Jeanne Carolyn Cagney (March 25, 1919 – December 7, 1984) was an American film, stage, and television actress.
Jeanne Cagney | |
|---|---|
 Cagney in c. 1942 | |
| Born | Jeanne Carolyn Cagney March 25, 1919 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | December 7, 1984 (aged 65) |
| Resting place | Pacific View Memorial Park, Corona del Mar, California |
| Alma mater | Hunter College |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1939–1965 |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | James Cagney (brother) William Cagney (brother) |
Early years
editBorn in New York City, Cagney and her four older brothers were raised by their widowed mother, Carolyn Elizabeth Cagney (née Nelson), after the death of their father, James Francis Cagney Sr. Her brothers included actor James Cagney, production manager Edward Cagney, and producer William Cagney.[1][2] She attended Hunter College High School. Majoring in French and German,[3] she was a cum laude graduate of Hunter College (now part of City University of New York) and a member of Phi Beta Kappa Society.[4] She also starred in plays produced by the college's dramatic society.[5] Following her college graduation, she studied acting at the Pasadena Playhouse.[2]
Stage
editCagney performed in the original stage production of The Iceman Cometh, which premiered on Broadway on October 9, 1946.[2] The play's author, Eugene O'Neill, cast her in the role of Margie, one of the "street walkers" in his story.
Film
editAfter being heard by a scout while appearing on Bing Crosby's radio program, Cagney had a film test with RKO Pictures. However, she signed a long-term contract with Paramount Pictures.[5] She appeared in 19 films between 1939 and 1965, including four films with her brother James: Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942), The Time of Your Life (1948), A Lion Is in the Streets (1953), and Man of a Thousand Faces (1957). Cagney gave a noted performance opposite Mickey Rooney in the film noir crime film Quicksand (1950).
Radio
editCagney briefly played the title role in the radio soap opera The Romance of Helen Trent.[6] Most of her other work on radio was as a guest in dramatic programs such as the following:
| Year | Radio Program | Episode/source |
|---|---|---|
| 1942 | Armstrong's Theatre of Today | NA[7] |
| 1942 | Screen Guild Players | Yankee Doodle Dandy[8] |
| 1944 | Silver Theater | Wanted -- Adventure for Two[9] |
| 1944 | The Kate Smith Hour | Till We Meet Again[10] |
| 1945 | Grand Central Station | NA[11] |
| 1946 | Grand Central Station | A Lion Is in the Streets[12] |
| 1952 | Family Theater | The Red Head[13] |
Television
editIn 1954, Cagney made a television pilot for a mystery series, Satan's Waiting, but it apparently was not sold.[14] Later, she served as the fashion commentator of Queen for a Day,[15] hosted by Jack Bailey on NBC and ABC from 1956 to 1963. This daytime "game show" is regarded as a forerunner of today's reality shows. Cagney hosted segments that provided viewers with tips on style and introduced to them the latest fashions.
Family
editCagney married actor Ross Latimer (also known as Kim Spalding) in 1944. She was divorced from him March 9, 1951. They had no children.[16] She married Jack Morrison, a faculty member in theater arts at UCLA,[15] on June 6, 1953;[17] they had two daughters, Mary and Terry.[15]
Death
editCagney, at age 65, died of lung cancer in Newport Beach, California, on December 7, 1984.[2] Her grave is at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona del Mar, California.[citation needed]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | All Women Have Secrets | Kay Parker Gregory | |
| 1940 | Queen of the Mob | Ethel Webster | |
| Golden Gloves | Mary Parker | ||
| Rhythm on the River | Country Cousin | ||
| 1942 | Yankee Doodle Dandy | Josie Cohan | |
| 1948 | The Time of Your Life | Kitty Duval | |
| 1950 | Quicksand | Vera | |
| 1952 | Don't Bother to Knock | Rochelle | |
| 1953 | A Lion Is in the Streets | Jennie Brown | |
| 1955 | Kentucky Rifle | Cordie Hay | |
| 1957 | Man of a Thousand Faces | Carrie Chaney | |
| 1965 | Town Tamer | Mary Donley |
References
edit- ^ "Cagney sister dead at 65". United Press International (UPI). December 10, 1984. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Actress Jeanne Cagney Morrison, 65". Chicago Tribune. December 11, 1984. p. 14 - Section 2. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
- ^ Ferguson, Betty Jane (June 9, 1938). "Movie Tough Guy's Sister Knows He Is Only Putting on a Good Act". The Piqua Daily Call. The Piqua Daily Call. p. 18. Retrieved May 31, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Obituaries: Star's sister is dead at 65". Lodi News-Sentinel. December 10, 1984. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ a b "At Last Jeanne Cagney Has A Role That Suits Her Name". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. November 7, 1943. p. 31. Retrieved May 28, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Wolters, Larry (July 19, 1953). "Helen Trent's Romance Now 20 Years Old". Chicago Sunday Tribune. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
- ^ "Jeanne Cagney Guest Star on Theatre of Today". Harrisburg Telegraph. Harrisburg Telegraph. June 20, 1942. p. 24. Retrieved May 31, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Players to Open Season With 'Yankee Doodle Dandy'". Harrisburg Telegraph. Harrisburg Telegraph. October 17, 1942. p. 19. Retrieved May 28, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Jeanne Cagney Guest on Silver Theater Hour". Chicago Tribune. July 9, 1944. p. Part 3 - Page 4. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
- ^ "Comedy". The Lincoln Star. September 24, 1944. p. 28. Retrieved May 31, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Jeanne Cagney On WSOY". Herald and Review. The Decatur Herald. May 12, 1945. p. 6. Retrieved May 31, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Jeanne Cagney in St. Patrick Story, On 'Grand Central'". Harrisburg Telegraph. Harrisburg Telegraph. March 16, 1946. p. 21. Retrieved May 31, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Kirby, Walter (February 24, 1952). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. The Decatur Daily Review. p. 38. Retrieved May 28, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Malone Firm To Produce Mystery Films". Billboard. November 27, 1954. p. 5. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
- ^ a b c Thompson, Ruth E. (June 13, 1964). "TV Rates with Jeanne Cagney". Simpson's Leader-Times. Simpson's Leader-Times. p. 13. Retrieved May 28, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Jeanne Cagney Wins Divorce". The Ogden Standard-Examiner. The Ogden Standard-Examiner. March 9, 1951. p. 15. Retrieved May 31, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Jeanne Cagney Weds". The Anniston Star. June 7, 1953. p. 1. Retrieved May 30, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.