Anna Karen (1914 - 2009)

Actress. She will be best remembered as the housekeeper “Mrs. Chernak” in the mid-1960s television series “Peyton Place”. Raised in New Jersey, she worked in New York for the elite Powers Modeling Agency a and appeared on Broadway before moving to California. Her television debut came in the 1951 “Lights Out”; she was to appear […]

Doo-Ri Kang (1993 - 1970)

Korean Actress. She was best remembered for her appearance in the Korean drama “Insolently Go, Go” (2015). She also appeared in “Three Brothers” (2010), “Scandal: A Shocking And Wrongful Incident” (2013), and “Touch” (2012). She was found dead on December 14, 2015. Initial reports said that she’d been killed in a car accident, but her […]

Ida Kaminska (1899 - 1980)

Actress. Born in Odessa, Russia, she was best known for her role as ‘Rozália Lautmannová’ in “The Shop on Maine Street” (1965), of which she received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. She began her career as a performer in the Yiddish theater, Poland and after World War II, she was co-founder of Jewish State […]

Jessie Brown Kalmar (1892 - 1985)

Vaudeville dancer/entertainer. Married to famed songwriter/screenwriter Bert Kalmar, Sr. (bio by: A.J. Marik)  Family links:  Spouse:  Bert Kalmar (1884 – 1947)*  Children:  Bert Kalmar (1913 – 1997)* *Calculated relationship

Bertha Kalich (1874 - 1939)

Bertha Kalich was born Beylke Kalakh in what was then Austria-Hungary, the only child of Solomon Kalakh, a poor brush manufacturer and amateur violinist. Her mother was Babette Halber Kalakh, a seamstress who often made costumes for local theaters. Babette was an active opera fan and her devotion inspired a love for the stage in […]

Katy Jurado (1924 - 2002)

Actress. One of her country’s premiere movie stars, Katy Jurado is remembered for her sultry beauty and strong portrayals in films on both sides of the Rio Grande. Born Maria Cristina Estela Marcela Jurado Garcia to a family of wealth and position, she was raised in Mexico City from age three and was originally educated […]

Mildred June (1905 - 1940)

Actress. She appeared in the films, “Crazy To Act” (1927), “When Seconds Count” (1927), “The Snarl Of Hate” (1927), “Dog Shy” (1926), “Wanted A Bride” (1926), “The Village Cut-Up” (1926), “Dizzy Daddies” (1926), “Battling Romeo” (1925), “Mac’s Beth” (1925), “Taming Of The Shrewd” (1925), “Starvation Blues” (1925), “Troubles Of A Bride” (1924), “Hook And Ladder” […]

Peggy Hopkins Joyce (1895 - 1957)

Actress, Folk Figure. A performer on both stage and film, she is probably best remembered for her knack of marrying (and divorcing) rich men. Born Marguerite Upton, she was raised under poor circumstances in Southside Virginia, and moved to New York at 16 to join the Ziegfeld Follies. Divorced twice by age 20, her stage […]

Brenda Joyce (1917 - 2009)

Actress. She appeared in more than twenty feature films from 1939 until 1949 and is best remembered for her role as ‘Jane’ in the “Tarzan” film series appearing opposite Johnny Weissmuller and Lex Barker. Born Betty Graffina Leabo, she attended UCLA and was a model prior to her signing a contract with Twentieth Century Fox. […]

Alice Joyce (1890 - 1955)

Alice Joyce Actress. A popular star of the silent film era, she was called “The Madonna of the Screen” for her ethereal beauty and the serene aura she projected, regardless of the roles she played. Joyce was born in Kansas City, Missouri. After working as a telephone operator and fashion model, she entered films with […]

Marian Irene “Molly McGee” Driscoll Jordan (1898 - 1961)

Actress and Radio personality. She is best remembered in the comic role of Molly McGee of “Fibber McGee and Molly” (1935-1959) fame.  She and her real life husband, Jim Jordan, would pair together for the rest of their lives as comic actors.  She was born Marian Driscoll in Peoria, Illinois, the daughter of coal miner […]

Etta Elmer Jones-Mills (1919 - 1997)

Dancer, singer, actress. Former Dandridge Sister. She worked with Jimmie Lunceford and Count Basie at the Cotton Club and  after she retired from show business to raise a family, she taught dance for the L.A. Department of Parks and Recreation. Cause of death: Heart failure

Tiny Jones (1875 - 1952)

Actress. Petite, Welsh-born character player of Hollywood silents and talkies. She was typically cast as a villager or working-class immigrant. Jones made several films with director John Ford, including her first,  “The Iron Horse” (1924),  and her last,  “The Quiet Man” (1952).  In between she appeared in “Greed” (1924),  “The Sin of Madelon Claudet” (1931), […]

Mary Jones (1915 - 1990)

Welsh Actress. She was born in Rhayader, Radnorshire, Wales. Film and television credits include “General Hospital,” “Under Milk Wood,””The Saint,” “Z Cars,” “Crossroads,” “Carry On, Constable,” “The Vise,” “The Battle of the River Plate,” and “Trottie True.” (bio by: Genet)

Maggie Jones (1934 - 2009)

Actress. From her long career, Maggie Jones will be remembered as the sharpe-tongued, often unpleasant, but usually hilarious Blanche Hunt of the long-running British television series “Coronation Street”. Raised in Yorkshire, Miss Jones was drawn to the theatre from an early age; after study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, she was to refine […]

