Jeni Le Gon was an American actress who is best known for Hooray for Love, I Walked with a Zombie, and I Shot Jesse James. She had a remarkable career as a dancer and actress, breaking barriers in the film industry during the 1930s and 1940s.
Personal and Family Life
Born Jennie May Ligon on August 14, 1916, in Georgia, Jeni Le Gon began her career in the arts at a young age. She trained at Mary Bruce’s School of Dancing and worked as a chorus girl before transitioning into vaudeville. In the 1960s, she relocated to Vancouver, British Columbia, where she opened her own dancing school.
Career Highlights
Jeni made her film debut in Hooray for Love in 1935, partnering with the famous dancer Bill Robinson. Although most of her roles in the 1930s and 1940s were in dance sequences or servant parts, she was able to secure lead roles in independently produced all-black cast films. She also performed on stage in New York and managed the Dance and Drama Playhouse in Los Angeles.
Death and Legacy
Jeni Le Gon passed away on December 7, 2012, in Vancouver, British Columbia. Her contributions to dance and film were recognized posthumously when she was inducted into the International Tap Dance Hall of Fame in 2002, marking her legacy in the world of performing arts.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| I Walked with a Zombie | 1943-04-21 | Dancer |
| I Shot Jesse James | 1949-02-26 | Veronica, Cynthy’s Maid |
| Hi-De-Ho | 1947-05-09 | Minnie |
| Ali Baba Goes to Town | 1937-10-29 | Specialty Dancer |
| My Son, The Hero | 1943-04-05 | Lambie |
| Somebody Loves Me | 1952-09-24 | Singer |
| Fools for Scandal | 1938-04-16 | Specialty |
| Hooray for Love | 1935-06-14 | Ballerina |
| Dishonour Bright | 1936-09-21 | Cabaret Dancer |
| Double Deal | 1939-12-16 | Nita |
| Take My Life | 1942-07-03 | Helen Stanley |
| In the Shadow of Hollywood: Race Movies and the Birth of Black Cinema | 2007-09-15 | Herself |
| Sundown | 1941-10-31 | Miriami |
| Arabian Nights | 1942-12-25 | Dresser |
| The Adventurous Blonde | 1937-11-13 | Maid (uncredited) |
| Stormy Weather | 1943-07-21 | Dancer (uncredited) |
| Glamour for Sale | 1940-09-27 | Maid (uncredited) |
| Easter Parade | 1948-07-08 | Essie (uncredited) |
| While Thousands Cheer | 1940-09-15 | Myra |
| I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Baby | 1940-05-01 | Annie |
| Bright Road | 1953-04-17 | |
| Hi-De-Ho | 1937-02-20 | Deacon’s Wife (uncredited) |
| Amos ‘n’ Andy | 1951-06-28 | Daphne Jackson (uncredited) |