Adele Jergens (November 26, 1917 – November 22, 2002) was an American actress.

Early life and career

Born in

Brooklyn, New York Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

, as Adele Louisa Jurgens (some sources say Jurgenson), she rose to prominence in the late 1930s when she was named "Miss World's Fairest" at the

1939 New York World's Fair The 1939–40 New York World's Fair was a world's fair held at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens, New York, United States. It was the second-most expensive American world's fair of all time, exceeded only by St. Louis's Louisiana Purchas ...

. In the early 1940s, she briefly worked as a

Rockette The Rockettes are an American precision dance company. Founded 1925 in St. Louis, they have, since , performed at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Until 2015, they also had a touring company. They are best known for starring in the Ra ...

and was named the number-one showgirl in New York City. After a few years of working as a model and chorus girl, including being an understudy to

Gypsy Rose Lee Gypsy Rose Lee (born Rose Louise Hovick, January 8, 1911 – April 26, 1970) was an American burlesque entertainer, stripper and vedette famous for her striptease act. Also an actress, author, and playwright, her 1957 memoir was adapted into ...

in the Broadway show ''

Star and Garter ''Star and Garter'' is a 1942 American musical revue starring comedian Bobby Clark and produced by Mike Todd. The show, which opened at Broadway's Music Box Theatre on 24 June 1942, was a smash hit, closing on 4 December 1943 after 609 performa ...

'' in 1942, Jergens landed a movie contract with

Columbia Pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production studio that is a member of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, which is one of the Big Five studios and a subsidiary of the mu ...

in 1944, with brunette Jergens becoming a blonde. At the beginning of her career, she had roles in movies in which she was usually cast as a blonde floozy or burlesque dancer, as in '' Down to Earth'' starring

Rita Hayworth Rita Hayworth (born Margarita Carmen Cansino; October 17, 1918May 14, 1987) was an American actress, dancer and producer. She achieved fame during the 1940s as one of the era's top stars, appearing in 61 films over 37 years. The press coined th ...

(1947) and ''

The Dark Past ''The Dark Past'' is a 1948 American film noir psychological thriller film starring William Holden, Nina Foch, and Lee J. Cobb. Directed by Rudolph Maté, the Columbia Pictures release is a remake of ''Blind Alley'' (1939), also released by Colum ...

'' starring

William Holden William Holden (born William Franklin Beedle Jr.; April 17, 1918 – November 12, 1981) was an American actor, and one of the biggest box-office draws of the 1950s. Holden won the Academy Award for Best Actor for the film ''Stalag 17'' (1953) ...

(1948). She played

Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe (; born Norma Jeane Mortenson; 1 June 1926 4 August 1962) was an American actress. Famous for playing comedic " blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s and early 1960s, as wel ...

's mother in ''

Ladies of the Chorus ''Ladies of the Chorus'' is a 1948 American musical romance film directed by Phil Karlson and starring Adele Jergens, Marilyn Monroe and Rand Brooks. The screenplay, written by Harry Sauber and Joseph Carole, was based on a story by Sauber. Rel ...

'' (1948) despite being only nine years older than Monroe. She played an exotic dancer in ''

Armored Car Robbery ''Armored Car Robbery'' is a 1950 American film noir starring Charles McGraw, Adele Jergens, and William Talman. Directed by Richard Fleischer, ''Armored Car Robbery'' is a heist movie, a subgenre of crime-based films. It tells the story of a ...

,'' and a criminal's girl in ''Try and Get Me'' (both 1950) and appeared in the movie '' Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man'' (1951). She had a part in '' The Cobweb'' (1955), directed by

Vincente Minnelli Vincente Minnelli (born Lester Anthony Minnelli; February 28, 1903 – July 25, 1986) was an American stage director and film director. He directed the classic movie musicals ''Meet Me in St. Louis'' (1944), ''An American in Paris'' (1951), ''Th ...

and starring

Richard Widmark Richard Weedt Widmark (December 26, 1914March 24, 2008) was an American film, stage, and television actor and producer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as the villainous Tommy Udo in his debut film, '' Kiss of Death'' (1947) ...

and

Lauren Bacall Lauren Bacall (; born Betty Joan Perske; September 16, 1924 – August 12, 2014) was an American actress. She was named the 20th-greatest female star of classic Hollywood cinema by the American Film Institute and received an Academy Honorary Aw ...

. She worked in the 1950s radio show ''Stand By for Crime'' as Glamourpuss Carol Curtis with her real-life husband Glenn Langan as Chuck Morgan.

Personal life and death

In 1949, while filming ''Treasure of Monte Cristo'', a

film noir Film noir (; ) is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American ' ...

set in

San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...

, she met and married co-star

Glenn Langan Glenn Langan (July 8, 1917 – January 26, 1991) was an American character actor on stage and films. Early years Born in Denver, Colorado, Langan was the son of Thomas Langan and Kate Quinn Langan. He attended schools there. His early training ...

