordDirector, 2 films, 1925 to 1935
All films by John Ford
- The Whole Town's Talking1935IMDb rating 7.3Arthur as Wilhelmina 'Bill' Clark
- The Iron Horse1925IMDb rating 7.2Arthur as Reporter