Jeanne Kent Smith used two stage names in her profession as an actress, singer and dancer. She was known on the London stage as Ethel Kent, and to audiences in the United States by both that name and by the name of Jeanne Kent.
In the mid nineteen twenties, while working in London, England, she saw American actor Robert Armstrong ("King Kong", 1933) performing on stage in the hit production, "Is Zat So?" which co-starred his good friend and acting colleague, James Gleason. Jeanne was so impressed with Robert's acting that she wrote him a letter complimenting him. Her letter led to a meeting with him. The two fell in love and later married in London in June, 1926, with Jeanne using her birth name for the marriage ceremony.
Jeanne and Robert returned to the United States where both pursued their acting careers, he on stage and screen and she on stage in such plays as "This Thing Called Love" at the Dufwin Theatre in Oakland, CA, and also at the Hollywood Playhouse. They owned a lovely home on N. Alexandria Ave. in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, their marriage didn't last, and on July 28, 1931, they divorced. Little is known about Jeanne's life after her divorce.
In her late thirties, she developed pulmonary tuberculosis. Sadly, after suffering from that disease for eight years, she passed away at the Elliott Rest Ranch in rural Duarte, Los Angeles County, CA on June 15, 1950. Prior to her death, she had lived in Burbank, CA.
NOTE: Thanks and gratitude goes to LilyPondLane for providing Jeanne's bio, photos and for sponsoring her page!
Jeanne Kent Smith used two stage names in her profession as an actress, singer and dancer. She was known on the London stage as Ethel Kent, and to audiences in the United States by both that name and by the name of Jeanne Kent.
In the mid nineteen twenties, while working in London, England, she saw American actor Robert Armstrong ("King Kong", 1933) performing on stage in the hit production, "Is Zat So?" which co-starred his good friend and acting colleague, James Gleason. Jeanne was so impressed with Robert's acting that she wrote him a letter complimenting him. Her letter led to a meeting with him. The two fell in love and later married in London in June, 1926, with Jeanne using her birth name for the marriage ceremony.
Jeanne and Robert returned to the United States where both pursued their acting careers, he on stage and screen and she on stage in such plays as "This Thing Called Love" at the Dufwin Theatre in Oakland, CA, and also at the Hollywood Playhouse. They owned a lovely home on N. Alexandria Ave. in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, their marriage didn't last, and on July 28, 1931, they divorced. Little is known about Jeanne's life after her divorce.
In her late thirties, she developed pulmonary tuberculosis. Sadly, after suffering from that disease for eight years, she passed away at the Elliott Rest Ranch in rural Duarte, Los Angeles County, CA on June 15, 1950. Prior to her death, she had lived in Burbank, CA.
NOTE: Thanks and gratitude goes to LilyPondLane for providing Jeanne's bio, photos and for sponsoring her page!