Jean Howard (born Ernestine Hill; October 13, 1910 – March 20, 2000) was an American actress and professional photographer. She was born in Longview, Texas and died in Beverly Hills, California.

Early years

Howard was born Ernestine Hill on October 13, 1919, in Longview, Texas. She grew up in Dallas, and her father traveled as a salesman. When she was a teenager, she accompanied her nephew to a photographic studio to have his portrait taken. Paul Mahoney, the photographer, took her photograph, which led to his becoming her teacher and mentor. "Young, eager, and frustrated," Howard changed her name to Ernestine Mahoney and began participating in beauty contests and fashion shows. Her father paid her expenses while Mahoney taught her. Howard acted in local theatrical productions before she went to Hollywood in the late 1920s and became a part of the Studio Club, a group for women who hoped to act in films.

Career

Howard's time as a Goldwyn Girl began when she responded to an advertisement. Her film debut came in ''Whoopee'' (1930).

Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. Florenz Edward Ziegfeld Jr. (; March 21, 1867 – July 22, 1932) was an American Broadway impresario, notable for his series of theatrical revues, the ''Ziegfeld Follies'' (1907–1931), inspired by the ''Folies Bergère'' of Paris. He also p ...

selected Howard as one of four women from that film to appear in his upcoming musical production, ''Smiles'', but she had to go to Dallas after her father died in an automobile accident. Ziegfeld gave her a role in the 1931 edition of the '' Ziegfeld Follies'', billing her as Jean Howard. She next appeared in Ziegfeld's ''Hot-Cha'' (1932). A contract with MGM resulted in Howard's appearing in ''The Prizefighter and the Lady'' (1933) and ''Broadway to Hollywood'' (1933). She also appeared in ''Claudia'' (1943), ''Break of Hearts'', ''Dancing Lady'', and ''The Final Hour''. Howard studied photography at the Los Angeles Art Center. She appeared on Broadway in the productions: ''The Age of Innocence'' with Franchot Tone and ''Evensong''. Cole-Porter-and-Jean-Howard

She often used her camera to capture moments from Hollywood during the 1940s and 1950s. She photographed parties, gatherings, sports tournaments, etc., shooting Tyrone Power, Gene Tierney, Richard Burton, Cole Porter,

Judy Garland Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922June 22, 1969) was an American actress and singer. While critically acclaimed for many different roles throughout her career, she is widely known for playing the part of Dorothy Gale in '' The ...

, Grace Kelly, Hedy Lamarr,

Jennifer Jones Jennifer Jones (born Phylis Lee Isley; March 2, 1919 – December 17, 2009), also known as Jennifer Jones Simon, was an American actress and mental health advocate. Over the course of her career that spanned over five decades, she was nominated ...

, Deborah Kerr, Geraldine Page, Ethel Barrymore, Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh. Two books of her photographs were published, ''Jean Howard's Hollywood: A Photo Memoir'' (1989) and ''Travels With Cold Porter'' (1991).

Personal life and death

Howard married Hollywood talent agent

Charles K. Feldman Charles K. Feldman (April 26, 1905 – May 25, 1968) was a Hollywood attorney, film producer and talent agent who founded the Famous Artists talent agency. According to one obituary, Feldman disdained publicity. "Feldman was an enigma to Holly ...

on August 25, 1934, in Harrison, New York, and they divorced in 1948, the couple continued to live together until his death in 1968. The union was childless. She married Tony Santoro, a musician from Italy, in 1973. Howard died on March 20, 2000, in her Beverly Hills, California, home. She was buried in Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

References

Sources

*''The Stars of Hollywood Forever: 1901-2006'' (//ASIN: B0006SA7KO); Publisher: Tony Scott Publishing; 1st edition (2001)

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Howard, Jean 1910 births 2000 deaths 20th-century American actresses Actresses from Texas American film actresses American stage actresses American female dancers Dancers from Texas 20th-century American photographers Burials at Hollywood Forever Cemetery People from Longview, Texas Ziegfeld girls 20th-century American dancers 20th-century American women photographers