Jean Brooks (born Ruby M. Kelly; also known as Jeanne Kelly; December 23, 1916 - November 25, 1963) was an American film actress and singer who appeared in over thirty films. Though she never achieved major stardom in Hollywood, she landed a number of prominent roles in the early 1940s, particularly her role in Mark Robson's film noir, The Seventh Victim (1943). Brooks eventually disappeared from Hollywood and died of complications from alcoholism.
Brooks was born Ruby Kelly in Houston, Texas. Some publications list her date of birth as December 23, 1915, though biographer Douglass Daniel lists Brooks' birth year as 1916 in his book Tough as Nails: The Life and Films of Richard Brooks. She spent her early years in Houston, as well as New York City and Costa Rica. She was fluent in both English and Spanish.
Brooks began her professional career as a singer at New York City's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, where she sang in Enric Madriguera's orchestra. She adopted the name Jeanne Kelly for her entertainment career. With the help of Erich von Stroheim, whom Brooks had met while working at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, she began her acting career. Her first screen role was in the Arcturus Pictures release Obeah (1935), a film about Obeah curses.
Actors: Chip Chuipka (actor), Mike Chute (actor), Joseph Kell (actor), Ed Langham (actor), Ivan Smith (actor), Paul Stewart (actor), Martin Thibaudeau (actor), Andrew W. Walker (actor), Russell Yuen (actor), Mädchen Amick (actress), Laurie Bucci (actress), Isabelle Cyr (actress), Sofia de Medeiros (actress), Ellen Dubin (actress), Tony Calabretta (actor),
Genres: Drama, Mystery, Thriller,Jean Brooks (born Ruby M. Kelly; also known as Jeanne Kelly; December 23, 1916 - November 25, 1963) was an American film actress and singer who appeared in over thirty films. Though she never achieved major stardom in Hollywood, she landed a number of prominent roles in the early 1940s, particularly her role in Mark Robson's film noir, The Seventh Victim (1943). Brooks eventually disappeared from Hollywood and died of complications from alcoholism.
Brooks was born Ruby Kelly in Houston, Texas. Some publications list her date of birth as December 23, 1915, though biographer Douglass Daniel lists Brooks' birth year as 1916 in his book Tough as Nails: The Life and Films of Richard Brooks. She spent her early years in Houston, as well as New York City and Costa Rica. She was fluent in both English and Spanish.
Brooks began her professional career as a singer at New York City's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, where she sang in Enric Madriguera's orchestra. She adopted the name Jeanne Kelly for her entertainment career. With the help of Erich von Stroheim, whom Brooks had met while working at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, she began her acting career. Her first screen role was in the Arcturus Pictures release Obeah (1935), a film about Obeah curses.
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