Adele Jergens
Encyclopedia
Adele Jergens was an American actress.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Jergen's birth date is sometimes listed as 1922. Jergens first rose to prominence in the late 1930s, when she was named "Miss World's Fairest" at the 1939 New York World's Fair
. In the early 1940s, she worked as a Rockette
, and was named the Number One Showgirl in New York City
.
After a few years of working as a model and chorus girl, including being an understudy to Gypsy Rose Lee
, Jergens landed a movie contract with Columbia Pictures
in 1944, with brunette Jergens becoming a blonde. Her chorus girl past came in handy when she played an exotic dancer in Armored Car Robbery
(1950). She was usually cast as blonde floozies and burlesque dancers. She once played Marilyn Monroe
's mother in Ladies of the Chorus
(1948) despite the fact that Jergens was only 9 years older than Monroe.
In 1949, while filming Treasure of Monte Cristo, a film noir
set in San Francisco, she met and married co-star Glenn Langan (The Amazing Colossal Man
). They remained married until his death in 1991. Their only child, actor Tracy Langan, predeceased his mother. She is interred in the Oakwood Memorial Park Cemetery in Chatsworth, CA.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Jergen's birth date is sometimes listed as 1922. Jergens first rose to prominence in the late 1930s, when she was named "Miss World's Fairest" at the 1939 New York World's Fair
1939 New York World's Fair
The 1939–40 New York World's Fair, which covered the of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park , was the second largest American world's fair of all time, exceeded only by St. Louis's Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. Many countries around the world participated in it, and over 44 million people...
. In the early 1940s, she worked as a Rockette
The Rockettes
The Rockettes are a precision dance company performing out of the Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, New York City. During the Christmas season, the Rockettes have performed five shows a day, seven days a week, for 77 years...
, and was named the Number One Showgirl in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
After a few years of working as a model and chorus girl, including being an understudy to Gypsy Rose Lee
Gypsy Rose Lee
Gypsy Rose Lee was an American burlesque entertainer famous for her striptease act. She was also an actress, author, and playwright whose 1957 memoir was made into the stage musical and film Gypsy.-Early life:...
, Jergens landed a movie contract with Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
in 1944, with brunette Jergens becoming a blonde. Her chorus girl past came in handy when she played an exotic dancer in Armored Car Robbery
Armored Car Robbery
Armored Car Robbery is a 1950 American film noir shot in a semi-documentary style, directed by Richard Fleischer, and starring Charles McGraw. The movie was filmed on location in Los Angeles, California....
(1950). She was usually cast as blonde floozies and burlesque dancers. She once played Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....
's mother in Ladies of the Chorus
Ladies of the Chorus
Ladies of the Chorus is a 1948 Hollywood film produced by Columbia Pictures. It stars Marilyn Monroe in her first major role as Peggy Martin, a dancer who falls in love with a wealthy man portrayed by Rand Brooks...
(1948) despite the fact that Jergens was only 9 years older than Monroe.
In 1949, while filming Treasure of Monte Cristo, a film noir
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
set in San Francisco, she met and married co-star Glenn Langan (The Amazing Colossal Man
The Amazing Colossal Man
The Amazing Colossal Man is a 1957 black-and-white science fiction film, directed by Bert I. Gordon and starring Glenn Langan. The film revolves around a 60 foot mutant man produced as the result of an atomic accident....
). They remained married until his death in 1991. Their only child, actor Tracy Langan, predeceased his mother. She is interred in the Oakwood Memorial Park Cemetery in Chatsworth, CA.