Gloria Jean was an American actor who is best known for her roles in “Never Give a Sucker an Even Break,” “Destiny,” and “Copacabana.” She was born on April 14, 1926, in Buffalo, New York, and enjoyed a brief but notable career in film during the 1930s and 1940s.
Personal and Family Life
Gloria Jean Schoonover was born into a musical family and showed talent at a young age. She had one son, Angelo, and was a grandmother to four grandchildren. After retiring from acting in 1963, she lived in California for a time before moving to Hawaii in 2007 to be with her son and his family.
Career Achievements
Gloria’s career began when she was discovered at the age of 12 by a Universal director, leading to her first film role in 1939. Despite her success in musical films, her career faced challenges in adapting to changing roles in Hollywood. She retired from acting in 1963 but enjoyed a resurgence in popularity through eBay, where she sold copies of her films and memorabilia.
Death and Legacy
Gloria Jean passed away on August 31, 2018, in Mountain View, Hawaii, due to heart failure and pneumonia. She is buried in Hawaii’s Mountain View Community Cemetery. Her contributions to film and her unique voice have left a lasting impression on her fans and colleagues alike.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Never Give a Sucker an Even Break | 1941-10-10 | His Niece |
| Destiny | 1944-12-22 | Jane Broderick |
| Copacabana | 1947-05-30 | Anne Stuart |
| If I Had My Way | 1940-05-05 | Patricia ‘Pat’ Johnson |
| Get Hep to Love | 1942-10-02 | Doris Stanley |
| Air Strike | 1955-05-06 | Marg Huggins |
| Mister Big | 1943-05-28 | Patricia Davis |
| I’ll Remember April | 1945-04-01 | April Garfield |
| It Comes Up Love | 1943-04-09 | Victoria Peabody |
| A Little Bit of Heaven | 1940-10-10 | Midge Loring |
| The Under-Pup | 1939-08-31 | Pip-Emma Binns |
| What’s Cookin’? | 1942-02-20 | Sue Courtney |
| When Johnny Comes Marching Home | 1942-12-24 | Marilyn Benton |
| There’s a Girl in My Heart | 1949-12-19 | Ruth Kroner |
| I Surrender Dear | 1948-10-06 | Patty Nelson aka Patty Hart |
| Ghost Catchers | 1944-06-16 | Melinda Marshall |
| Easy to Look At | 1945-06-01 | |
| The Ladies Man | 1961-06-21 | Gloria |
| Manhattan Angel | 1949-03-17 | Gloria Cole |
| Pardon My Rhythm | 1944-05-01 | Jinx Page |
| An Old-Fashioned Girl | 1949-01-19 | Polly Milton |
| River Gang | 1945-09-21 | Wendy |
| Reckless Age | 1944-08-01 | Linda Wadsworth |
| Moonlight in Vermont | 1943-12-24 | Gwen Harding |
| Jingle Belles | 1941-12-24 | Herself |
| W.C. Fields: Straight Up | 1986-01-02 | Self |
| The Colgate Comedy Hour | 1950-09-10 | Self |
| Lock-Up | 1959-09-28 |