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{{Short description|American child actress and writer (1922–2015)}} |
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{{Use American English|date=July 2022}} |
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{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}} |
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{{Infobox person |
{{Infobox person |
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| name = Jean Darling |
| name = Jean Darling |
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| image = |
| image = Jean Darling - Hollywood Filmograph, February 8, 1930.jpg |
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| image_size = |
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| caption = Darling in the 1920s |
| caption = Darling in the 1920s |
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| birth_name = Dorothy Jean LeVake |
| birth_name = Dorothy Jean LeVake |
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| birth_date = |
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1922|08|23|mf=yes}} |
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| birth_place = [[Santa Monica, California]], U.S. |
| birth_place = [[Santa Monica, California]], U.S. |
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| death_date = |
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2015|09|04|1922|08|23|mf=yes}} |
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| death_place = [[Rödermark]], Germany |
| death_place = [[Rödermark]], Germany |
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| occupation = Actress |
| occupation = {{hlist|Actress|singer|writer}} |
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| years_active = 1923–1967 |
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| spouse = Reuben Bowen |
| spouse = {{marriage|Reuben Bowen|1954|1980|reason=d.}} |
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}} |
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'''Jean Darling''' (August 23, 1922 – September 4, 2015) was an American [[child actress]] who was a regular in the ''[[Our Gang]]'' [[short subjects]] series from |
'''Jean Darling''' (born '''Dorothy Jean LeVake'''; August 23, 1922 – September 4, 2015) was an American [[child actress]] who was a regular in the ''[[Our Gang]]'' [[short subjects]] series from 1927–29. Prior to her death, she was one of four surviving cast members from the [[silent era]] cast of ''Our Gang'' ([[Lassie Lou Ahern]], [[Mildred Kornman]] and [[Dorothy Morrison (actress)|Dorothy Morrison]] being the others). At the time of her death in 2015, Darling was, along with [[Diana Serra Cary|Baby Peggy]], one of the last surviving actors who worked in the silent film era. |
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==Child star== |
==Child star== |
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Born '''Dorothy Jean LeVake''', her name was legally changed to Jean Darling when she was five months old, a few days after her mother and father separated. She began in movies at six months old as a freelance baby. She got her break in 1926 when she passed a screen test and was accepted for a part in [[Hal Roach]]'s ''Our Gang'' series. Darling appeared in 46 silents and |
Born '''Dorothy Jean LeVake''', her name was legally changed to Jean Darling when she was five months old, a few days after her mother and father separated. She began in movies at six months old as a freelance baby. She got her break in 1926 when she passed a screen test and was accepted for a part in [[Hal Roach]]'s ''Our Gang'' series. Darling appeared in 46 silents and five talkies with ''Our Gang'' during this period.<ref name="Darling">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vSh_uXgkXxgC&pg=PA83 |title=Silent Stars Speak: Interviews with Twelve Cinema Pioneers|publisher=McFarland & Co Inc Pub|date=January 2001|author=Villecco, Tony|isbn=978-0786408146}}</ref> She left the series in the fall of 1929 along with [[Joe Cobb]] and [[Harry Spear]]. She was not replaced right away. |
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She continued to appear in films after leaving the gang, including an appearance in [[Laurel & Hardy]]'s adaptation of ''[[Babes in Toyland (1934 film)|Babes in Toyland]]'' (uncredited) and as the young Jane in ''[[Jane Eyre (1934 film)|Jane Eyre]]'' (both 1934). A round of stage and radio shows followed. Stage shows involved up to seven performances a day. It was a punishing schedule for a fourteen-year-old, and that was not taking into account her educational studies.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}} |
She continued to appear in films after leaving the gang, including an appearance in [[Laurel & Hardy]]'s adaptation of ''[[Babes in Toyland (1934 film)|Babes in Toyland]]'' (uncredited) and as the young Jane in ''[[Jane Eyre (1934 film)|Jane Eyre]]'' (both 1934). A round of stage and radio shows followed. Stage shows involved up to seven performances a day. It was a punishing schedule for a fourteen-year-old, and that was not taking into account her educational studies.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}} |
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==Later life and career== |
==Later life and career== |
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Darling began to study singing, and in 1940 she was given a scholarship by the New York Municipal Opera Association. She turned down an offer to appear alongside [[Mickey Rooney]] in one of the [[MGM]] ''[[Andy Hardy]]'' movies, and went on [[Broadway (Manhattan)|Broadway]], making her debut in the musical ''Count Me In'' in 1942. Darling's stage career hit a real high when she landed the role of Carrie Pipperidge in the original Broadway production of ''[[Carousel (musical)|Carousel]]'' in 1945. She appeared in 850 consecutive performances.<ref>Green, Stanley. [https://books.google.com/books?id=ZWIRAljCR7oC&pg=PA64 ''Encyclopedia of The Musical Theatre: An Updated Reference'' (1980)], pp. |
Darling began to study singing, and in 1940 she was given a scholarship by the New York Municipal Opera Association. She turned down an offer to appear alongside [[Mickey Rooney]] in one of the [[MGM]] ''[[Andy Hardy]]'' movies, and went on [[Broadway (Manhattan)|Broadway]], making her debut in the musical ''Count Me In'' in 1942. Darling's stage career hit a real high when she landed the role of Carrie Pipperidge in the original Broadway production of ''[[Carousel (musical)|Carousel]]'' in 1945. She appeared in 850 consecutive performances.<ref>Green, Stanley. [https://books.google.com/books?id=ZWIRAljCR7oC&pg=PA64 ''Encyclopedia of The Musical Theatre: An Updated Reference'' (1980)], pp. 63–64. Da Capo Press; {{ISBN|0-306-80113-2}}.</ref> |