. Jergens and Langan remained married until his death from lymphoma on January 26, 1991, at age 73. They had one child, a son named Tracy Langan, who eventually worked in Hollywood behind the scenes as a film technician. Tracy died of a brain tumor in 2001.

Death

Adele Jergens-Langan, who retired from the screen in 1956, died on November 22, 2002, from pneumonia in her

Camarillo, California Camarillo ( ) is a city in Ventura County in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 70,741, an increase of 5,540 from the 65,201 counted in the 2010 Census. Camarillo is named for brothers Juan an ...

, home. Her death came just four days before her 85th birthday. She was buried beside her husband and son at

Oakwood Memorial Park Cemetery The Oakwood Memorial Park Cemetery is located at 22601 Lassen Street, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California. It is the resting place for several movie stars such as Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Gloria Grahame, and Stephen Boyd. History and descri ...

Chatsworth, California Chatsworth is a suburban neighborhood in the City of Los Angeles, California, in the San Fernando Valley. The area was home to Native Americans, some of whom left caves containing rock art. Chatsworth was explored and colonized by the Spanish be ...

, under the headstone marked Langan.

Selected filmography

* ''

Hello Frisco, Hello ''Hello, Frisco, Hello'' is a 1943 American musical film directed by H. Bruce Humberstone and starring Alice Faye, John Payne, Lynn Bari, and Jack Oakie. The film was made in Technicolor and released by 20th Century-Fox. This was one of the las ...

'' (1943) – Chorine (uncredited) * ''

Sweet Rosie O'Grady ''Sweet Rosie O'Grady'' is a 1943 Technicolor musical film about an American singer who attempts to better herself by marrying an English duke, but is harassed by a reporter. Directed by Irving Cummings, it stars Betty Grable and Robert Young. ...

'' (1943) – Diner at Delmonico's / Chorus Girl (uncredited) * ''

Jane Eyre ''Jane Eyre'' ( ; originally published as ''Jane Eyre: An Autobiography'') is a novel by the English writer Charlotte Brontë. It was published under her pen name "Currer Bell" on 19 October 1847 by Smith, Elder & Co. of London. The first ...

'' (1943) – Woman at Party (uncredited) * '' The Gang's All Here'' (1943) – Chorus Girl (uncredited) * '' Pin Up Girl'' (1944) – Canteen Worker (uncredited) * ''

Black Arrow Black Arrow, officially capitalised BLACK ARROW, was a British satellite carrier rocket. Developed during the 1960s, it was used for four launches between 1969 and 1971, all launched from the Woomera Prohibited Area in Australia. Its final flig ...

'' (1944) – Mary Brent * ''

Dancing in Manhattan ''Dancing in Manhattan'' is a 1944 American film directed by Henry Levin. It was originally called ''Tonight We Dance''.FILMLAND BRIEFS Los Angeles Times4 Nov 1944: 5. Plot A garbage truck driver, Eddie Martin (Fred Brady) from Manhattan finds ...

'' (1944) – Darnelle (uncredited) * '' Together Again'' (1944) – Gilda LaVerne (uncredited) * '' Tonight and Every Night'' (1945) – Showgirl (uncredited) * '' A Thousand and One Nights'' (1945) – Princess Armina * ''

State Fair A state fair is an annual competitive and recreational gathering of a U.S. state's population, usually held in late summer or early fall. It is a larger version of a county fair, often including only exhibits or competitors that have won in th ...

'' (1945) – Girl on Rollercoaster (uncredited) * ''

Fallen Angel In the Abrahamic religions, fallen angels are angels who were expelled from heaven. The literal term "fallen angel" never appears in any Abrahamic religious texts, but is used to describe angels cast out of heaven"Mehdi Azaiez, Gabriel Said R ...

'' (1945) – Woman at Madley's Show (uncredited) * ''

She Wouldn't Say Yes ''She Wouldn't Say Yes'' is a 1945 screwball comedy film directed by Alexander Hall and starring Rosalind Russell and Lee Bowman. Plot A psychiatrist, Dr. Susan Lane, is leaving a military hospital after spending two weeks working with patients ...

'' (1945) – Allura * ''

The Corpse Came C.O.D. ''The Corpse Came C.O.D.'' is a 1947 American comedy-mystery film directed by Henry Levin, produced by Samuel Bischoff and starring George Brent and Joan Blondell. The comedic mystery is notable for featuring cameos by Hollywood gossip columnists ...

'' (1947) – Mona Harrison * '' Down to Earth'' (1947) – Georgia Evans * ''

When a Girl's Beautiful ''When a Girl's Beautiful'' is a 1947 musical comedy directed by Frank McDonald from a script by Brenda Weisberg. Actress Joi Lansing made her film debut on this film. Plot An advertising man begins a search for the "perfect woman" for a ne ...

