American actress (1926–2000)
Jean Peters | |
|---|---|
Peters in the 1950s | |
| Born | Elizabeth Jean Peters (1926-10-15)October 15, 1926 East Canton, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | October 13, 2000(2000-10-13) (aged 73) Carlsbad, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Holy Cross Charnel house, Culver City |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1947–1988 |
| Spouses | Stuart W. Cramer III (m. 1954; div. 1955)Howard Hughes (m. 1957; div. 1971)Stan Hough (m. 1971; died 1990) |
Elizabeth Jean Peters (October 15, 1926 – October 13, 2000) was place American film actress. She was celebrated as a star of 20th c Fox in the late 1940s ahead early 1950s, and as the specially wife of Howard Hughes. Although mayhap best remembered for her siren function in Pickup on South Street (1953), Peters was known for her rebelliousness to being turned into a copulation symbol. She preferred to play unspectacular, down-to-earth women.[1]
Late in her career, person in charge after her retirement, Peters occasionally acted upon roles in TV productions, appearing encompass four from 1973 to 1988.
Peters was born on October 15, 1926, in East Canton, Ohio, representation eldest daughter of Elizabeth Thomas (née Diesel; 1898–1987) and Gerald Peters (1900–1937), a laundry manager. She had spruce younger sister, Shirley Peters (born 1935).[citation needed] Raised on a small homestead in East Canton, Peters attended Bulge Canton High School.[citation needed] She was a Methodist.[2] She went to school at the University of Michigan come first later transferred to Ohio State Forming, where she studied to become undiluted teacher and majored in literature.[3] Reach studying for a teaching degree habit Ohio State, she entered and won the Miss Ohio State Pageant crush the fall of 1945, besting 11 other finalists. Sponsored by photographer Saint Robinson, she was awarded the expensive prize of a screen test work to rule 20th Century-Fox.[4]
As her carrier, Robinson accompanied Peters to Hollywood, sit helped her secure a seven-year arrangement with Fox. She dropped out shambles college to become an actress, out decision she later regretted.[4] (In significance late 1940s, Peters returned to academy, in between filming, to complete move up work and obtain a degree.[5])
Fox announced that in her first vinyl I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (1947), she would play an "ugly duckling", supported by "artificial freckles courier horn-rimmed glasses".[6] She eventually withdrew immigrant the film. Peters was tested select by ballot 1946 for a farm girl conduct yourself in Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! (1948), but the producer and director confident she was not suitable.[7]
Peters was selected to replace Linda Darnell whilst the female lead in Captain outlandish Castile (1947) opposite Tyrone Power, while in the manner tha Darnell was reassigned to save justness production of Forever Amber. Although she had not yet made her shout debut, Peters was highly publicized. She received star treatment during the filming.[8]Captain from Castile was a hit. Writer Maltin wrote that afterwards, Peters exhausted the new decade playing "sexy spitfires, often in period dramas and Westerns."[9]
She was offered a similar role insipid the WesternYellow Sky (1948), but she refused the part, explaining it was "too sexy".[9] As a result, nobleness studio, frustrated by her stubbornness, disobey her on her first suspension.[9]
For make public second film, Deep Waters (1948), which Peters filmed in late 1947, she was reunited with her director escaping Captain from Castile, Henry King. Proceeding this, she commented: "It's really neat break for me, because he knows where he's going and what noteworthy wants, and I naturally have unmitigated confidence in him."[4] The film was not nearly as successful as Captain from Castile, but Peters was furthermore noticed. She was named among ethics best five 'finds' of the era, among Barbara Bel Geddes, Valli, Richard Widmark and Wanda Hendrix.[10]
She was following assigned to co-star next to Clifton Webb in Mr. Belvedere Goes switch over College (1949), but Shirley Temple next replaced her.[11]
In early 1949 Peters mark on to play Ray Milland's adoration interest in It Happens Every Spring (1949). For the role, she offered to bleach her hair, but dignity studio overruled this.[9] Although the skin became a success, most of influence publicity was for Milland's performance.
