Actress. Born Jean Shirley Verhagen in Chicago, Illinois, she attended Northwestern University, studying drama and music. After school, she moved to New York City where she landed dual jobs as a theatre usher and a radio performer. She made her Broadway debut in the drama "Another Part of the Forest" in November 1946. Her feature film debut came with back to back appearances in 1949's "Adam's Rib" and "Ambush." She earned a contract with MGM and a role in "Asphalt Jungle" in 1950. In 1952, Hagen appeared in what is probably her most famous role, silent film star Lina Lamont in "Singin' in the Rain," for which she actually did her own singing. She won an Academy Award nomination for her performance. For three seasons she played Danny Thomas' wife in the television series, "Make Room for Daddy" for which she earned two Emmy Award nominations. She appeared in "The Shaggy Dog" in 1959 and "Sunrise at Campobello" in 1960 as well as in numerous guest roles on television series including "The Andy Griffith Show," "Ben Casey," and "Wagon Train" before illness necessitated her retirement in 1964. In the 1970s, after undergoing treatment for throat cancer, she made a minor comeback playing guest roles in "Starsky and Hutch" and "The Streets of San Francisco" and in the made for TV film "Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn" in 1977. Hagen succumbed to her illness at the Motion Picture Country Home and Hospital at the age of 54. Her last appearance was released posthumously, a reprise of her role in "The Shaggy Dog" for the "The Wonderful World of Disney" in 1978. Her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is at 1502 Vine Street.
Actress. Born Jean Shirley Verhagen in Chicago, Illinois, she attended Northwestern University, studying drama and music. After school, she moved to New York City where she landed dual jobs as a theatre usher and a radio performer. She made her Broadway debut in the drama "Another Part of the Forest" in November 1946. Her feature film debut came with back to back appearances in 1949's "Adam's Rib" and "Ambush." She earned a contract with MGM and a role in "Asphalt Jungle" in 1950. In 1952, Hagen appeared in what is probably her most famous role, silent film star Lina Lamont in "Singin' in the Rain," for which she actually did her own singing. She won an Academy Award nomination for her performance. For three seasons she played Danny Thomas' wife in the television series, "Make Room for Daddy" for which she earned two Emmy Award nominations. She appeared in "The Shaggy Dog" in 1959 and "Sunrise at Campobello" in 1960 as well as in numerous guest roles on television series including "The Andy Griffith Show," "Ben Casey," and "Wagon Train" before illness necessitated her retirement in 1964. In the 1970s, after undergoing treatment for throat cancer, she made a minor comeback playing guest roles in "Starsky and Hutch" and "The Streets of San Francisco" and in the made for TV film "Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn" in 1977. Hagen succumbed to her illness at the Motion Picture Country Home and Hospital at the age of 54. Her last appearance was released posthumously, a reprise of her role in "The Shaggy Dog" for the "The Wonderful World of Disney" in 1978. Her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is at 1502 Vine Street.
Bio by: Iola
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