Jeanne Crain
Biography
Jeanne Elizabeth Crain was an American actress born on May 25 1925 in Barstow, California, USA. She worked primarily in film and television, accumulating fifty‑three credited roles over her career. Crain is noted for receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for portraying the title character in the 1949 film Pinky. She was also known by the alternate name Jeanne Eli. Crain’s career spanned several decades, and she remained active in the industry until her death on December 14 2003 at the age of seventy‑eight. Her contributions are documented in major film databases and reference works, reflecting her status as a recognized figure in mid‑century American cinema.
Career overview
Jeanne Elizabeth Crain was born on 25 May 1925 in Barstow, California, and died on 14 December 2003 at the age of 78. An American actress who was also known as Jeanne Eli, Crain built a substantial body of work that includes fifty‑three credited performances across film and television. Her career reached a peak in 1949 when she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for portraying the title character in the film Pinky.
Following that recognition, Crain continued to appear in a variety of productions. In addition to her feature‑film work, she took roles in several notable television series, including the anthology drama Playhouse 90, the anthology series United States Steel Hour, and the crime drama The Name of the Game. These appearances demonstrate her versatility and sustained presence on screen throughout the mid‑20th century.
Crain’s lasting impact is reflected in the breadth of her credited performances and the acknowledgment of her talent by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Her career, spanning numerous films and television programs, remains a testament to her contributions to American cinema and early television.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
56 titles- Rat Pack (2022) as Self (archive footage)
- Kolossal - The Magnificent Macisti (1977) as Self - Nefertiti (archive footage)
- Skyjacked (1972) as Mrs. Clara Shaw
- The Night God Screamed (1971) as Fanny Pierce
- The Name of the Game (1968) as Mrs. McKendricks
- The Movie Orgy (1968) as Self (archive footage)
- Hot Rods to Hell (1967) as Peg Phillips
- Burke's Law (1963) as Amy Booth
- Burke's Law (1963) as Polly Martin
- Burke's Law (1963) as Lorraine Turner
- Monsters and Madonnas: The World of William Mortensen (1963) as Herself
- Pontius Pilate (1962) as Claudia Procula
- Invasion 1700 (1962) as Helen
- Nefertiti, Queen of the Nile (1961) as Nefertiti
- Twenty Plus Two (1961) as Linda Foster
- Madison Avenue (1961) as Peggy Shannon
- Guns of the Timberland (1960) as Laura Riley
- Riverboat (1959) as Laura Sutton
- Meet Me in St. Louis (1959) as Rose Smith
- The Great Gatsby (1958) as Daisy Fay Buchanan
- The Tattered Dress (1957) as Diane Blane
- The Joker is Wild (1957) as Letty Page
- The Fastest Gun Alive (1956) as Dora Temple
- Gentlemen Marry Brunettes (1955) as Connie Jones / Mitzi Jones
- Man Without a Star (1955) as Reed Bowman
- The Second Greatest Sex (1955) as Liza McClure
- Duel in the Jungle (1954) as Marian Taylor
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Hope
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Marion Miller
- City of Bad Men (1953) as Linda Culligan
- Dangerous Crossing (1953) as Ruth Stanton Bowman
- Vicki (1953) as Jill Lynn
- O. Henry's Full House (1952) as Della (segment "The Gift of the Magi")
- Belles on Their Toes (1952) as Ann Gilbreth
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Ruth Elliot
- People Will Talk (1951) as Deborah Higgins
- The Model and the Marriage Broker (1951) as Kitty Bennett
- Take Care of My Little Girl (1951) as Liz Erickson
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self
- Cheaper by the Dozen (1950) as Ann Gilbreth
- I'll Get By (1950) as Jeanne Crain (uncredited)
- Pinky (1949) as Patricia "Pinky" Johnson
- A Letter to Three Wives (1949) as Deborah Bishop
- The Fan (1949) as Lady Margaret 'Meg' Windermere
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- Apartment for Peggy (1948) as Peggy Taylor
- You Were Meant for Me (1948) as Peggy Mayhew
- Centennial Summer (1946) as Julia Rogers
- Margie (1946) as Marjorie "Margie" MacDuff
- Leave Her to Heaven (1945) as Ruth Berent
- The All-Star Bond Rally (1945) as Self - Pinup Girl
- State Fair (1945) as Margy Frake
- Winged Victory (1944) as Helen
- In the Meantime, Darling (1944) as Margaret 'Maggie' Preston
- Home in Indiana (1944) as Charlotte 'Char' Bruce
- The Gang's All Here (1943) as Chorus Girl / Pool Party Guest (uncredited)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Jeanne Crain best known for?
Jeanne Crain is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Men of Honor (2000), The Movie Orgy (1968), Burke's Law (1963), Burke's Law (1963).
When and where was Jeanne Crain born?
Jeanne Crain was born on May 25, 1925 in Barstow, California, USA. They passed away on December 14, 2003.
How many credits does Jeanne Crain have?
Jeanne Crain has accumulated over 56 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1943 to 2022.
What is Jeanne Crain's background in cinema and television?
Jeanne Elizabeth Crain was an American actress born on May 25 1925 in Barstow, California, USA. She worked primarily in film and television, accumulating fifty‑three credited roles over her career. Crain is noted for receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for portraying the title character in the 1949 f...
Jeanne Crain by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- The Joker is Wild (1957) as Letty Page — aged about 32
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Ruth Elliot — aged about 26
- Belles on Their Toes (1952) as Ann Gilbreth — aged about 27
- People Will Talk (1951) as Deborah Higgins — aged about 26
- The Name of the Game (1968) as Mrs. McKendricks — aged about 43
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self — aged about 25
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