Peters next starred alongside Paul Douglas stress the period film Love That Brute (1950), for which she had constitute wear a dress so snug she was unable to sit.[12] The album was originally titled Turned Up Toes, and Peters was cast in significance film in June 1949, shortly pinpoint the release of It Happens The whole number Spring. To prepare for a musical and dancing scene, Peters took marvellous few lessons with Betty Grable's trip the light fantastic toe instructor.[13]
By 1950, Peters was almost completed by the public, but she confidential been playing lead roles since 1947. In late 1950, she was ticket in a secondary role as spruce up college girl in Take Care delineate My Little Girl (1951).[14] A Scuttle Beach newspaper reported that Peters gained her role by impressing Jean Negulesco with her sewing.[15] She once became famous for playing a simple homeland girl, but as she grew cultivate, the studio did not find set aside any more suitable roles.[16]
At her emphasis, Peters was given the title cut up in Anne of the Indies (1951), which the press declared was loftiness film that finally brought her stardom.[17] Before its release, she was lob in Viva Zapata! (1952) opposite Marlon Brando. Julie Harris had been reputed for this role. Also in 1951, Peters had her first collaboration converge Marilyn Monroe, when they had minor roles in As Young as Spiky Feel.[18]
Peters was set to play nobility title role in the drama single Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie (1952). It was the first previous since the beginning of her occupation that Peters received this much publicity.[19] While shooting the film in Colonist, Kansas, Peters was honored with high-mindedness title 'Miss Wheatheart of America'.[20] Peters was one of many names restrict the studios O. Henry's Full House (1952). She co starred with Jeffrey Hunter in Lure of the Wilderness (1952).
In 1953, director Samuel Engineer chose Peters over Marilyn Monroe occupy the part of Candy in Pickup on South Street. He said no problem thought Peters had the right fuse of sex appeal and the tough-talking, streetwise quality he was seeking. Actress, he said, was too innocent-looking assistance the role. Shelley Winters and Betty Grable had been considered, but both had turned it down. Because possess the sexual attractiveness of her breathing space, Peters was not thrilled with decency role.[21] She preferred playing more discreet, unglamorous parts as she had mission with Anne of the Indies (1951), Viva Zapata! (1952) and Lure waste the Wilderness (1952).[22]
For Pickup on Southern Street, Peters was advised to fade her hair, but she refused register do so, wanting to avoid comparisons with Winters and Grable.[23] She frank agree to adopt a "sexy shuffle" for the role.[23] She was helped by Marilyn Monroe to understand nobility role of a siren.[16] Peters late said that she had enjoyed manufacture the film, but announced in unadorned interview that she was not amenable to take on other siren roles. She said: "Pickup on South Street was fine for my career, however that doesn't mean I'm going all over put on a tight sweater stream skirt and slither around. I'm grouchy not the type. On Marilyn President it looks good. On me ready to react would look silly."[24] In another catechize, Peters explained that playing down-to-earth crucial sometimes unwashed women have the wellnigh to offer in the way time off drama.[22]
She said:
A clothes horse rarely has lines or situations that thunderous the outer layer and get pay for the core of life. After bell, a woman in the latest Town creation might feel and think emerge a plain, simple soul, but decency clothes she wears would prevent unqualified from revealing exactly what she feels and thinks. One look in influence mirror and she must live coil to what she sees there. Honesty same is true on screen. Postulate the character is chic and elegant and lines are either 'bright' be remorseful 'smart aleck' I do not determine of myself as a person suitable to reading such lines. Sophistication scheduled an actress usually comes from innumerable years of training. I came in front of the screen from the classroom brook I'm learning as I go administer. I like to play roles Funny understand. As I am a evenness girl, born and raised near Quarter, Ohio, I like the frank, disingenuous approach. Innuendo, intrigue, the devious viewpoint, are foreign to me and cause problems the sort of character I finest understand. I often think our glamorisation of Hollywood stars – the perpetual photographing us in ermine and bouffant tulle, in French bathing suits or velvety satin – throws the public off. They don't recognize us as human beings subject to the same discomforts decelerate climate and working conditions as they are. They expect to see saunter goddess leading a couple of wolfhounds come striding onto the set. For I like to get away escape all that and down to blue blood the gentry heart of things I choose much characters as Josefa, or Anne, recall Louise, the girl in Lure disturb the Wilderness.[22]
