Frances Dee

Geboren am
26. November 1909 · Los Angeles, Kalifornien, USA
Verstorben
6. März 2004 · Norwalk, Connecticut, USA (Komplikationen nach einem Schlaganfall)
Geburtsname
Frances Marion Dee
Größe
1,64 m

In 1935, she and husband Joel McCrea separated, but soon reconciled. In 1966, he filed for divorce, charging her with cruelty; however, the couple stayed married until his death.
Had three sons by Joel McCrea: Jody McCrea (born 1934), David McCrea (born 1935) and Peter McCrea (born 1955). Son Peter married Jack Lemmon's daughter Courtney Lemmon on March 24, 2001. Both Jody, David and their families reside in New Mexico. Frances passed away in Connecticut where she was staying with son Peter.
She accepted the role in Ich folgte einem Zombie (1943) so that she could use her salary to purchase a new automobile for her mother.
In 1995, she donated 220 acres of her Thousand Oaks (CA) ranch to the Conejo Recreation and Park District to be preserved as parkland. In 1981, she and husband Joel McCrea had given 75 acres to the District.
Initially had a screen test for the role of Scarlett O'Hara and was actually George Cukor's first choice for the role of Melanie Hamilton in Vom Winde verweht (1939), but was deemed by David O. Selznick as being too similar in beauty to Vivien Leigh to play the role. Olivia de Havilland was then given the role.

I wanted to give up my career when I married [Joel McCrea], but he wouldn't let me. I thought marriage, a home, husband and family were all I wanted. Joel knew I was sincere in my belief but he was wise enough to realize that sooner or later I might miss my work and blame him.
[on producer Harry Sherman] He was high on [Joel McCrea]; they loved westerns, and Sherman didn't think Paramount did right by Joel. He was rugged looking, with white hair. An outdoor man, an athlete--he was in those long bicycle marathons. He always liked bicycle riding--even in later years. He was charming, strong-looking, tall, and couldn't have been nicer to work with. He included everyone in on things. He was a very expansive kind of man. His personality suited his appearance.