Jean Hagen

Jean Hagen has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contribution to television, at 1502 Vine Street. She returned to the screen three more times, playing Claire Quintana in the 1969 film Death of a Gunfighter, Glinda the Good Witch in The Wiz (1978), with Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, and co-hosting the 1994 MGM retrospective That's Entertainment! III. She made her final film appearance in a 1977 television movie before her death from throat cancer. Disenchanted with Hollywood by the mid-1950s, and increasingly focused on her nightclub career, she only made two major appearences in MGM films during the decade, 1950's Duchess of Idaho (which was also Eleanor Powell's film swan song), and the 1956 musical Meet Me in Las Vegas. In the 1960s Hagen's health began to decline and she spent many years hospitalised or in care. (As a result, most of Horne's film appearances were standalone sequences that had no bearing on the rest of the film, so editing caused no disruption to the storyline.) She was originally considered for the lead role in the 1951 version of Show Boat but Ava Gardner was given the role instead. Although she made frequent guest appearances in various television series, she was unable to successfully resume her film career, and for the remainder of her career played supporting roles, such as the friend of Bette Davis in Dead Ringer (1964). She later appeared in a number of MGM musicals, most notably Cabin in the Sky, but was never featured in a leading role due to her race and the fact that films featuring her had to be reedited for showing in southern states where theatres could not show films with African-American performers.

As the first wife of Danny Thomas, Hagen received three Emmy Award nominations, but after two seasons she grew dissatisfied and left the series. She was the first African American performer to sign a long-term contract with a major Hollywood studio, and became famous in 1943 for her rendition of Stormy Weather in the movie of the same name. MGM failed to provide her with a quality follow up role to enable her to build on her growing popularity, and by 1953 she had joined the cast of Make Room for Daddy. While she has recorded and performed extensively with jazz musicians (notably Artie Shaw and Teddy Wilson), she is usually not considered a jazz singer because she does not improvise. As the vain and talentless silent movie star Lina Lamont, Hagen received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress nomination. Lena Calhoun Horne (born June 30, 1917) is an American popular singer. She is arguably best remembered for her comic performance in Singin' in the Rain (1950). Being Myself (1998; Blue Note).

The Asphalt Jungle (1950) provided Hagen with her first starring role, and excellent reviews. An Evening with Lena Horne (1995; Blue Note) - Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album. Born Jean Shirley Verhagen in Chicago, Illinois, Hagen studied drama and worked as a theater usherette before making her film debut as a femme fatale in Adam's Rib (1949). We'll Be Together Again (1994; Blue Note). Jean Hagen (August 3, 1923 – August 29, 1977) was an American film actress. The Men in My Life (1988; Three Cherries). The Lady and Her Music (1981; Qwest) - Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

Lena: A New Album (1976; RCA). Lena and Michel (1975; RCA). Nature's Baby (1971; Buddah). Lena & Gabor (1970; Skye).

Soul (1966; UA). Merry from Lena (1966; UA). Lena in Hollywood (1966; UA). Feelin' Good (1965; UA).

Here's Lena Now! (1964; 20th Century). Sings Your Requests (1963; Charter). Lena Goes Latin (1963; Charter). Lovely & Alive (1963; RCA).

Lena on the Blue Side (1962; RCA). At the Sands (1961; RCA). Songs by Burke and Van Heusen (1960; RCA). Porgy & Bess (1959; RCA) - with Harry Belafonte.

Give the Lady What She Wants (1958; RCA). Jamaica [Original Cast Recording] (1957; RCA). At the Waldorf Astoria (1957; RCA). Stormy Weather (1956; RCA).

It's Love (1955; RCA). That's Entertainment! III (1994; MGM). The Wiz (1978; Universal Studios). Death of a Gunfighter (1969; Universal Studios).

Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956; MGM). Duchess of Idaho (1950; MGM). Words and Music (1948; MGM). Studio Visit (1946; MGM short subject).

Ziegfeld Follies (1946; MGM). Mantan Messes Up (1946; Toddy Pictures). Till the Clouds Roll By (1946; MGM). Boogie-Woogie Dream (1944; Official Films short subject).

Broadway Rhythm (1944; MGM). Swing Fever (1944; MGM). Two Girls and a Sailor (1944; MGM). Cabin in the Sky (1943; MGM).

I Dood It (1943; MGM). Stormy Weather (1942; 20th Century Fox). Thousands Cheer (1943; MGM). Panama Hattie (1942; MGM)*.

The Duke is Tops (1938; Million Dollar Pictures).