One of MGM's more vivacious secondary stars during the 40s, petite and lovely Jean Porter was born in Texas in 1925 but left the state while young 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. ...
[on D.W. Griffith's involvement in One Million B.C. (1940)] I don't know if he was supposed to direct it or not, but Hal Roach Jr. did the actual directing. Griffith received producer credit but all he did was sit by the door. He was on the set every day, with an overcoat and a hat, sitting by the truck door--where they bring in the backdrops and large props. He always kept the door open a foot.
Interviewed about the beginnings of her career and the movie, One Million B.C. (1940), in the book, "A Sci-Fi Swarm and Horror Horde" (McFarland & Co., 2010), by Tom Weaver.
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
Sea Hunt
1961
TV Series
Marna Gould
77 Sunset Strip
1961
TV Series
Dorothy Cooper
The Red Skelton Hour
1957-1958
TV Series
Nancy / Miss Henderson
The People's Choice
1957
TV Series
Blonde
Dr. Hudson's Secret Journal
1957
TV Series
Dixie Dabney Parmenter
The Left Hand of God
1955
Mary Yin
Climax!
1955
TV Series
Joan
Racing Blood
1954
Lucille Mitchell
The Joe Palooka Story
1954
TV Series
Mary Rogers
The Clown
1953
Jean, Ballet Student (uncredited)
The Abbott and Costello Show
1953
TV Series
Jean Wilson
G.I. Jane
1951
Jan Smith
Kentucky Jubilee
1951
Sally Shannon
Cry Danger
1951
Darlene
Two Blondes and a Redhead
1947
Catherine Abbott
That Hagen Girl
1947
Sharon Bailey
Sweet Genevieve
1947
Genevieve Rogers
Little Miss Broadway
1947
Judy Gibson
Betty Co-Ed
1946
Joanne Leeds
Till the End of Time
1946
Helen Ingersoll
Easy to Wed
1946
Frances (uncredited)
What Next, Corporal Hargrove?
1945
Jeanne Quidoc
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood
1945
Ruthie
Twice Blessed
1945
Kitty
Thrill of a Romance
1945
Ga-Ga Bride (uncredited)
San Fernando Valley
1944
Betty Lou Kenyon
Bathing Beauty
1944
Jean Allenwood
Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble
1944
Katy Anderson
Young Ideas
1943
Southern Co-ed (uncredited)
That Nazty Nuisance
1943
Kela - Magician's Assistant
The Youngest Profession
1943
Patricia Drew
Calaboose
1943
Major Barabara
Fall In
1942
Joan
Home in Wyomin'
1942
Young Fan (uncredited)
About Face
1942
Short
Sally
Heart of the Rio Grande
1942
Pudge
Glove Birds
1942
Short
June
Babes on Broadway
1941
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
Hellzapoppin'
1941
Chorine (uncredited)
Henry Aldrich for President
1941
Student (uncredited)
Never Give a Sucker an Even Break
1941
Passerby (uncredited)
Kiss the Boys Goodbye
1941
Girl Going to Audition (uncredited)
The Hard-Boiled Canary
1941
Girl (uncredited)
One Million B.C.
1940
Shell Person - Loana's Sister (uncredited)
The Under-Pup
1939
Penguin Girl (uncredited)
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
1938
Pauline - Schoolgirl (uncredited)
Song and Dance Man
1936
Girl (uncredited)
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood
1945
performer: "The Cocabola Tree" - uncredited
San Fernando Valley
1944
performer: "I Drottled a Drit-Drit", "My Hobby Is Love"
Bathing Beauty
1944
performer: "I'll Take the High Note" 1943 - uncredited
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Night and Day
1946
stand-in: Selena Royle - uncredited
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Dalton Trumbo: From A-List to Blacklist
2008
Video documentary short
Herself
Biography
1996
TV Series documentary
Herself
Hollywood the Golden Years: The RKO Story
1987
TV Series documentary
Herself
Roller Derby Girl
1949
Documentary short
New Skater
Known for movies
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello in Hollywood (1945) as Ruthie
Bathing Beauty (1944) as Jean Allenwood
The Left Hand of God (1955) as Mary Yin
What Next, Corporal Hargrove? (1945) as Jeanne Quidoc
$900,000
