Jean Merilyn Simmons (Jean Merilyn Simmons)
Actress. A leading lady of captivating beauty, she appeared in British and American motion pictures. She was only 15 when chosen for the role of ‘Heidi’ in the 1944 picture “Give Us the Moon”, followed with performances in “Great Expectations” as ‘Young Estella’ (1946) and “Black Narcissus” (1947). She was picked by Laurence Olivier for the role of ‘Ophelia’ in the 1948 film adaptation of “Hamlet”, and received an Academy Award nomination for her performance. In 1950, she married actor Stewart Granger, divorcing in 1960. She would marry director Richard Brooks later that year. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1977. During the 1950s and 1960s, she achieved star status with an abundance of memorable roles in such popular pictures as “The Robe” (1953), “Guys and Dolls” (1955), “The Big Country” (1958), “Elmer Gantry” (1960) and “Spartacus” (1960). She earned a second Oscar nomination for her performance in the picture “The Happy Ending” (1969). During the 1970s throughout the 1990s, she appeared on the small screen in numerous programs including the mini-series “The Thorn Birds” (for which she received an Emmy Award), “North and South” (1985) and “North and South, Book II” (1986). She played the role of ‘Elizabeth Collins Stoddard’ in the short-lived 1991 version of the TV series “Dark Shadows”. She died from lung cancer. (bio by: C.S.) Family links: Spouses: Richard Brooks (1912 – 1992) Stewart Granger (1913 – 1993)
Born
- January, 31, 1929
- England
Died
- January, 01, 2010
- USA
Other
- Cremated