Jean Arthur

Jean Arthur

Acting
Born 1900-10-17 - Died 1991-06-19Plattsburgh, New York, USA

Biography

Jean Arthur (born Gladys Georgianna Greene; October 17, 1900 – June 19, 1991) was an American actress celebrated as one of the defining screen personalities of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Known for her quick wit, expressive voice, and understated charm, she became one of the era’s most beloved comedic leading ladies, especially in the screwball comedy genre. Film historian James Harvey noted that “no one was more closely identified with the screwball comedy than Jean Arthur,” and her work remains central to the style’s legacy. Arthur rose to prominence in the mid‑1930s and became best known for her collaborations with director Frank Capra, starring in Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936), You Can’t Take It with You (1938), and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939). These films cemented her image as the relatable, spirited heroine of Depression‑era American cinema. She earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her performance in The More the Merrier (1943). Although she famously disliked the pressures of Hollywood and often retreated from public life, Arthur continued to work selectively after the 1940s. She delivered a memorable dramatic turn as Marian Starrett in George Stevens’ classic Western Shane (1953). She later returned to acting on television, appearing in a 1965 episode of Gunsmoke and starring in the 1966 sitcom The Jean Arthur Show. After leaving acting, Arthur taught drama at Vassar College and the North Carolina School of the Arts, where students remembered her as a passionate and generous instructor. She lived a largely private life in her later years and died in 1991 at the age of 90.

Movies (105)

