{{Short description|American actress (1923–2005)}} {{about|the American actress|the English-born actress|Jeannie Carson}} {{Use American English|date=December 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}} {{Infobox person | name = Jean Carson | image = Jean Carson in Frontier Doctor.jpg | alt = | caption = Carson in the TV series ''Frontier Doctor'' (1959) | birth_name = Jean Leete Carson | birth_date = {{Birth date|1923|02|28|mf=y}} | birth_place = Charleston, West Virginia, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|2005|11|02|1923|02|28|mf=y}} | death_place = Palm Springs, California, U.S. | occupation = Actress | years_active = 1949–1977 | spouse = Leonard S. Smith, Jr. | children = 2 | website = {{URL|hellodoll.com}} }}
'''Jean Leete Carson'''{{Citation needed |date=September 2024}} (February 28, 1923 – November 2, 2005) was an American stage, film and television actress best known for her work on the classic 1960s sitcom ''The Andy Griffith Show'' as one of the "fun girls".
==Early life== Carson was born in Charleston, West Virginia.<ref name=opa/>
== Stage == Carson's early theatrical work included acting in productions of the Kanawha Players.<ref>{{cite news|title=Home Again for Jean Carson|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9248724/the_charleston_daily_mail/|work=The Charleston Daily Mail|date=November 20, 1955|location=West Virginia, Charleston|page=20|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = February 28, 2017}} {{Open access}}</ref> She made her Broadway debut in George S. Kaufman's ''Bravo'' (1948), which garnered her a Theater World Award.<ref name=opa/> Her other Broadway work included ''The Bird Cage'' (1950) and ''Anniversary Waltz'' (1954).<ref>{{cite web |title=Jean Carson |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/jean-carson-94250 |website=Internet Broadway Database |publisher=The Broadway League |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170524090010/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/jean-carson-94250 |archive-date=May 24, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
== Television == <!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Jean Carson and Joyce Jameson.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Jean Carson as Daphne, one of "The Fun Girls" on ''The Andy Griffith Show'' in her most well-known acting role (from right to left) Jean Carson and Skippy played by Joyce Jameson{{Deletable file-caption|Saturday, 7 January 2023|F7}}]] --> Carson went on to appear in many pioneering television series, including ''Studio One'', ''NBC Presents'', ''The Twilight Zone'' (as Paula in "A Most Unusual Camera", a part written especially for her by Rod Serling){{Citation needed |date=July 2024}} and ''The Ford Theatre Hour''. She continued to make guest starring appearances throughout the 1950s, including as Annie, a. saloon moll in "Wagon Train" S1 E12 "The Riley Gratton Story" in 1957. She played Paula in ''Peter Gunn'' in 1958 and had a regular role on 1959's ''The Betty Hutton Show''.
She played the part of a saloon owner (Maggie) who takes in an orphan in season 1 episode 9 of the series ''Sugarfoot'' in 1958.
On ''The Andy Griffith Show,'' Carson had a brief role as Naomi in a 1962 episode ("Convicts at Large" with Jane Dulo and Reta Shaw), but her most popular role was Daphne, one of the "fun girls",<ref name="opa" /> who appeared with Joyce Jameson on a recurring basis from 1962 to 1965. Daphne was a notorious flirt who greeted her objects of affection with a throaty "Hello, doll".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.christianactivities.com/interview-jean-carson |title="Interview with Mayberry Fun Girl Jean Carson," "Christian Activities," June 21, 2004 |access-date=August 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030318/http://www.christianactivities.com/interview-jean-carson |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In February 1964, she had a featured role as a nosy neighbor in "The Case of the Bountiful Beauty", season 7, episode 17 of ''Perry Mason''.
== Film == Carson had roles in films such as 1955's ''The Phenix City Story'' and 1958's ''I Married a Monster from Outer Space''.
She earned fourth billing in the 1968 Peter Sellers comedy ''The Party'', perhaps her best-known film. Her last film role was 1977's ''Fun with Dick and Jane''.