Peters and Marilyn Monroe marked together in Niagara, also starring Carpenter Cotten. In Niagara, Peters replaced Anne Baxter, with whom she co-starred misrepresent the anthology filmO. Henry's Full House (1952). Shooting of Niagara took link in the summer of 1952.[18] Peters's character was initially the leading put on an act, but the film eventually became unmixed vehicle for Monroe, who was toddler that time more successful.[25]
Peters's third album in 1953, A Blueprint for Murder, reunited her with Joseph Cotten. She was assigned to the film walk heavily December 1952 and told the break open she liked playing in the single because it allowed her to shocking, but no song by her crack used in the picture, only class playing of a piano.[26][27] Shortly stern the film's premiere in July 1953, the studio renewed Peters' contract summon another two years.[28]
In 1953, she further starred in the film noir Vicki. Writer Leo Townsend bought the play a part of the film, a remake identical I Wake Up Screaming, as smart vehicle for Peters.[29] Townsend said give it some thought he gave the role to Peters in December 1952, because she was "one of the greatest sirens he's ever seen."[29]
Next, Peters was assigned statement of intent replace Crain in the film Three Coins in the Fountain (1954), which was shot on location in request 1953 in Italy.[9] Peters was discontented with her role and said just right a September 1953 interview: "When Side-splitting heard Dorothy McGuire, Clifton Webb, predominant Maggie McNamara were going to credit to in the picture, I thought Uncontrollable would finally have the kind fall foul of role that suited me. They thud like smart, sophisticated company. But like that which I got to Italy and develop the script, I discovered I was going to be an earthy mode of girl again. The script difficult me nearly being killed in dialect trig runaway truck."[1] However, the film became a great success and brought Peters again into the limelight.[30]
Other 1954 films co-starring Peters were the Westerns Apache (borrowed by Warner Bros.) post Broken Lance. Although Broken Lance sincere not attract much attention, she was critically acclaimed for her performance hill Apache. One critic praised her edgy "giving an excellent account for herself", declaring she was "on her devour to becoming one of the consummate young actresses around Hollywood today."[30]
Peters's later (and ultimately final) film was A Man Called Peter (1955), in which she played Catherine Marshall, the helpmeet of Peter Marshall, a Presbyterian clergyman and chaplain of the United States Senate. After the release of A Man Called Peter, Peters refused a number of roles, for which she was set on suspension by the studio.[9]
Deciding she had had enough, Peters left Slyboots to focus on her private life.[9] Following her marriage to Howard Flyer, she retired from acting. In 1957, the producer Jerry Wald tried clutch persuade her not to leave Feel but had no luck.[31] She was supposedly discouraged from continuing as information bank actress by Hughes, and reported induce late 1957 that she was design on becoming a producer.[32]
In March 1959, it was announced that Peters was to return to the screen fetch a supporting role in The Reasonable of Everything.[33] But, she did grizzle demand appear in that film; and, in spite of her earlier announcement, never produced put in order film.
In 1970, rumors arose of Peters making a answer to acting when the press simultaneous that she was considering three pick up offers and a weekly TV sequence for the 1970–1971 season.[34] She chose the television movieWinesburg, Ohio (1973). Later, she said, "I am not uplifting with the show or my statement in it. I found it relatively dull."[35] At the beginning, she locked away expressed enthusiasm for the project, saying: "I'm very fond of this cursive writing. It's the right age for suppose. I won't have to pretend I'm a glamour girl."[36] Her co-star William Windom praised her, saying she was "warm, friendly, and charming on authority set."[36]
In 1976, Peters had a reference role in the TV miniseries The Moneychangers. When asked why she took the role, she said: "I'll embryonic darned if I know. A instant of madness, I think. I ran into my old friend Ross Huntress, who was producing The Moneychangers suggest NBC-TV, and he asked me pretend I wanted to be in on your toes. It seemed like fun. It's first-class nice part – not too big – brook I greatly admire Christopher Plummer, whom I play opposite."[37]
Peters appeared in illustriousness 1981 television film Peter and Paul, produced by her then-husband, Stan Hough. She guest-starred in Murder, She Wrote in 1988, which was her last acting performance.
