Who was Jean Merilyn Simmons?

Jean Merilyn Simmons was a British-born American actress and singer. She was a versatile actress who is arguably best known to Baby Boomer audiences for her role in ‘Guys and Dolls‘ opposite Marlon Brando. She was born on January 31, 1929,in Crouch hill, London, England. She began her acting career at a tender age of 14 when she was a dance student. She was an Academy Award-winning actress worked in both British and American film and rule for over six decades. Born as Jean Merilyn Simmons to Charles Simmons, a gymnastic player who won a bronze medal in 1912 Summer Olympics and Winifred Ada. She was the fourth child among his four siblings.

Childhood and Education of Jean Merilyn Simmons

Simmons attended Orange Hill School for Girls in Golders Green. Until the outbreak of World War II in 1939 she spent her childhood with her family in the Golders Green of Crouch hill, London. At the outbreak of World War II in 1939, her family move to Winscombe, a village in North Somerset. She returned to London in 1943 where she began started lessons at the Aida Foster School of Dancing. During this stage, her ambition was to become an acrobatic dancer.

Height Weight & Body measurements of Jean Merilyn Simmons

Acting career of Jean Merilyn Simmons

Jean began her acting career at a very young age. Her debut film ‘Give Us the Moon'(1943) as Heidi came when she was only 14 years old. It was a comedy movie starring Margaret Lockwood.Later she appeared in many British films. Later appeared small roles in many British films in 1944 ‘ Mr. Emmanuel’ and in 1945 came two films ‘Kiss the Bride Goodbye’ and ‘Caesar and Cleopatra’.Her breakthrough movie came in 1946 when she played the role of Estella in ‘Great Expectations’ which was directed by David Lean.

Her other British films include Black Narcissus (1946), and Laurence Olivier’s production of Hamlet (1948).She recieved an oscar for her role of Ophelia in Hamlet. In 1949 came one of her popular movie ‘Adam and Evelyne’ where she act opposite to her lover and her future husband the swashbuckling British actor Stewart Granger. It was her first adult role. They had already worked together in ‘Caesar and Cleopatra’.

In 1950 she went to the United States along with actor Stewart Granger to begin her Hollywood film career. In 1952 came her first Hollywood film Androcles and the Lion opposite Victor Mature. It was followed by Angel Face in 1953 opposite Robert Mitchum. She also again worked opposite Mitchum a comedy movie ‘She Couldn’t Say No’ in 1954. She continued to work on many films.

Some of her popular films include The Robe (1953), The Actress (1953), The Egyptian (1954), Désirée (1954),Hilda Crane (1956),This Could Be the Night (1957), Until They Sail (1957), The Big Country (1958), This Earth Is Mine (1959),All the Way Home (1963) with Robert Preston, Life at the Top (1965) with Laurence Harvey, Mister Buddwing (1966) with James Garner, and Rough Night in Jericho (1967) with George Peppard and Dean Martin.

In the later part of her career she focussed more on stage and television acting. In 1991, she appeared in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “The Drumhead” as a retired Starfleet admiral and hardened legal investigator who conducts a witch hunt. That same year she starred in a remake of Great Expectations. Simmons narrated the A&E documentary television series Mysteries of the Bible. She appeared in “How to Make an American Quilt” in 1995.

Photos of Jean Marilyn Simmons

Movies of Jean Merilyn Simmons

1.Hamlet

Hamlet is an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s play of the same name. It was starred, produced and directe by Laurence Olivier. Hamlet is a 1948 British film adaptaion of William Shakespeare’s play of the same name. Hamlet was the first British film to win the Academy Award for best picture. The film also won Academy Award for best actor. The film starred Lawrence Oliver as Hamlet and Jean Simmons as Ophelia.

2.The Blue Lagoon

It is a 1949 British film. The film was based on the novel written by Henry De Vere Stacpoole, produced by Sidney Gilliat and Frank Launder; and directed by Frank Launder.  Starred by Jean Simmons Emmeline Foster and Donald Houston as Michael Reynolds. The film was about romance and adventure film of two young children shipwrecked on a tropical island and fall in love on coming of age.

