Jean Carmen

Jean Carmen (born Jean Carmean; April 7, 1913 – August 26, 1993) was an American film, stage, and radio actress. She sometimes went by the stage name Julia Thayer. In addition to her appearances in various films throughout the 1930s, Carmen starred on Broadway in the original production of The Man Who Came to Dinner, appearing as a replacement for the role of June Stanley. In her later career, Carmen wrote, directed, and produced the film The Pawn in 1966.

Not to be confused with Jeanne Carmen.
Jean Carmen
Carmen in 1934
Born
Jean Carmean[1]

(1913-04-07)April 7, 1913
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
DiedAugust 26, 1993(1993-08-26) (aged 80)
Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
Other namesJulia Thayer
Jean Carmen Dillow
Occupation(s)Actress, director, writer
Spouse(s)Walter Lohman (1932 - 19??)
Barrett Collyer Dillow (c. 1949 - c. 1959/1960); divorced
Children1

Biography

Born in Portland, Oregon on April 7, 1913 to John and Agnes Carmean,[2] she had two siblings. Jean Carmen (she altered her surname) was selected as one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars in 1934, the last year they were named.[3] She had a supporting role as The Rider in the 1937 Republic Pictures western serial The Painted Stallion. She also worked in radio and on Broadway, in Stage Door and the original 1939 production of The Man Who Came to Dinner (as a replacement for the role of June Stanley[4]). She was one of three gold diggers in the 1938 Three Stooges comedy, Healthy, Wealthy and Dumb.

Marriages

Her first marriage was in 1932 at age 19 to insurance broker Walter Lohman, who was more than two decades her senior. Newspapers and the August 14, 1932 marriage license indicate their wedding ceremony was at the beach home of Constance Talmadge in Santa Monica, California. She filed for divorce in 1937.[5][6] She married, secondly, to Barrett Collyfer Dillow, around 1949, whose family headed the B.F. Goodrich Company.[6] They had a son, Guy (1951-1985), before divorcing around 1959 or 1960. Guy H. Dillow, nicknamed "Buz" or "Buzzie", was born in 1951 and died in 1985. Guy was featured in Jean's movie The Pawn, an early 1960s film shot in the U.S. and Italy. Guy died in 1985, after which his mother sold her Greenwich, Connecticut home and re-located to Charleston, South Carolina.[6][7]

Writing credits

In 1945, Jean and Irish Owen authored the comedy Last House on the Left and there was a pre-Broadway tryout in Hartford, Connecticut. The leads were Jean and Gene Barry. The play was not successful and never made it to New York. In 1966, Carmen wrote, directed, and produced the film The Pawn, credited as Jean Carmen Dillow.[8] During this time, she resided in Greenwich, Connecticut.[9] Her son starred in the film.[9]

Death

Carmen died on August 26, 1993, in Charleston, South Carolina, aged 80.

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1933 Midshipman Jack Gloria's Blonde Girlfriend
1934 Hips, Hips, Hooray! Blonde Uncredited
1934 Kiss and Make-Up Maharajah's Wife [8]
1934 Young and Beautiful WAMPAS Baby Star [8]
1934 The Third Sex Bobby Allen [8]
1935 Born to Battle Betty Powell [8]
1936 Wolves of the Sea Nadine Miller [8]
1937 Bill Cracks Down Girl Uncredited
1937 Gunsmoke Ranch Marion Warren As Julia Thayer
1937 The Painted Stallion The Rider As Julia Thayer
1937 Arizona Gunfighter Beth Lorimer
1937 Million Dollar Racket Jessie
1938 Healthy, Wealthy and Dumb Marge Short film
1938 Paroled from the Big House Pat Mallory [8]
1938 Sunset Murder Case Chorus Girl Uncredited [8]
1939 Four Girls in White Nurse Uncredited [8]
1939 In Old Montana June Allison [8]
1939 Smoky Trails Marie
1939 Yes, We Have No Bonanza Singing Sister Uncredited
1939 Crashing Thru Ann "Angel" Chambers [8]
1953 Here Come the Girls Missouri Chorine Uncredited
1968 The Pawn — Director, producer, and writer [8]

Stage credits
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1939–1941 The Man Who Came to Dinner June Stanley Music Box Theatre [4]

References
  1. Biography, b-westerns.com. Accessed July 20, 2023.
  2. Biography, b-westerns.com. Accessed July 20, 2023.
  3. Wollstein, Hans J. "WAMPAS Baby Stars". Retrieved May 27, 2008.
  4. "Jean Carmen". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  5. Profile, cdnc.ucr.edu. Accessed July 20, 2023.
  6. Rainey, Buck (1992). Sweethearts of the Sage: Biographies and Filmographies of 258 Actresses Appearing in Western Movies. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. p. 269. ISBN 978-0-899-50565-7.
  7. Biography, b-westerns.com. Accessed July 20, 2023.
  8. "Jean Carmen Filmography". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Los Angeles, California: American Film Institute. Archived from the original on October 24, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  9. Davis, James (July 26, 1966). "Big City Beat". New York Daily News. New York City, New York. p. 48 – via Newspapers.com.
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