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Her role as Carrie Pipperidge helped her with parts for radio and TV in the 1950s. She hosted her own television show for [[NBC]] in [[New York City]], ''A Date with Jean Darling''. Her daily TV show for women, ''The Singing Knit-Witch'', was aired on [[KCAL-TV|KHJ-TV]] in [[Hollywood]]. Her last work was a humorous silent comedy short, ''The Butler's Tale'', from 2013. Written and directed by her good friend René Riva, a Dutch actor and singer, it was styled after the ones Darling starred in as a child.<ref>[ |
Her role as Carrie Pipperidge helped her with parts for radio and TV in the 1950s. She hosted her own television show for [[NBC]] in [[New York City]], ''A Date with Jean Darling''. Her daily TV show for women, ''The Singing Knit-Witch'', was aired on [[KCAL-TV|KHJ-TV]] in [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]]. Her last work was a humorous silent comedy short, ''The Butler's Tale'', from 2013. Written and directed by her good friend René Riva, a Dutch actor and singer, it was styled after the ones Darling starred in as a child.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0201371/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 Profile], imdb.com; accessed September 7, 2015.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3207978/|title=The Butler's Tale (Short 2013)|website=IMDb}}</ref> |
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In 1974, Darling moved to [[Dublin|Dublin, Ireland]], where she wrote mystery stories and had over 50 short stories published in the ''[[Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine]]'' and ''[[Whispers (Magazine/Anthologies)|Whispers]]''. As "Aunty Poppy", she read stories, which she wrote herself, on [[Raidió Teilifís Éireann|RTÉ radio and TV]]. She also wrote plays for radio and worked as a journalist.<ref name="obituary"/> |
In 1974, Darling moved to [[Dublin|Dublin, Ireland]], where she wrote mystery stories and had over 50 short stories published in the ''[[Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine]]'' and ''[[Whispers (Magazine/Anthologies)|Whispers]]''. As "Aunty Poppy", she read stories, which she wrote herself, on [[Raidió Teilifís Éireann|RTÉ radio and TV]]. She also wrote plays for radio and worked as a journalist.<ref name="obituary"/> |
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==Personal life== |
==Personal life== |
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Darling married Reuben Bowen; they had a son, Roy. Reuben Bowen died of cancer on August 22, 1980. She never remarried.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/07/movies/jean-darling-actress-in-our-gang-series-dies-at-93.html?_r=0| |
Darling married Reuben Bowen; they had a son, Roy. Reuben Bowen died of cancer on August 22, 1980. She never remarried.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/07/movies/jean-darling-actress-in-our-gang-series-dies-at-93.html?_r=0|work=The New York Times|title=Jean Darling, Actress in 'Our Gang' Series, Dies at 93|date=September 6, 2015}}</ref> She later lived with her son in [[Rodgau]], Germany.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/menschen/jean-darling-ist-der-kleine-strolch-mit-den-weissblonden-locken-13760602.html|title=Stummfilm-Star Jean Darling: Was aus dem kleinen Strolch mit den blonden Locken wurde|work=[[Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung]]|author=Maria Wiesner|date=August 21, 2015}}</ref> |
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She died at a nursing home in [[Rödermark]] after a sudden illness<ref>[ |
She died at a nursing home in [[Rödermark]] on September 4, 2015, after a sudden illness,<ref>[https://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/kleine-strolche-jean-darling-gestorben-13800440.html Notice of death of Jean Darling], faz.net; accessed September 13, 2015 {{in lang|de}}</ref> aged 93. Her death was reported two days later.<ref name="obituary">[https://archive.today/20150906213404/http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/HAL-ROACHS-LITTLE-RASCALS-Star-Jean-Darling-Has-Died-20150906 Notice of death of Jean Darling], broadwayworld.com; accessed September 6, 2015.</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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{{Commons category}} |
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* {{isfdb name |17480}} |
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* {{Find a Grave|151942113}} |
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* {{discogs artist|Jean Darling}} |
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{{Our Gang}} |
{{Our Gang}} |
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[[Category:American expatriates in Germany]] |
[[Category:American expatriates in Germany]] |
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[[Category:American expatriates in Ireland]] |
[[Category:American expatriates in Ireland]] |
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[[Category:American |
[[Category:American women singers]] |
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[[Category:American musical theatre actresses]] |
[[Category:American musical theatre actresses]] |
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[[Category:American silent film actresses]] |
[[Category:American silent film actresses]] |
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[[Category:American voice actresses]] |
[[Category:American voice actresses]] |
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[[Category:Actresses from Santa Monica, California]] |
[[Category:Actresses from Santa Monica, California]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Hal Roach Studios actors]] |
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[[Category:Our Gang]] |
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Latest revision as of 11:14, 5 April 2024
Jean Darling | |
|---|---|
 Darling in the 1920s | |
| Born | Dorothy Jean LeVake August 23, 1922 Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Died | September 4, 2015 (aged 93) Rödermark, Germany |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1923–1967 |
| Spouse |
Reuben Bowen
(m. 1954; died 1980) |
Jean Darling (born Dorothy Jean LeVake; August 23, 1922 – September 4, 2015) was an American child actress who was a regular in the Our Gang short subjects series from 1927–29. Prior to her death, she was one of four surviving cast members from the silent era cast of Our Gang (Lassie Lou Ahern, Mildred Kornman and Dorothy Morrison being the others). At the time of her death in 2015, Darling was, along with Baby Peggy, one of the last surviving actors who worked in the silent film era.
