Jeff Donnell
ActingAbout Jeff Donnell
Jean Marie "Jeff" Donnell (July 10, 1921 — April 11, 1988) was an American film and television actress. She grew up in South Windham, Maine. As a child, she adopted the nickname "Jeff" after the character in her favorite comic strip, Mutt and Jeff. Donnell graduated from Towson High School, Towson, Maryland, in 1938 and attended the Leland Powers School of Drama in Boston, Massachusetts. Later, she studied at the Yale School of Drama. She was signed to a contract by Columbia Pictures in 1942 and made her film debut in My Sister Eileen. She later had roles in some RKO films. She was not a major star, but she did have a lengthy film and television career in various supporting roles, including the role of Gidget's mother, "Dorothy Lawrence", opposite Carl Reiner in the 1961 movie Gidget Goes Hawaiian. Description above from the Wikipedia article Jeff Donnell, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Jeff Donnell reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Comedy
The majority of Jeff Donnell's filmography leans towards the Comedy genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 18% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Jeff Donnell remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Sweet Smell of Success, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Jeff Donnell Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Jeff Donnell's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Jeff Donnell.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Portrait of a Stripper | Edith Sterling | Flop | Similar → |
| 1979 | Rendezvous Hotel | Mrs. Williams | Flop | Similar → |
| 1979 | Murder by Natural Causes | Mrs. Mathews | Hit | Similar → |
| 1977 | Spider-Man | Aunt May Parker | Average | Similar → |
| 1972 | Stand Up and Be Counted | Ruth | Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | Congratulations, It's a Boy! | Rose | Average | Similar → |
| 1971 | Love Hate Love | Mary Blunden | Flop | Similar → |
| 1970 | Tora! Tora! Tora! | Cornelia | Hit | Similar → |
| 1969 | The Comic | Nurse | Average | Similar → |
| 1963 | Gidget Goes to Rome | Mrs. Lawrence | Flop | Similar → |
| 1963 | The Iron Maiden | Miriam Fisher | Average | Similar → |
| 1961 | Force of Impulse | Louise Reese | Flop | Similar → |
| 1961 | Gidget Goes Hawaiian | Dorothy Lawrence | Flop | Similar → |
| 1957 | My Man Godfrey | Molly | Average | Similar → |
| 1957 | Sweet Smell of Success | Sally | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1957 | The Guns of Fort Petticoat | Mary Wheller | Average | Similar → |
| 1954 | Massacre Canyon | Cora | Flop | Similar → |
| 1953 | Flight Nurse | Lt. Ann Phillips | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | So This Is Love | Henrietta Van Dyke | Flop | Similar → |
| 1953 | The Blue Gardenia | Sally Ellis | Average | Similar → |
| 1952 | Because You're Mine | Patty Ware | Hit | Similar → |
| 1952 | Skirts Ahoy! | Giff | Flop | Similar → |
| 1952 | Thief of Damascus | Sheherazade | Average | Similar → |
| 1952 | The First Time | Donna Gilbert | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | Three Guys Named Mike | Alice Raymend | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | Walk Softly, Stranger | Gwen | Flop | Similar → |
| 1950 | The Fuller Brush Girl | Jane Bixby | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | Hoedown | Vera Wright | Flop | Similar → |
| 1950 | In a Lonely Place | Sylvia Nicolai | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1949 | Easy Living | Penny McCarr | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | Post Office Investigator | April Shaughnessy | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | Stagecoach Kid | Jessie Arnold | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | Roughshod | Elaine Wyatt | Flop | Similar → |
| 1947 | Mr. District Attorney | Miss Miller | Average | Similar → |
| 1946 | The Unknown | Nina Arnold | Average | Similar → |
| 1946 | The Phantom Thief | Anne Parks Duncan | Flop | Similar → |
| 1946 | Night Editor | Martha Cochrane | Flop | Similar → |
| 1946 | Tars and Spars | Peggy McDougal | Flop | Similar → |
| 1945 | Over 21 | Jan Lupton | Flop | Similar → |
| 1945 | A Thousand and One Nights | Harem Girl | Average | Similar → |
| 1945 | The Power of the Whistler | Frances 'Francie' Lane | Average | Similar → |
| 1945 | Eadie Was a Lady | Pamela 'Pepper' Parker | Flop | Similar → |
| 1944 | Carolina Blues | Charlotte Barton | Flop | Similar → |
| 1944 | Dancing in Manhattan | Julie Connors | Average | Similar → |
| 1944 | She's a Soldier Too | Mary Fleming (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1944 | Nine Girls | "Butch" Hendricks | Flop | Similar → |
| 1943 | There's Something About a Soldier | Jean Burton | Flop | Similar → |
| 1942 | A Night to Remember | Anne Carstairs | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | The Boogie Man Will Get You | Winnie Slade | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | My Sister Eileen | Helen Loomis | Hit | Similar → |
Jeff Donnell - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Jeff Donnell?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Jeff Donnell is "Sweet Smell of Success" with a rating of 7.6/10.
How many movies has Jeff Donnell acted in?
Jeff Donnell has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Jeff Donnell?
Other notable films include "In a Lonely Place", "Tora! Tora! Tora!", and "Stand Up and Be Counted".