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Jean Hagen (August 3, 1923 – August 29,
1977) was an United States|American cinema|film
actor|actress.

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).  The Asphalt Jungle
(1950) provided Hagen with her first starring
role, and excellent reviews. 

She is arguably best remembered for her comic
performance in Singin' in the Rain (movie)|Singin'
in the Rain (1952).  As the vain and talentless
silent movie star Lina Lamont, Hagen received an
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
nomination.  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.  As the first
wife of Danny Thomas, Hagen received three Emmy
Award nominations, but after two seasons she grew
dissatisfied and left the series.  

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).

In the 1960s Hagen's health began to decline and
she spent many years hospitalised or in care.  She
made her final film appearance in a 1977
television movie before her death from throat
cancer.

Jean Hagen has a star on the Hollywood Walk of
Fame for her contribution to television, at 1502
Vine Street.