Child star
[edit]Born Dorothy Jean LeVake, her name was legally changed to Jean Darling when she was five months old, a few days after her mother and father separated. She began in movies at six months old as a freelance baby. She got her break in 1926 when she passed a screen test and was accepted for a part in Hal Roach's Our Gang series. Darling appeared in 46 silents and five talkies with Our Gang during this period.[1] She left the series in the fall of 1929 along with Joe Cobb and Harry Spear. She was not replaced right away.
She continued to appear in films after leaving the gang, including an appearance in Laurel & Hardy's adaptation of Babes in Toyland (uncredited) and as the young Jane in Jane Eyre (both 1934). A round of stage and radio shows followed. Stage shows involved up to seven performances a day. It was a punishing schedule for a fourteen-year-old, and that was not taking into account her educational studies.[citation needed]
Later life and career
[edit]Darling began to study singing, and in 1940 she was given a scholarship by the New York Municipal Opera Association. She turned down an offer to appear alongside Mickey Rooney in one of the MGM Andy Hardy movies, and went on Broadway, making her debut in the musical Count Me In in 1942. Darling's stage career hit a real high when she landed the role of Carrie Pipperidge in the original Broadway production of Carousel in 1945. She appeared in 850 consecutive performances.[2]
Her role as Carrie Pipperidge helped her with parts for radio and TV in the 1950s. She hosted her own television show for NBC in New York City, A Date with Jean Darling. Her daily TV show for women, The Singing Knit-Witch, was aired on KHJ-TV in Hollywood. Her last work was a humorous silent comedy short, The Butler's Tale, from 2013. Written and directed by her good friend René Riva, a Dutch actor and singer, it was styled after the ones Darling starred in as a child.[3][4]
In 1974, Darling moved to Dublin, Ireland, where she wrote mystery stories and had over 50 short stories published in the Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine and Whispers. As "Aunty Poppy", she read stories, which she wrote herself, on RTÉ radio and TV. She also wrote plays for radio and worked as a journalist.[5]
Personal life
[edit]Darling married Reuben Bowen; they had a son, Roy. Reuben Bowen died of cancer on August 22, 1980. She never remarried.[6] She later lived with her son in Rodgau, Germany.[7]
She died at a nursing home in Rödermark on September 4, 2015, after a sudden illness,[8] aged 93. Her death was reported two days later.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ Villecco, Tony (January 2001). Silent Stars Speak: Interviews with Twelve Cinema Pioneers. McFarland & Co Inc Pub. ISBN 978-0786408146.
- ^ Green, Stanley. Encyclopedia of The Musical Theatre: An Updated Reference (1980), pp. 63–64. Da Capo Press; ISBN 0-306-80113-2.
- ^ Profile, imdb.com; accessed September 7, 2015.
- ^ "The Butler's Tale (Short 2013)". IMDb.
- ^ a b Notice of death of Jean Darling, broadwayworld.com; accessed September 6, 2015.
- ^ "Jean Darling, Actress in 'Our Gang' Series, Dies at 93". The New York Times. September 6, 2015.
- ^ Maria Wiesner (August 21, 2015). "Stummfilm-Star Jean Darling: Was aus dem kleinen Strolch mit den blonden Locken wurde". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
- ^ Notice of death of Jean Darling, faz.net; accessed September 13, 2015 (in German)
External links
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jean Darling.
- Official website
- Jean Darling at IMDb
- Jean Darling at Playbill Vault
- Jean Darling at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database
- Jean Darling at Find a Grave
- Jean Darling discography at Discogs
- Jean Darling at the Internet Broadway Database
- Jean Darling: A Personal Reminiscence by Jay Weissberg at Brenton Film
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Kategorien:
- 1922 births
- 2015 deaths
- 20th-century American actresses
- American child actresses
- American expatriates in Germany
- American expatriates in Ireland
- American women singers
- American musical theatre actresses
- American silent film actresses
- American voice actresses
- Actresses from Santa Monica, California
- Hal Roach Studios actors
- Our Gang