Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Born

July 10, 1921

Died

April 11, 1988 (age 66)

Place of Birth

Windham, Maine, USA

Also Known As

Jean Marie Donnell

IMDb

Jeff Donnell

Biography

Jean Marie "Jeff" Donnell (July 10, 1921 — April 11, 1988) was an American film and television actress. She grew up in South Windham, Maine. As a child, she adopted the nickname "Jeff" after the character in her favorite comic strip, Mutt and Jeff. Donnell graduated from Towson High School, Towson, Maryland, in 1938 and attended the Leland Powers School of Drama in Boston, Massachusetts. Later, she studied at the Yale School of Drama. She was signed to a contract by Columbia Pictures in 1942 and made her film debut in My Sister Eileen. She later had roles in some RKO films. She was not a major star, but she did have a lengthy film and television career in various supporting roles, including the role of Gidget's mother, "Dorothy Lawrence", opposite Carl Reiner in the 1961 movie Gidget Goes Hawaiian. Description above from the Wikipedia article Jeff Donnell, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Filmography

1979FilmPortrait of a Stripperas Edith Sterling 1979FilmRendezvous Hotelas Mrs. Williams 1979FilmMurder by Natural Causesas Mrs. Mathews 1977FilmSpider-Manas Aunt May Parker 1976TVGibbsville 1976TVMcNaughton's Daughteras Mrs. Wilson 1975TVMatt Helmas Ethel 1974TVPaper Moonas Mrs. Carson 1973TVThe Girl with Something Extra 1973FilmA Gift of Terroras Mrs. Cummings 1973TVPolice Story 1973TVBarnaby Jonesas Janet Gossett 1973TVHere We Go Againas Aunt Patti 1972TVThe ABC Afternoon Playbreakas Mrs. Cummings 1972TVThe Bob Newhart Showas Clara Hackler 1972FilmStand Up and Be Countedas Ruth 1972TVEmergency!as Katie 1972TVMe and the Chimp 1971FilmCongratulations, It's a Boy!as Rose 1971TVCannon 1971FilmLove Hate Loveas Mary Blunden 1970TVThe Partridge Familyas Mrs. Monahan 1970FilmTora! Tora! Tora!as Cornelia 1969FilmThe Comicas Nurse 1969TVLove, American Styleas Mrs. Hutton 1969TVMedical Centeras Mrs. Hersey 1969TVMarcus Welby, M.D.as Cleaning Woman 1969TVThe Bold Ones: The New Doctorsas Nurse Klein 1968TVAdam-12as Mrs. James Nelson 1967TVThe Mothers-in-Lawas Elaine 1966TVFelony Squad 1965TVThe F.B.I.as Rooming House Manager 1965TVGidget 1964TVDaniel Booneas Varna Montgomery 1964TVThe Addams Familyas Eleanor Digby 1964FilmBristle Faceas Mrs. Jarkey 1963FilmGidget Goes to Romeas Mrs. Lawrence 1963FilmThe Iron Maidenas Miriam Fisher 1962TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonas Self 1961FilmForce of Impulseas Louise Reese 1961TVDr. Kildareas Evelyn Driscoll 1961FilmGidget Goes Hawaiianas Dorothy Lawrence 1961TVMister Edas Martha Harper 1959TVThe DuPont Show with June Allysonas Millie Moon 1957FilmMy Man Godfreyas Molly 1957TVPerry Masonas Sylvia Dykes 1957FilmSweet Smell of Successas Sally 1957FilmDestination 60,000as Ruth Buckley 1957FilmThe Guns of Fort Petticoatas Mary Wheller 1956FilmSincerely, Willis Wadeas Sylvia 1956TVThe Dinah Shore Chevy Showas Self 1956FilmMagnificent Roughnecksas Julie 1955TVMatinee Theater 1954TVThe Wonderful World of Disneyas Mrs. Jarkey 1954TVClimax!as Kay Matheson 1954TVThe George Gobel Showas Self 1954TVStudio 57 1954FilmMeet the O'Briensas Nancy 1954FilmMassacre Canyonas Cora 1953FilmFlight Nurseas Lt. Ann Phillips 1953FilmSo This Is Loveas Henrietta Van Dyke 1953FilmThe Blue Gardeniaas Sally Ellis 1952TVOmnibusas Helen 1952TVThe Ford Television Theatreas Doris 1952FilmBecause You're Mineas Patty Ware 1952TVCavalcade of Americaas Ann Rutledge 1952FilmSkirts Ahoy!as Giff 1952FilmThief of Damascusas Sheherazade 1952FilmThe First Timeas Donna Gilbert 1951TVHallmark Hall of Fame 1951TVSchlitz Playhouse of Starsas Pug 1951TVRacket Squad 1951FilmThree Guys Named Mikeas Alice Raymend 1950FilmWalk Softly, Strangeras Gwen 1950FilmRedwood Forest Trailas Julie Wescott 1950FilmThe Fuller Brush Girlas Jane Bixby 1950FilmBig Timberas Sally 1950FilmHoedownas Vera Wright 1950FilmIn a Lonely Placeas Sylvia Nicolai 1949FilmEasy Livingas Penny McCarr 1949FilmPost Office Investigatoras April Shaughnessy 1949FilmOutcasts of the Trailas Vinnie White 1949FilmStagecoach Kidas Jessie Arnold 1949FilmRoughshodas Elaine Wyatt 1947FilmMr. District Attorneyas Miss Miller 1946FilmIt's Great to Be Youngas Georgia Johnson 1946FilmSinging on the Trailas Cindy Brown 1946FilmCowboy Bluesas Susan Nelson 1946FilmThe Unknownas Nina Arnold 1946FilmThat Texas Jamboreeas Jean Warren 1946FilmThe Phantom Thiefas Anne Parks Duncan 1946FilmNight Editoras Martha Cochrane 1946FilmThrow a Saddle on a Staras Judy Lane 1946FilmTars and Sparsas Peggy McDougal 1945FilmSong of the Prairieas Penelope 'Penny' Stevens 1945FilmOver 21as Jan Lupton 1945FilmA Thousand and One Nightsas Harem Girl 1945FilmThe Power of the Whistleras Frances 'Francie' Lane 1945FilmEadie Was a Ladyas Pamela 'Pepper' Parker 1944FilmCarolina Bluesas Charlotte Barton 1944FilmDancing in Manhattanas Julie Connors 1944Film3 Is a Familyas Hazel Whittaker 1944FilmShe's a Soldier Tooas Mary Fleming (uncredited)1944FilmStars on Paradeas Mary Brooks 1944FilmNine Girlsas "Butch" Hendricks 1943FilmThere's Something About a Soldieras Jean Burton 1943FilmDoughboys in Irelandas Molly Callahan 1942FilmA Night to Rememberas Anne Carstairs 1942FilmThe Boogie Man Will Get Youas Winnie Slade 1942FilmMy Sister Eileenas Helen Loomis