Jane Bryan

Jane Bryan
Jane Bryan
	Bryan, 1940
Born	Jane O'Brien; June 11, 1918; Hollywood, California, U.S.
Died	April 8, 2009 (aged 90); Pebble Beach, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1936–1940
Spouse(s)	Justin Dart (m. 1939⁠–⁠1984) (his death)
Children	3

Jane Bryan (born Jane O'Brien,[1] June 11, 1918 – April 8, 2009) was an American actress groomed by Warner Bros. to become one of its leading ladies until she married a drugstore magnate in 1940 and retired.

Early years

Born in Hollywood, California,[2] Bryan was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James O'Brien.[3] Her father was an attorney. Her first dramatic training came in Jean Muir's theatrical workshop,[4] where she was discovered by Bette Davis.[5]

Career

Bryan gained acting experience as an apprentice at the Hollywood Theatre Workshop.[2] Her film debut came in The Case of the Black Cat (1936).[6]

Her screen career lasted only four years, but she appeared in prominent roles in several memorable films, including Marked Woman (1937) with Davis and Humphrey Bogart; Kid Galahad (1937) with Edward G. Robinson, Davis, and Bogart; A Slight Case of Murder (1938) with Robinson; Each Dawn I Die (1939) with James Cagney and George Raft; Invisible Stripes (1939) with Raft, William Holden, and Bogart; and The Old Maid (1939) with Davis and Miriam Hopkins. Bryan's first leading role was in We Are Not Alone (1939). Associated Press writer Robbin Coons described her work in that film as "a heart-touching performance in which sincerity and truth are radiant factors."[7]

Marriage

Bryan married businessman and entrepreneur Justin Dart on New Year's Eve, 1939. They were married until his death in 1984.[6] Dart took control of the Boston-based United Drug Company in 1943, and rebranded the stores under the Rexall Drug name.

The Darts were staunch Republicans and helped persuade their personal friend, former California governor Ronald Reagan, to run for president of the United States in 1980.

Public service

Bryan served on the United States Commission of Fine Arts in Washington, D.C. from 1971 to 1976.

Death

Jane Bryan Dart died at her home on April 8, 2009, aged 90, in Pebble Beach, California, following a lengthy illness. She was survived by her three children, Guy Michael Dart, Jane Dart Tucker and Stephen M. Dart; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two brothers, William and Donald O'Brien.[8]

She was predeceased by her brother Jim O'Brien in 1986. Her stepson Justin Whitlock Dart, Jr., a disability-rights activist, died in 2002.

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1936	The Case of the Black Cat	Wilma Laxter
1936	The Captain's Kid	Betsy Ann Prentiss
1937	Under Southern Stars	Arlene	Short
1937	Marked Woman	Betty Strauber
1937	The Cherokee Strip	Janie Walton
1937	Kid Galahad	Marie Donati
1937	Confession	Lisa Koslov
1938	A Slight Case of Murder	Mary Marco
1938	The Sisters	Grace Elliott
1938	Girls on Probation	Connie Heath
1938	Brother Rat	Kate Rice
1939	The Man Who Dared	Marge Carter
1939	Each Dawn I Die	Joyce
1939	The Old Maid	Tina
1939	These Glamour Girls	Carol Christy
1939	We Are Not Alone	Leni Krafft
1939	Invisible Stripes	Peggy
1940	Brother Rat and a Baby	Kate	(final film role)

References

Room, Adrian (2012). Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins, 5th ed. McFarland. p. 80. ISBN 9780786457632. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
Jane Bryan Is First of Starlet Crop Who Really Knows How to Act. November 27, 1939. p. 87. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
"Plays real love role". Oakland Tribune. California, Oakland. Associated Press. January 1, 1940. p. 14. Retrieved April 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
"Protege of the stars". Detroit Free Press. Michigan, Detroit. Screen & Radio Weekly. November 19, 1939. p. 59. Retrieved April 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
Parsons, Louella O. (November 25, 1939). "Round-Faced Jane Bryan Hits Success Bull's Eye". Deseret News. Utah, Salt Lake City. International News Service. p. 7. Retrieved April 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
Lentz, Harris M. III (2010). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2009: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland. ISBN 9780786441747. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
Coons, Robbin (December 17, 1939). "Fine Acting -- Page Jane Bryan -- Wins Palm For 'We Are Not Alone'". The Tampa Tribune. Florida, Tampa. Associated Press. p. 44. Retrieved April 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
Nelson, Valerie J. (April 11, 2009). "Jane O'Brien Dart dies at 90; actress and her husband were in Reagan's inner circle". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 11, 2009.

External links

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[1] Room, Adrian (2012). Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins, 5th ed. McFarland. p. 80. ISBN 9780786457632. Retrieved 2 March 2018.

[:1-2] Jane Bryan Is First of Starlet Crop Who Really Knows How to Act. November 27, 1939. p. 87. Retrieved 2 March 2018.

[3] "Plays real love role". Oakland Tribune. California, Oakland. Associated Press. January 1, 1940. p. 14. Retrieved April 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.

[4] "Protege of the stars". Detroit Free Press. Michigan, Detroit. Screen & Radio Weekly. November 19, 1939. p. 59. Retrieved April 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.

[5] Parsons, Louella O. (November 25, 1939). "Round-Faced Jane Bryan Hits Success Bull's Eye". Deseret News. Utah, Salt Lake City. International News Service. p. 7. Retrieved April 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.

[:0-6] Lentz, Harris M. III (2010). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2009: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland. ISBN 9780786441747. Retrieved 2 March 2018.

[7] Coons, Robbin (December 17, 1939). "Fine Acting -- Page Jane Bryan -- Wins Palm For 'We Are Not Alone'". The Tampa Tribune. Florida, Tampa. Associated Press. p. 44. Retrieved April 5, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.

[LATObit-8] Nelson, Valerie J. (April 11, 2009). "Jane O'Brien Dart dies at 90; actress and her husband were in Reagan's inner circle". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 11, 2009.