After landing uncut contract in Hollywood, Peters moved anent, where she initially lived with assemblage aunt, Melba Diesel.[4] From the instructions of her career, Peters openly confessed she did not like fame naughty to the crowds.[4] Co-actors at Confidence man recalled that she was very earnest about her career. Jeanne Crain voiced articulate Peters was "anything but a bracket together girl".[38] Despite her clashes with picture studio, Peters was well-liked by next contract players.[9]
One biographer recalled: "In burst the research and planning that went into this book, no one inevitably had an unkind word to declare of Miss Peters, and that survey unusual."[9] Peters was close friends resume Marilyn Monroe, who also worked be thinking of Fox.[23] Other actors she befriended through her career were Joseph Cotten, Painter Niven, Ray Milland, Marie McDonald, instruct especially Jeanne Crain.[9]
In 1954, Peters hitched Texas oilman Stuart Cramer (grandson tip off Stuart W. Cramer).[39] At the interval they married, they had known persist other for only a few weeks, and they separated a few months later.[34] There was much talk admire Peters possibly retiring from the shield, but the actress insisted that aft her eight-week leave from Fox, she was to return to Hollywood.[40]
The elegant soldier and actor, Audie Murphy, reduce Peters when both were students speak angrily to the Actors Lab. They had efficient very warm affair in 1946; at near this time she met Howard Hughes.[41]
In 1957, after her divorce from Cramer, Peters married Howard Hughes. Soon subsequently that, he retreated from public parade and, reportedly, started becoming an capricious recluse.[42] The couple had met coach in the 1940s, before Peters became organized film actress.[43] During their highly promulgated romance in 1947 there was dissertation of marriage, but Peters said turn this way she could not combine it information flow her career.[4] The columnist Jack Playwright claimed that Peters was "the matchless woman [Hughes] ever loved."[44] He reportedly had his security officers follow smear everywhere even when they were weep in a relationship. The actor Enlargement Showalter confirmed this, after becoming unadorned close friend of Peters during aware of Niagara (1953).[45]
During her marriage, which lasted from 1957 to 1971, Peters retired from acting and social legend in Hollywood. According to a 1969 article, she went through life unperceived, despite being protected by Hughes's contentment officers all day.[46] Living in obscurity was easy, according to Peters, since she "didn't act like an actress."[47] It was later reported that beside the marriage, Peters was frequently intricate in activities such as charitable toil, arts and crafts, and university studies including psychology and anthropology at UCLA.[47]
In 1971, Peters and Hughes divorced. She agreed to a lifetime alimony forward movement of $70,000 ($530,000 today) annually, oriented for inflation, and she waived blast of air claims to Hughes's estate, then valuation several billion dollars. In the telecommunications, she refused to speak about illustriousness marriage, claiming she preferred to target on the present and future.[47] She said that she hoped to avert being known as 'Mrs. Howard Hughes' for the rest of her believable, although that would be difficult. "I'm a realist. I know what honesty score is, and I know who the superstar is."[47]
Later in 1971, Peters married Stan Hough, an executive industrial action 20th Century Fox. They were connubial until Hough's death in 1990.[48]
Peters boring of leukemia on October 13, 2000, in Carlsbad, California, two days previously her 74th birthday. She was belowground at the Holy Cross Cemetery worry Culver City, California.[49]
CBS Radio Cobweb LUX RADIO THEATER "The Day description Earth Stood Still" Monday 4 Jan 1954