Jean Parker was an American film, stage, and television actress whose career spanned over three decades, beginning in the pre-code era. She made her feature debut in 1932's Divorce in the Family, followed by an uncredited bit part in Rasputin and the Empress (1932). Parker had her breakthrough role opposite Katharine Hepburn and Joan Bennett in George Cukor's Little Women (1933), portraying Elizabeth March. She subsequently starred in Frank Capra's comedy-mystery Lady for a Day (also 1933), followed by the romantic comedy The Ghost Goes West (1935).
Parker continued to star in films through the 1940s, notably opposite Lon Chaney in Dead Man's Eyes (1944), and in the film noir Bluebeard (1944). Beginning in 1946, Parker appeared on Broadway in the original production of Born Yesterday. She appeared in two additional Broadway productions after: Loco (1946), in the title role, and Burlesque (1946–1947).
By the 1950s, Parker's career had slowed, though she appeared in a small number of films, such as The Gunfighter (1950) and Those Redheads from Seattle (1953). She made her final film appearance in 1965's Apache Uprising before retiring from acting.
Film Year Title Role Director(s) Notes 1932 Divorce in the Family Lucile 1932 Rasputin and the Empress Princess Maria Uncredited 1933 Eloise Duval 1933 Gabriel Over the White House Alice Bronson 1933 Made on Broadway Adele Manners 1933 What Price Innocence? Ruth Harper 1933 Storm at Daybreak Danitza 1933 Lady for a Day Louise 1933 Little Women 1934 Two Alone Mazy 1934 You Can't Buy Everything Elizabeth "Beth" Burton Bell 1934 Caravan Timka 1934 Lazy River Sarah Lescalle 1934 Operator 13 Eleanor Shackleford 1934 Have a Heart Sally Moore 1934 Rosanne 1934 Limehouse Blues Toni 1934 Sequoia Toni Martin 1935 Princess O'Hara Princess O'Hara 1935 Murder in the Fleet Betty Lansing 1935 Peggy Martin 1936 Adie Boye 1936 Amanda Bailey 1937 Necia Gale 1937 Life Begins with Love Carole Martin 1938 Penitentiary Elizabeth Mathews 1938 Romance of the Limberlost Laurie 1938 Judy Allen 1939 Romance of the Redwoods June Martin 1939 Zenobia (UK: 'Elephants Never Forget') Mary Tibbett 1939 She Married a Cop Linda Fay 1939 Flight at Midnight Maxine Scott 1939 Parents on Trial Susan Wesley 1939 Georgette 1940 Knights of the Range Holly Ripple 1940 Son of the Navy Stevie Moore 1940 Beyond Tomorrow Jean Lawrence 1940 Young America Flies Jane Short film 1941 Roar of the Press Alice Williams 1941 Power Dive Carol Blake 1941 Flying Blind Shirley Brooks 1941 Patricia Mallory 1941 No Hands on the Clock Louise Campbell 1942 Torpedo Boat Grace Holman 1942 Mary 'Pete' McCoy 1942 Hello, Annapolis Doris Henley 1942 I Live on Danger Susan Richards 1942 Hi, Neighbor Dorothy Greenfield 1942 Tomorrow We Live Julie Bronson 1942 Wrecking Crew Peggy Starr 1942 Molly Betts 1943 High Explosive Connie Baker 1943 Alaska Highway Ann Coswell 1943 Minesweeper Mary Smith 1943 Deerslayer Judith Hutter 1944 Ellen Sayre 1944 Lady in the Death House Mary Kirk Logan 1944 Detective Kitty O'Day Kitty O'Day 1944 Oh, What a Night Valerie 1944 One Body Too Many Carol Dunlap 1944 Dead Man's Eyes Heather Hayden 1944 Bluebeard Lucille Lutien 1945 Adventures of Kitty O'Day Kitty O'Day 1946 Rolling Home Frances Crawford 1950 Molly 1952 Toughest Man in Arizona Della 1953 Those Redheads From Seattle Liz 1954 Black Tuesday Hattie Combest 1955 Cora Dean 1957 Mrs. Sarah Jones 1965 Apache Uprising Mrs. Hawks
Television Year Title Role Notes 1951 Pulitzer Prize Playhouse Sally Field Episode: "The Wisdom Tooth" 1953 Cowboy G-Men Dixie Shannon / Mayor Crystal Colby 2 episodes 1954 Stories of the Century Cattle Kate Episode: "Cattle Kate" 1954 Agnes Henshaw Episode: "The Department Store Story" 1954 Adventures of the Falcon Episode: "The Big Heist" 1955 Edith Episode: "The Mink Coat" 1955 Damon Runyon Theater Dolly Episode: "Barbeque" 1956 Matinee Theater Amelia Episode: "Dinner at Antoine's" 1956 Private Secretary Edmee Esmond Episode: "Cat in the Hot Tin File" 1956 Episode: "Appleby's Invention" 1959 Frontier Doctor Liz Lambert Episode: "The Woman Who Dared"
Stage Year Title Role Venue 1946 Loco Loco Dempsey Biltmore Theatre, New York City 1946–1947 Burlesque Bonny King Belasco Theatre, New York City 1948–1949 Born Yesterday Billie Dawn National Broadway tour 1949 Light Up the Sky Touring production; New York and Boston appearances 1951 Detective Story Gayety Theatre, Montreal
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