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

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)

Early years

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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

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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

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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

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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

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  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.  
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