Jean Arthur

Jean was personally wanted by Columbia Pictures president Harry Cohn after Rita Hayworth turned down the role of Billy Dawn in Born Yesterday (1950) but Jean was unavailable. The part went to Judy Holliday, who had taken the same role when Jean dropped out of playing it on Broadway, and continued with it for 4 years.

Jean turned down director Howard Hawks offer to star in His Girl Friday (1940) and the part went to Rosalind Russell.

Jean was removed from what would have been her first starring role in Temple Of Venus (1923) only a few days after it started shooting.

Jean tried reviving her stage career by appearing in the play, "The Freaking Out Of Stephanie Blake," on November 2, 1967. The play was a disaster, with many of the stagehands affected by smoking marijuana, malfunctioning stage props including one that almost fell on her head, and Jean suffering a stress attack that led her to get on her hands and knees and beg the audience to let her go home, at which point the curtain was pulled and the play stopped.

Jean appeared on the cover of the August 1942 issue of Movie Story magazine with Cary Grant.

Jean's likeness was made into a ceramic bust by artist Elly Strobach in 1936 for the Royal Dux Company.

Jean appeared in a 1930 magazine advertisement for Lux Soap.

Jean starred in 3 films with Gary Cooper, including: Paramount On Parade (1930) Mr. Deeds Goes To Town (1936) The Plainsman (1937)

Jean was an animal lover and during the filming of Shane (1953) she watched over the livestock to make sure they were properly fed and cared for.

Jean kept her natural hair color through her tenure in silent films, then dyed it blonde in 1928 when she started doing sound films.

Jean was originally considered for the role of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With The Wind (1939).

Jean is said to have taken her stage name from her two favorite heroes, Jeanne (Joan) D'Arc and King Arthur.

Jean was replaced by Rita Hayworth as Columbia Pictures' top star, and they both shared the same birthday, October 17.

Jean was married twice, to Julian Ancker in 1928 -- that marriage was annulled the same day -- and to Frank Ross from 1932 to 1949.

Jean co-starred with William Powell in 5 films, including: The Canary Murder Case (1929) The Greene Murder Case (1929) Street Of Chance (1930) Paramount On Parade (1930) The Ex-Mrs. Bradford (1936)

Jean performed in the Broadway revival of "Peter Pan," with Boris Karloff as Captain Hook in 321 performances, starting on April 24, 1950.

Jean was given the Sour Apple award for Least Cooperative Actress in 1942.

Jean was nominated for the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role for The More, The Merrier (1943).

Jean has a Motion Picture star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame at 6331 Hollywood Boulevard.

Jean was 5 feet 3 inches tall.