Jeanne Crain

Jeanne Crain
Jeanne Crain in 1948
Born	Jeanne Elizabeth Crain (1925-05-25)May 25, 1925 Barstow, California, U.S.
Died	December 14, 2003(2003-12-14) (aged 78) Santa Barbara, California, U.S.
Cause of death	heart attack
Resting place	Santa Barbara Cemetery
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1943–1975
Spouse(s)	Paul Brinkman (1946-2003) (his death) 7 children

Jeanne Elizabeth Crain (May 25, 1925 – December 14, 2003) was an American actress whose career spanned from 1943 to 1975. She received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in the 1949 film Pinky, in which she played the leading role. She was also noted for her ability in ice skating.

Crain was born in Barstow, California, to George A. Crain, a school teacher, and Loretta Carr, Irish Catholic parents. By 1930, the family was living in the City of Inglewood at 822 S Walnut Ave. After her parents divorced in 1934, the family of three moved to 5817 Van Ness Ave in Los Angeles.

An excellent ice skater, Crain first attracted attention when she was crowned Miss Pan Pacific at the Pan-Pacific Auditorium in Los Angeles. Later, while still in high school, she was asked to make a screen test opposite Orson Welles. She did not get the part, but in 1943, at age 18, she appeared in a bit part in the film The Gang's All Here.

Crain's film debut came in Home in Indiana in 1944; that same year, she starred in In the Meantime, Darling. Her acting was critically panned, but she gained nationwide attention. It resulted in landing the leading role in The Shocking Miss Pilgrim in October 1944, a musical film which was eventually made with Betty Grable as the star.

Crain first received critical acclaim when she starred in Winged Victory (1944). She co-starred in 1945 with Dana Andrews in the musical film State Fair, in which Louanne Hogan dubbed Crain's singing numbers. After that, Crain often had singing parts in films, and they were invariably dubbed, in most cases by Hogan. Also in 1945, Crain starred in Leave Her to Heaven with Gene Tierney. Her ice skating ability was on display in the 1946 film, Margie, in which she and Conrad Janis danced around the ice rink as her boyfriend, Alan Young, slipped and stumbled his way along the ice.