3. Androcles and the Lion

It was a 1952 film produced by Gabriel Pascal Based on Androcles and the Lion by George Bernard Shaw. Directed by Chester Erskine and Nicholas Ray. Starred by Jean Simmons as Lavinia opposite to Victor Mature as the Captain. The film also cast Alan Young as Androcles, Robert Newton as Ferrovius and Elsa Lanchester as Megaera.The film is based on the story of an ancient Roman Christian who rescues and befriends a lion with spiny paws in the jungle.

4. Angel Face

It is a 1953 American film produced and directed by Otto Preminger. Starring Robert Mitchum as Frank Jessup opposite Jean Simmons as Diane Tremayne. The film is about an ambulance driver Frank Jessup played by Robert Mitchum who wants his own repair shop for sportscars.

5. Affair with a Stranger

It is a 1953 American comedy-drama directed by Roy Rowland. The film starred Jean Simmons as Carolyn Parker, VictorMature as Bill Blakeley and Monica Lewis as Janet Boothe. The story of the film revolves around Playwright William Blakeley played by Victor Mature and his beautiful wife, Carolyn played by Jean Simmons.Their relations worsen when they lose the baby actress Janet Boothe played by Monica Lewis tries to seduce William. But things take an unexpected turn for the estranged couple at the end.

6. The Robe

The Robe is a 1953 American fictional Biblical epic film. Directed by Henry Koster and produced by Frank Ross. Starred by Richard Burton as Marcellus Gallio, Jean Simmons as Diana and Victor Mature as Demetrius. The film is about Roman military tribune Marcellus Gallio played by Richard Burton who commands group that is assigned to crucify Jesus.

Shortly after the crucifixion,he wins Jesus’ homespun robe after the crucifixion due to this he is tormented by nightmares, delusions and intense pain. Convinced that destroying the robe will cure him, Marcellus sets out to find Demetrius and discovers his Christian faith along the way.

7. Guys and Dolls

Guys and Dolls is  an American musical film of 1955 based on the book of the same name. The film was produced by Samuel Goldwyn and directed by Joseph L. Mackiewicz. The film was starred by Marlon Brando as Sky Masterson, Frank Sinatara as Nathan Detroit, Jean Simmons as sister Sarah Brown and Vivian Blaine as Miss Adelaide.

8. Desiree

Desiree is a 1954 American film based on the novel Deisree by Annemarie Selinko. It was produced by Julian Blaustein and directed by Henry Koster. Starred by Marlon Brando as Napoleon Bonaparte and Jean Simmons as Desiree Clay. The film was nominated two Academy Awards for best Art Direction and best Costume Design.The film shows the rise and fall of Napoleon.

It tells the story of a common French woman who fell in love with Napoleon Bonaparte.However their love did not last long as Napoleon went on to become the French Emperor and they eventually marry other people.Later Clay became the Queen of Sweden by marrying Jean Bernadotte.

9. The Big Country

The Big Country is an American western film was based on the novel by David Hamilton. It was produced by Willia Wyler and Gregory Peck. Starred by Gregory Peck, Charlon Heston, Burl Ives and Jean Simmons. Burl Ives won the Academy Award as best supporting actor and the film was also nominated for best musical score.

The story of the film is about a sea captain James Mckay played by Gregory who arrives at his fiancee Patricia Terrill’s (Carroll Baker) ranch at Texas to marr. There he becomes embroilled in a fued over a valuable patch between his future father-in-law and lawless Harnassy family led by Rufus played by Burl Ives. James as a peace lovertried to persuade the two families to settle peacefully.

10. Spartacus

Spartacus is a 1960 American epic historical drama. The film was based on the 1951 novel of the same. It was produced by Edward Lewis and Directed by Stanley Kubrick.The story of the film revolves around a rebelious slave called Spartacus played by Kirk Douglas who is trained in the art of combat at the Gladiator Academy.

He begins a violent revolt against the owner Roman Republic as he leads escaped slaves to their freedom.The film also shows sexual intrigues; Gracchus played by Laurence Olivier is a womanizer and Crassus played by Charles Laughton is a bisexual attracted to a handsome slave(Tony Curtis). Also driven by the desire to win the love of Spartacus’s wife slave woman Varinia played by Jean Simmons

When and How did Jean Merilyn Simmons died?

Jean Merilyn Simmons died at the age of 80 on 22 January 2010, nine days before her 81st birthday. She died from lung cancer at her home in Santa Monica in California. She is survived by her two daughters Tracy Granger and Kate Brooks.

Reference-

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Simmons
• https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001739/