Arleen Whelan

Arleen Whelan
Whelan in 1938
Born(1916-09-01)September 1, 1916
DiedApril 7, 1993(1993-04-07) (aged 76)
OccupationActress
Years active1937–1957
Spouses
(m. 1940; div. 1943)
    Hugh Owen
    (m. 1942; div. 1953)
      Dr. Warren O. Cagney
      (m. 1960; div. 1961)

      Arleen Whelan (September 1, 1916 – April 7, 1993[1]) was an American film actress.

      Early years

      Whelan was a native of Salt Lake City, Utah.[2] Before she became an actress, she worked in Southern California as a manicurist, contributing her earnings to help with her family's expenses.[3]

      Career

      Whelan appeared in 25 films between 1937 and 1957, reportedly after 20th Century Fox director H. Bruce Humberstone saw Whelan working as a manicurist in a barbershop. After her screen test, the studio cast Whelan as the female lead in a film version of Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped (1938).[4]

      Whelan's Broadway credits include Oh, Brother! (1945) and The Doughgirls (1942).[5]

      Personal life

      Whelan wed actor Alexander D'Arcy in September 1940, and they were divorced in 1943.[6] On October 1, 1942, she married Hugh Owen (a film distributor). They separated on July 8, 1952, and she filed for divorce in 1953.[7] Her third marriage, to Warren O. Cagney, also ended in divorce.[2]

      On April 8, 1993, Whelan died in Orange, California, following a stroke.[2]

      Filmography

      Year Title Role Notes
      1937 On Again-Off Again Minor Role Uncredited
      1938 Kidnapped Jean MacDonald
      Gateway Catherine O'Shea
      Thanks for Everything Madge Raines
      1939 Boy Friend Sue Duffy
      Young Mr. Lincoln Sarah Clay
      Sabotage Gail
      1940 Young People Judith
      Charter Pilot Raquel Andrews
      1941 Charley's Aunt Kitty Verdun
      1942 Castle in the Desert Brenda Hartford
      Sundown Jim Catherine Barr
      1943 Stage Door Canteen Herself
      1947 Suddenly, It's Spring Gloria Fay
      Ramrod Rose Leland
      Variety Girl Variety Girl Uncredited
      The Senator Was Indiscreet Valerie Shepherd
      1948 That Wonderful Urge Jessica Woods
      1949 Dear Wife Tommy Murphy
      1951 Passage West Rose Billings
      1952 Flaming Feather Carolina
      1953 Never Wave at a WAC Sgt. Toni Wayne
      San Antone Julia Allerby
      The Sun Shines Bright Lucy Lee Lake
      1956 The Women of Pitcairn Island Hutia
      1957 The Badge of Marshal Brennan Murdock
      Raiders of Old California Julie Johnson

      References

      1. ^ "United States Social Security Death Index". FamilySearch. Retrieved August 3, 2014. Arleen W Cagney, 07 Apr 1993; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
      2. ^ a b c "Obituaries : Arleen Whelan; Acting Career Began in 1937". Los Angeles Times. April 16, 1993. Archived from the original on July 19, 2017. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
      3. ^ "From A Manicure Girl To A Movie Star--It Can Happen in Hollywood--And Does!". The Sedalia Democrat. Missouri, Sedalia. June 19, 1938. p. 18. Retrieved July 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
      4. ^ "These are Hollywood's Movie-struck Kids". Life. June 6, 1938. p. 34. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
      5. ^ "Arleen Whelan". Playbill. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
      6. ^ "Arleen Whelan Gets Divorce, Prepares Return to N.Y." The Salt Lake Tribune. Utah, Salt Lake City. August 19, 1943. p. 12. Retrieved July 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
      7. ^ "Arleen Whelan Files For Divorce in L.A." The San Bernardino County Sun. California, San Bernardino. United Press. October 23, 1953. p. 39. Retrieved July 18, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.