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
7.8

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

1939Movie7.8
Shane
7.3

Shane

1953Movie7.3
Public Hero Number 1
6.3

Public Hero Number 1

1935Movie6.3
You Can't Take It with You
7.5

You Can't Take It with You

1938Movie7.5
Virtuous Husband
8.0

Virtuous Husband

1931Movie8.0
A Foreign Affair
7.1

A Foreign Affair

1948Movie7.1
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town
7.5

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

1936Movie7.5
The Silver Horde
5.6

The Silver Horde

1930Movie5.6
Arizona
6.5

Arizona

1940Movie6.5
Too Many Husbands
6.5

Too Many Husbands

1940Movie6.5
Easy Living
7.2

Easy Living

1937Movie7.2
The Devil and Miss Jones
7.6

The Devil and Miss Jones

1941Movie7.6
The Talk of the Town
7.3

The Talk of the Town

1942Movie7.3
Seven Chances
7.5

Seven Chances

1925Movie7.5
The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind
8.2

The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind

1988Movie8.2
Diamond Jim
6.5

Diamond Jim

1935Movie6.5
The Plainsman
6.5

The Plainsman

1936Movie6.5
Get That Venus
7.5

Get That Venus

1933Movie7.5
Paramount on Parade
5.9

Paramount on Parade

1930Movie5.9
Becoming Cary Grant
6.6

Becoming Cary Grant

2017Movie6.6
Brotherly Love
8.0

Brotherly Love

1928Movie8.0
The Whole Town's Talking
6.9

The Whole Town's Talking

1935Movie6.9
Warming Up
9.0

Warming Up

1928Movie9.0
History Is Made at Night
6.7

History Is Made at Night

1937Movie6.7
Only Angels Have Wings
7.3

Only Angels Have Wings

1939Movie7.3
Somebody Lied
10.0

Somebody Lied

1923Movie10.0
Thundering Through
7.0

Thundering Through

1925Movie7.0
Whirlpool
6.4

Whirlpool

1934Movie6.4
Going Hollywood: The '30s
9.0

Going Hollywood: The '30s

1984Movie9.0
The More the Merrier
7.0

The More the Merrier

1943Movie7.0
The Defense Rests
7.1

The Defense Rests

1934Movie7.1
Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel

Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel

2001Movie
If You Could Only Cook
7.4

If You Could Only Cook

1935Movie7.4
George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey
5.8

George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey

1985Movie5.8
Thundering Romance
7.0

Thundering Romance

1924Movie7.0
Yesterday and Today
7.0

Yesterday and Today

1953Movie7.0
Clara Bow: Discovering the "It" Girl
8.3

Clara Bow: Discovering the "It" Girl

1999Movie8.3
The Iron Horse
6.8

The Iron Horse

1925Movie6.8
Horse Shoes
9.0

Horse Shoes

1927Movie9.0
The Ex-Mrs. Bradford
6.2

The Ex-Mrs. Bradford

1936Movie6.2
Flying Luck
9.0

Flying Luck

1927Movie9.0
Most Precious Thing in Life
5.8

Most Precious Thing in Life

1934Movie5.8
Husband Hunters
4.0

Husband Hunters

1927Movie4.0
A Lady Takes a Chance
5.9

A Lady Takes a Chance

1943Movie5.9
Twisted Triggers
8.0

Twisted Triggers

1926Movie8.0
Bigger and Better Blondes
8.0

Bigger and Better Blondes

1927Movie8.0
Hello Lafayette
7.0

Hello Lafayette

1927Movie7.0
Case Dismissed
7.0

Case Dismissed

1924Movie7.0
Danger Lights
6.1

Danger Lights

1931Movie6.1
Hollywood: The Selznick Years
4.4

Hollywood: The Selznick Years

1961Movie4.4
The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu
6.0

The Mysterious Dr. Fu Manchu

1929Movie6.0
The Drug Store Cowboy
10.0

The Drug Store Cowboy

1925Movie10.0
Gary Cooper: The Face of a Hero
7.0

Gary Cooper: The Face of a Hero

1998Movie7.0
Travelin' Fast
10.0

Travelin' Fast

1924Movie10.0
Double Daring
10.0

Double Daring

1926Movie10.0
Adventure in Manhattan
6.1

Adventure in Manhattan

1936Movie6.1
The Cowboy Cop
7.0

The Cowboy Cop

1926Movie7.0
The Masked Menace
10.0

The Masked Menace

1927Movie10.0
The Canary Murder Case
5.7

The Canary Murder Case

1929Movie5.7
Ridin' Rivals
10.0

Ridin' Rivals

1926Movie10.0
The Saturday Night Kid
4.7

The Saturday Night Kid

1929Movie4.7
The Mad Racer
8.0

The Mad Racer

1926Movie8.0
Party Wire
8.3

Party Wire

1935Movie8.3
The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu
5.3

The Return of Dr. Fu Manchu

1930Movie5.3
Screen Snapshots (Series 16, No. 1)
6.0

Screen Snapshots (Series 16, No. 1)

1936Movie6.0
The Block Signal
9.0

The Block Signal

1926Movie9.0
The Lawyer's Secret
6.2

The Lawyer's Secret

1931Movie6.2
The Impatient Years
6.5

The Impatient Years

1944Movie6.5
Cameo Kirby
5.9

Cameo Kirby

1923Movie5.9
Young Eagles
7.0

Young Eagles

1930Movie7.0
The Past of Mary Holmes
10.0

The Past of Mary Holmes

1933Movie10.0
The Fighting Cheat
7.0

The Fighting Cheat

1926Movie7.0
The Fighting Smile
8.0

The Fighting Smile

1925Movie8.0
The Public Menace
6.0

The Public Menace

1935Movie6.0
Sins of the Fathers
8.0

Sins of the Fathers

1928Movie8.0
The Greene Murder Case
6.0

The Greene Murder Case

1929Movie6.0
Street of Chance
6.8

Street of Chance

1930Movie6.8
The Broken Gate
7.0

The Broken Gate

1927Movie7.0
Under Fire
10.0

Under Fire

1926Movie10.0
The College Boob
9.5

The College Boob

1926Movie9.5
Wine of Youth
8.3

Wine of Youth

1924Movie8.3
Eight-Cylinder Bull
9.0

Eight-Cylinder Bull

1926Movie9.0
Stairs of Sand

Stairs of Sand

1929Movie
Ex-Bad Boy
8.0

Ex-Bad Boy

1931Movie8.0
Fast and Fearless
7.0

Fast and Fearless

1924Movie7.0
Tearin' Loose
9.0

Tearin' Loose

1925Movie9.0
The Powerful Eye
10.0

The Powerful Eye

1924Movie10.0
More Than a Secretary
6.5

More Than a Secretary

1936Movie6.5
The Roaring Rider
7.0

The Roaring Rider

1926Movie7.0
Winners of the Wilderness
7.7

Winners of the Wilderness

1927Movie7.7
Screen Snapshots Series 19, No. 1
6.0

Screen Snapshots Series 19, No. 1

1939Movie6.0
Lightning Bill
9.0

Lightning Bill

1926Movie9.0
The Hurricane Horseman
8.0

The Hurricane Horseman

1925Movie8.0
Frank Capra Jr. Remembers... You Can't Take It with You

Frank Capra Jr. Remembers... You Can't Take It with You

2008Movie
A Man of Nerve
8.0

A Man of Nerve

1925Movie8.0
Spring Fever
9.0

Spring Fever

1923Movie9.0
Half Way to Heaven
6.0

Half Way to Heaven

1929Movie6.0
The Gang Buster
6.1

The Gang Buster

1931Movie6.1
The Poor Nut
10.0

The Poor Nut

1927Movie10.0
Born to Battle
7.0

Born to Battle

1926Movie7.0
Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12
6.0

Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12

1938Movie6.0
Biff Bang Buddy
10.0

Biff Bang Buddy

1924Movie10.0
Wallflowers
10.0

Wallflowers

1928Movie10.0
Monks a la mode

Monks a la mode

1923Movie
Bringin' Home the Bacon
8.0

Bringin' Home the Bacon

1924Movie8.0

TV Shows (2)

Gunsmoke
6.7

Gunsmoke

1955Series6.7
The Jean Arthur Show
7.5

The Jean Arthur Show

1966Series7.5