Jean Arthur

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...

Known For

Career Timeline

19231936194919621975198820012017
  1. 2017
    Becoming Cary Grant

    Self (archive footage) • Acting

  2. 2008
  3. 1999
    Clara Bow: Discovering the "It" Girl

    Self (from The Saturday Night Kid [1929]) (archive footage) • Acting

  4. 1998
    Gary Cooper: The Face of a Hero

    Self (archive footage) • Acting

  5. 1988
    The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind

    Self (archive footage) • Acting

  6. 1984
    Going Hollywood: The '30s

    (archive footage) • Acting

  7. 1953
    Shane

    Marian Starrett • Acting

  8. 1953
    Yesterday and Today

    (archive footage) • Acting

Jean Arthur - Aperture