'' (1947) – Adele Jordan * ''

Blondie's Anniversary ''Blondie's Anniversary'' is a 1947 American comedy film directed by Abby Berlin and starring Penny Singleton, Arthur Lake, and Larry Simms. It is the twenty-second of the 28 Blondie films. Plot Dagwood is holding a watch, a gift that his bos ...

'' (1947) – Gloria Stafford * ''

The Prince of Thieves ''The Prince of Thieves'' is a 1948 American adventure film nominally inspired by Alexandre Dumas' 1872 novel ''Le Prince des voleurs''. Produced by Sam Katzman for Columbia Pictures and starring Jon Hall as Robin Hood with stuntwork by Jock ...

'' (1948) – Lady Christabel * '' I Love Trouble'' (1948) – Boots Nestor * ''

The Woman from Tangier ''The Woman from Tangier'' is a 1948 American crime thriller film directed by Harold Daniels and starring Adele Jergens, Stephen Dunne and Ian MacDonald. It was one of a number of Hollywood films set in Tangier during the International Zone era. ...

'' (1948) – Nylon * ''

The Fuller Brush Man ''The Fuller Brush Man'' is a 1948 American comedy film starring Red Skelton as a door-to-door salesman for the Fuller Brush Company who becomes a murder suspect. Plot Success doesn't exactly stare the unfortunate street cleaner Red Jones (Red Sk ...

'' (1948) – Miss Sharmley * ''

'' (1948) – Laura Stevens * ''

'' (1948) – Mae Martin * ''

Slightly French ''Slightly French'' is a 1949 American musical comedy film directed by Douglas Sirk and starring Dorothy Lamour, Don Ameche and Janis Carter.Stern p.59 The screenplay concerns a Hollywood director who recruits an American singer. Plot After cla ...

'' (1949) – Yvonne La Tour * ''

Law of the Barbary Coast ''Law of the Barbary Coast'' is a 1949 American historical crime western film directed by Lew Landers and starring Gloria Henry, Stephen Dunne and Adele Jergens. The film's sets were designed by the art director Harold H. MacArthur.Stephens ...

'' (1949) – Lita * ''

The Crime Doctor's Diary ''The Crime Doctor's Diary'' is a 1949 American mystery film directed by Seymour Friedman and starring Warner Baxter, Stephen Dunne and Lois Maxwell. It is the last of the Crime Doctor series of films made by Columbia Pictures. Plot Cast * Wa ...

'' (1949) – Inez Gray * ''

Make Believe Ballroom ''Make Believe Ballroom'' is a 1949 American musical romantic comedy directed by Joseph Santley and produced by Ted Richmond. It was loosely based on a radio program of the same name by Martin Block and Al Jarvis. The film starred Jerome Courtla ...

'' (1949) – Adele Jergens * '' The Mutineers'' (1949) – Norma Harrison * ''

Treasure of Monte Cristo ''Treasure of Monte Cristo'' is a 1949 American film noir crime film directed by William Berke and starring Glenn Langan, Adele Jergens and Steve Brodie. Plot A descendant of Edmond Dantès finds himself framed for a crime he did not commit. ...

'' (1949) – Jean Turner * ''

The Traveling Saleswoman ''The Traveling Saleswoman'' is a 1950 American Western comedy film directed by Charles Reisner and starring Joan Davis, Andy Devine, Adele Jergens, Joe Sawyer, and Dean Riesner. The film was released by Columbia Pictures on February 15, 1950. ...

'' (1950) – Lilly * ''

Radar Secret Service ''Radar Secret Service'' is a 1950 action film starring John Howard, produced by Barney A. Sarecky and directed by Sam Newfield. The film was featured on the American television show ''Mystery Science Theater 3000''. Plot In the post-World War T ...

'' (1950) – Lila * ''

Blonde Dynamite ''Blonde Dynamite'' is a 1950 American comedy film directed by William Beaudine and starring The Bowery Boys. The film was released on February 12, 1950 by Monogram Pictures and is the seventeenth film in the series. Plot After Slip and Sach are ...

'' (1950) – Joan Marshall * ''

Side Street A side road is a minor highway typically leading off a main road.Main road — definition

'' (1950) – Lucille 'Lucky' Colner * ''

Everybody's Dancin' ''Everybody's Dancin is the tenth studio album by the funk band Kool & the Gang Kool & the Gang is an American R&B/soul/funk band formed in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1964 by brothers Robert "Kool" Bell and Ronald Bell, with Dennis "Dee T ...

'' (1950) – Adele Jergens * ''

Beware of Blondie ''Beware of Blondie'' is a 1950 American black and white comedy film and is the last of Columbia's 28 Blondie (film series), Blondie films in 12 years. Plot summary Mr. Dithers goes on vacation, and leaves Dagwood in charge of the office. He arr ...