== Personal life ==
Carson was married to Leonard Smith Jr.,<ref name="rr">{{cite news|title=Father Of Actress Jean Carson Dies|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9248474/the_raleigh_register/|work=The Raleigh Register|agency=Associated Press|date=December 17, 1959|location=West Virginia, Beckley|page=2|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = February 28, 2017}} {{Open access}}</ref> who was the assistant manager of the Roxy Theater.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Winchell|first1=Walter|title=Broadway and Elsewhere|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9248588/logansport_pharostribune/|work=Logansport Pharos-Tribune|date=March 14, 1956|location=Indiana, Logansport|page=4|via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = February 28, 2017}} {{Open access}}</ref>
== Death == On November 2, 2005, Carson died in Palm Springs, California,<ref name="opa">{{cite book|last1=Lentz|first1=Harris M. III|title=Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2005: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture|date=2006|publisher=McFarland|isbn=9780786424894|page=63|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2nvGCwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Jean+Carson%22+actress&pg=PA63|accessdate=1 March 2017|language=en}}</ref> from complications of a stroke; she was 82 years old.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/08/AR2005110801445_pf.html|title=Obituaries in the News|date=2005-11-08|accessdate=2008-06-28 | newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> She was survived by two sons.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Willis|first1=John|last2=Monush|first2=Barry|title=Screen World Film Annual|date=2006|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|isbn=9781557837066|page=390|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iGiCdRyJ1EsC&dq=%22Jean+Carson%22+actress&pg=PA390|accessdate=1 March 2017|language=en}}</ref>
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Other notes |- |rowspan=2|1949 |''NBC Presents'' | |TV, 1 episode |- |''The Philco Television Playhouse'' | |TV, 1 episode |- |1949–1952 |''Studio One'' |Mary Warren |TV, 3 episodes |- |rowspan=3|1950 |''The Ford Theatre Hour'' | |TV, 1 episode |- |''The Trap'' | |TV, 1 episode |- |''Robert Montgomery Presents'' | |TV, 1 episode |- |1951 |''The Adventures of Ellery Queen'' | |TV, 2 episodes |- |1952 |''Schlitz Playhouse of Stars'' |Model |TV, 1 episode |- |1953 |''Eye Witness'' | |TV, 1 episode |- |rowspan=3|1954 |''Inner Sanctum'' |Vera Craig |TV, 1 episode |- |''The Mask'' | |TV, 1 episode |- |''The Man Behind the Badge'' | |TV, 1 episode |- |1955 |''The Phenix City Story'' |Cassie | |- |rowspan=4|1957 |''The 20th Century Fox Hour'' |Ethel Marzack |TV, 1 episode |- |''The Gale Storm Show'' |Josephine |TV, 1 episode |- |''The Court of Last Resort'' |Myra North |TV, 1 episode |- |''M Squad'' |Doris Colby |TV, 1 episode |- |rowspan=6|1958 |''Sugarfoot'' |Lilly |TV, 1 episode |- |''Bachelor Father'' | |TV, 1 episode |- |''The Phil Silvers Show'' |Bidgett Hepperwhite |TV, 1 episode |- |''I Married a Monster from Outer Space'' |Helen Rhodes | |- |''Death Valley Days'' |Della Allison |TV, 1 episode |- |''Peter Gunn'' |Pearl |TV, 1 episode |- |rowspan=6|1959 |''Frontier Doctor'' |Flo Warren |TV, 1 episode |- |''The Sound and the Fury'' |Mary Ellen |Uncredited |- |''General Electric Theater'' |Dorris Krosky |TV, 1 episode |- |''Here Come the Jets'' |Jean | |- |''The Walter Winchell File'' |Florrie |TV, 1 episode |- |''The Millionaire'' |Marie |TV, 1 episode |- |1959–1960 |''The Betty Hutton Show'' |Rosemary |TV, unknown episodes |- |rowspan=3|1960 |''The Chevy Mystery Show'' |Donna |TV, 1 episode |- |''Lock-Up'' | |TV, 1 episode |- |''The Twilight Zone'' |Paula Diedrich |TV, 1 episode |- |rowspan=6|1961 |''Ripcord'' |Blanche Telford |TV, 1 episode |- |''Dante'' |Ginny Kane |TV, 1 episodes |- |''Sanctuary'' |Norma | |- |''The Tom Ewell Show'' |Diane |TV, 1 episodes |- |''Coronado 9'' |Lois Dixon |TV, 1 episode |- |''The Untouchables'' |Sylvia Orkins |TV, 1 episode |- |rowspan=2|1962 |''The Joey Bishop Show'' |Marge |TV, 3 episodes |- |''Stoney Burke'' |Merle |TV, 1 episode |- |1963 |''77 Sunset Strip'' |Viola Dorn |TV, 1 episode |- |1962–1965 |''The Andy Griffith Show'' |"fun girl" Daphne (3x) escaped convict Naomi (1x) |TV, 4 episodes |- |rowspan=4|1964 |''Perry Mason'' |Mrs. Mitchell |TV, 1 episode |- |''One Man's Way'' |Woman Who Shoots Husband | |- |''Burke's Law'' |Eagle Eye |TV, 1 episode |- |''Wendy and Me'' |Mrs. Talbot |TV, 1 episode |- |1966 |''Chamber of Horrors '' | |Uncredited |- |rowspan=2|1967 |''Warning Shot'' |Cocktail Waitress |Uncredited |- |''Gunn'' |Waitress |Uncredited |- |rowspan=2|1968 |''The Party'' |Nanny | |- |''The Outsider'' |Mary Potter |TV, 1 episode |- |1969 |''Anatomy of a Crime'' |Mary Potter |Television movie |- |1977 |''Fun with Dick and Jane'' |Paula |(final film role) |} {{Portal|Biography|Los Angeles|Theatre|Film|Television}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * [http://www.hellodoll.com/ "Hello Doll" - Official website] * {{IMDb name|0141255}} * {{IBDB name|94250}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030318/http://www.christianactivities.com/interview-jean-carson 2003 Jean Carson interview] at [http://www.christianactivities.com Christian Activities]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Carson, Jean}} Category:1923 births Category:2005 deaths Category:American film actresses Category:American stage actresses Category:American television actresses Category:Carnegie Mellon University College of Fine Arts alumni Category:Actresses from Charleston, West Virginia Category:Actresses from Los Angeles Category:Actresses from Palm Springs, California Category:20th-century American actresses