LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Kathleen Freeman: Jean Hagen
built 221 days ago
Freeman's most notable early role was an uncredited part in the 1952 musical Singin' in the Rain, as Jean Hagen's articulate diction coach Phoebe Dinsmore. In 1954, Freeman played receptionist Miss Seely for lawyer Adam Calhorn Shaw (Edmund Purdom) in Athena. Beginning with the 1955 film Artists and Models, Freeman became a favorite foil of Jerry Lewis, playing opposite him in ten movies. These included most of Lewis's better known comedies, including The Disorderly Orderly as Nurse Higgins, The Errand Boy as the studio boss's wife, and especially The Nutty Professor as Millie Lemon. Over thirty years later, she had a small cameo in The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, a sequel to the remake of the Lewis film.
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Born in Chicago, Illinois, Freeman began her career as a child performer, dancing in her parents' vaudeville act. After growing up on the road, she went to college at UCLA, studying in music, and planning to become a concert pianist, before starting to act full time, first starting on stage for several local theatre groups, before going to Hollywood, appearing first in the film Annie Was a Wonder in 1948. Her first notable film role was as Jean Hagen's articulate diction coach, Phoebe Dinsmore, in the 1952 muscial, Singin' in the Rain.
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Throughout her distinguished career, Freeman ... acted on stage and was featured in tours of such hits as "Deathtrap", "Woman of the Year" and "Annie" (playing Miss Hannigan). In 2000, she landed perhaps her best role ever as the crusty but lewd piano player Jeanette Burmeister (who just shows up one day out of the blue) in the hit musical "The Full Monty". Her second act opening number "Jeanette's Showbiz Number" proved one of the more memorable moments of the show and brought a richly deserved Tony nomination for the veteran performer.
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Jean Hagen