
Jean Porter
Biography
One of MGM's more vivacious secondary stars during the 40s, petite and lovely Jean Porter was born in Texas in 1922 but left the state at a young age to pursue her dream as an actress. Following some vaudeville experience, she made her uncredited film debut in 1939 (age 14) and slowly graduated to sweet-natured ingénues in light, wholesome "B" fare. Most were sentimental trifles, such as Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble (1944) and Easy to Wed (1946), or western action with such obvious titles as Heart of the Rio Grande (1942) and Home in Wyomin' (1942). Despite her promise and talent, none of her approximately 30 films managed to set her apart and top stardom remained elusive.
Jean's finest screen roles perhaps came with The Youngest Profession (1943) and Till the End of Time (1946), where she met future husband, director Edward Dmytryk. They married in 1948 and had three children: Richard, Victoria and Rebecca, the latter becoming a wildlife rescuer and rehabilitator. Not long into their marriage, Dmytryk was branded a Communist as one of the "Hollywood Ten" (he was admittedly once a member of The American Communist Party) and the next decade or so would be a dark period of time for them.
Unable to work, the blacklisted director moved his family to England where he found some employment. In 1951, however, Dmytryk decided to return to the States and was jailed for six months before giving testimony and being granted a reprieve. As a result, he was allowed to return to directing. Jean's last film would be The Left Hand of God (1955) starring Humphrey Bogart and Gene Tierney, which was directed by her husband. Throughout their ordeal Jean and Edward remained a loyal couple and in later years wrote a book together called "On Screen Acting" in 1984. Happily married until his death at age 90 of heart and kidney failure in 1999, Jean continued to be a regular attendee of film-related events and a by-line contributor for "Classic Images", a popular magazine for classic film fans, in which she reminisced about Old Hollywood. She died in 2018 at the age of 95.
Acting (31 movies)

Cry Danger
1951

Bathing Beauty
1944

The Left Hand of God
1955

Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood
1945

Sweet Genevieve
1947

Till the End of Time
1946

Nazty Nuisance
1943

About Face
1942

The Youngest Profession
1943

Heart of the Rio Grande
1942

San Fernando Valley
1944

What Next, Corporal Hargrove?
1945

Roller Derby Girl
1949

That Hagen Girl
1947

Twice Blessed
1945

Kentucky Jubilee
1951

The Under-Pup
1939

The Gambling Sex
1932

Calaboose
1943

Betty Co-Ed
1946

Fall In
1942

Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble
1944

Two Blondes and a Redhead
1947

One Million B.C.
1940

Kiss the Boys Goodbye
1941

Never Give a Sucker an Even Break
1941

G.I. Jane
1951

Little Miss Broadway
1947

Thrill of a Romance
1945

Song and Dance Man
1936

Hellzapoppin'
1941
| Title | Year | Job | 
|---|