Sylvie Joly (1934 - 2015)

French Actress. Joly was an actress and comic who was well known for both her film appearances and “one woman shows”. She started her adult career in law, but went into acting soon after. Joly appeared in such films as “Get Out Your Handkerchiefs” (1978), “Le miraculé” (1987) and “Going Places” (1974).    She also […]

Julanne Johnstone (1900 - 1988)

Actress. She was a dancer, when she made her screen debut in “Better Times” (1919). A popular performer, she appeared in “Miss Hobbs,” (1920) “Frickle Women” 1920), “The Thief of Bagdad” (1924), “Pleasure of The Rich” (1926), “Show of Shows” (1929), “Madam Satan” (1930) and “Bolero” (1934).She retired from films at age of 35 and […]

Susan Johnson-Kehn (1927 - 2003)

Actress. she appeared in the role of a Choir Nun in the 1993 film, “Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit,” starring Whoopi Goldberg. (bio by: K)

Sunny Sue Johnson (1953 - 1984)

Supporting actress, perhaps best remembered for her performance as ‘Jeanie Szabo,’ promising figure skater-turned dancer, in the hit 1983 movie “Flashdance”. She appeared in several films during her brief life, including “Almost Summer” (1978), “National Lampoon’s Animal House” (1978), “Why Would I Lie?” (1980), “Where the Buffalo Roam” (1980), “Dr. Heckyl and Mr. Hype” (1980), […]

Marilyn Lois Johnson (1922 - 1960)

Actress.  Second wife of actor Forrest Tucker. Acted in such movies as “The Racket Man” in 1944, “Tonight and Every Night,” “Wife Decoy,” “Ten Cents a Dance,” “The Blonde From Brooklyn,” “Boston Blackie’s Rendezvous,” “Over 21” all in 1945.  Last film role was in 1951 in the film “Two Tickets to Broadway.”  She was last […]

Gail Johnson (1942 - 1999)

Actress. Born Gail Da Corsi, she was most noted for the role of ‘Mimi Grosset’ on the television soap opera ‘Days of our Lives” in the 1960s, for which she was nominated for an Emmy Award. She was also was a top Hollywood makeup artist for the likes of Kathleen Noone, Susan Seaforth Hayes, Barbara […]

Edith Johnson (1894 - 1969)

Actress. Born in Rochester, New York, Edith Johnson was a silent screen performer whom appeared in over 70 films between 1913 to 1924. Her credits included “Dixieland” (1913), “Behind the Lines” (1916), “Guilty” (1916), “A Fight for Love” (1919), “The Steel Trail” (1923) and “The Fast Express” (1924). She died in Los Angeles, California and […]

Zita Johann (1904 - 1993)

Actress. She is best known for her role as ‘Princess Ankhesenamón’ in “The Mummy” (1932). She also appeared in “The Struggle” (1931) and “The Sin of Nora Moran” (1933). After another film, she retired, and worked with acting students and young people with learning disorders. She retuned in 1986 in the film “Raiders of the […]

Soledad Jiménez (1874 - 1966)

Actress. She was born in Santander, Spain. In the early 1920s, like other Spanish actors such as Rosa Rey, Fortunio Bonanova and Rosita Díaz Gimeno, Jimenez moved to the United States where she began a prolific career in films. She is particularly remembered as Guillermo’s wife in the film “From Whom The Bell Tolls” (1943). […]

Sarah Henshaw Hunt Jewett (1847 - 1899)

Actress. She debuted her theatrical career on September 3, 1872 at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City, New York, and achieved many notable roles, appearing on stage in the plays “Diamonds”, “The Merry Wives”, “Merry Wives of Windsor”, “Everybody’s Friend”, “Married Life”, “Divorce”, “Old Heads and Young Hearts”, “False Shame”, “Love’s Labor’s Lost”, […]

Patti Jerome (1925 - 2000)

American screen and television actress of the 1970s and 80s. (bio by: A.J. Marik)

Claudia Jennings (1949 - 1979)

Actress, Model. She was the Playmate for the Month of November 1969, and Playmate of the Year for 1970. She appeared in the films, “Fast Company” (1979), “Deathsport” (1978), “Sisters Of Death” (1978), “The Great Texas Dynamite Chase” (1977), “‘Gator Bait” (1974), “The Man Who Fell To Earth” (1976), “Truck Stop Women” (1974), “The Single […]

Daisy Robinson Jefferson (1889 - 1967)

Actress. A native of New York City, she was the wife of stage actor Thomas Jefferson and the sister of actress Gertrude Robinson Kirkwood. She is known for her portrayal of ‘Meenie Van Winkle’ in both the stage play of “Rip Van Winkle” in 1914, and the film version in 1921. Her other credits include […]

Mari Jaszai (1850 - 1926)

Hungarian Actress and Singer. One of the greatest european actress of her era. She was best known for her interpretation of tragic Shakesperian heroines. The Mari Jaszai Award, is a Hungarian award given to top actors and actreses. The Mari Jaszai Theatre and the downtown square in Budapest are named in her honor. (bio by: […]

Elsie Janis (1889 - 1956)

American writer, actress, and composer. Daughter of Lou Bierbauer.  She was an excellent screenwriter and Broadway muscial comedy star and earned international acclaim for her talents in France and England, but she also lead hundred of United States Government War Bond rallies during World War I as well as being the forerunner of modern troop […]