'' (1950) – Toby Clifton * ''

'' (1950) – Yvonne LeDoux * ''

Edge of Doom ''Edge of Doom'' is a 1950 black-and-white film noir directed by Mark Robson and starring Dana Andrews, Farley Granger, and Joan Evans. Plot The story concerns a young mentally disturbed man, Martin Lynn (Farley Granger), who goes on a rampage ...

'' (1950) – Irene * ''

Blues Busters ''Blues Busters'' is a 1950 comedy film directed by William Beaudine and starring The Bowery Boys. The film was released on October 29, 1950 by Monogram Pictures and is the twentieth film in the series. Plot Sach develops an uncanny ability to ...

'' (1950) – Lola Stanton * '' The Sound of Fury'' (1950) – Velma * ''

Sugarfoot ''Sugarfoot'' is an American Western television series that aired for 69 episodes on ABC from 1957-1961 on Tuesday nights on a "shared" slot basis – rotating with ''Cheyenne'' (first season); ''Cheyenne'' and ''Bronco'' (second season); and ...

'' (1951) – Reva Cairn * '' Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man'' (1951) – Boots Marsden * ''

Show Boat ''Show Boat'' is a musical with music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It is based on Edna Ferber's best-selling 1926 novel of the same name. The musical follows the lives of the performers, stagehands and dock worke ...

'' (1951) – Cameo McQueen (uncredited) * ''

Aaron Slick from Punkin Crick ''Aaron Slick from Punkin Crick'' (also known as ''Marshmallow Moon'' in the U.K. and the Philippines and ''Härkiä, heiniä ja hakkailua'' in Finland) is a 1952 Paramount Pictures hillbilly musical film directed by Claude Binyon and produced b ...

'' (1952) – Gladys * ''

Somebody Loves Me "Somebody Loves Me" is a popular song, with music written by George Gershwin, and lyrics by Ballard MacDonald and Buddy DeSylva. The song was published in 1924 and featured in ''George White's Scandals'' of 1924. This is not to be confused with ...

'' (1952) – Nola Beach * ''

Overland Pacific ''Overland Pacific'' is a 1954 American color Western (genre), Western film directed by Fred F. Sears and starring Jock Mahoney, Peggie Castle and Adele Jergens. Plot Ross Granger practices sending telegraphs noisily while sharing a stagecoach ...

'' (1954) – Jessie Loraine * '' Fireman Save My Child'' (1954) – Harry's Wife * ''

The Miami Story ''The Miami Story'' is a 1954 American film noir crime film directed by Fred F. Sears and starring Barry Sullivan, Luther Adler and Adele Jergens. It was produced by Sam Katzman for distribution by Columbia Pictures. The film features an introdu ...

'' (1954) – Gwen Abbott * ''

The Big Chase ''The Big Chase'' is a 1954 American crime drama film directed by Arthur Hilton and starring Glenn Langan, Adele Jergens, Lon Chaney Jr., Jim Davis and Douglas Kennedy. One of the film's scenes was directed by producer Robert L. Lippert Jr. ...

'' (1954) – Doris Grayson * ''

Strange Lady in Town ''Strange Lady in Town'' is a 1955 American Western film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Greer Garson. She plays a doctor who plans to introduce modern techniques of medicine to old Santa Fe in 1880, but is opposed by an established docto ...

'' (1955) – Bella Brown * '' Outlaw Treasure'' (1955) – Rita Starr * '' The Cobweb'' (1955) – Miss Cobb * '' The Lonesome Trail'' (1955) – Mae * ''

Day the World Ended ''Day the World Ended'' is a 1955 independently made black-and-white post-apocalyptic science fiction film, produced and directed by Roger Corman, that stars Richard Denning, Lori Nelson, Adele Jergens, Paul Birch and Mike Connors. Chet Huntle ...

'' (1955) – Ruby * '' Girls in Prison'' (1956) – Jenny * ''

Fighting Trouble ''Fighting Trouble'' is a 1956 American comedy film directed by George Blair and starring The Bowery Boys. It was released on September 16, 1956, by Allied Artists. The 42nd film in the Bowery Boys series, it was the first to feature Stanley Cle ...

'' (1956) – Mae Randle * '' Runaway Daughters'' (1956) – Dixie Jackson

References

External links

* * * Adele Jergen
''Los Angeles Times'' Obituaries
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jergens, Adele American film actresses Burials at Oakwood Memorial Park Cemetery Musicians from Brooklyn 1917 births 2002 deaths American female dancers Dancers from New York (state) Actresses from New York City 20th-century American actresses 20th-century American musicians American radio actresses American television actresses 20th-century American dancers Columbia Pictures contract players Deaths from pneumonia in California