Jean Engstrom

Jean Engstrom (born Flora Jean Bovie,[1] July 25, 1920 – March 20, 1997) was an American actress active in regional theater, movies, and television in the 1950s and 1960s.

Jean Engstrom
Born	Flora Jean Bovie (1920-07-25)July 25, 1920
Died	March 20, 1997(1997-03-20) (aged 76)

Background

Engstrom was born in Detroit, Michigan on July 25, 1920, [1] [2] the elder of two children [3] born to Clarence Augustus Bovie (1892-1928), [2] [4] an artist [4] and commercial illustrator, [5] and Nona Iola Cochrun (1895-1976) [2] [6] After her father's death due to a cerebral hemorrhage in 1928,[4] 1930 census records show that she and her mother and younger brother were living with her father's mother (paternal grandmother) in Augusta, Michigan. [3] In 1935, they were living in Battle Creek, Michigan.[7] [8] When Engstrom was 16 the family moved to Southern California [9] and lived for a while with her maternal grandmother, [7] and it is there that she completed high school. [8] On February 14, 1940, Flora Jean Bovie married Richard Harold Moon (1916-1989) in Baldwin Park, California. [10] On June 30, 1942, their only child, daughter Liana Jeanne Moon (later to be actress Jena Engstrom) was born. [11] Flora Jean and Richard Moon would divorce and in about 1947 she married her second husband, [9] Elliott E. Engstrom [2] (1920- ), who would later adopt her daughter. They would remain married until her death. In the mid-1980s she developed breast cancer, [2] had a mastectomy performed in July 1985, [2] and would die of breast cancer on March 20, 1997, in a convalescent hospital in Hemet, California. [2] Her body is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California. [12]

Career

Flora Jean Bovie originally wanted to become a singer, but a crushed breast plate suffered in an automobile accident affected her vocal chords and she turned to modeling. [9] A 1958 TV Guide article states that she began acting in 1940 [9] while a 1962 syndicated news articles states that she began acting in 1951. Whenever her acting career started, she began acting with little theater groups in and around the Hollywood area. [9] She later moved to work in movies and in television and during this time studied with Francis Lederer's improvisation group. [9] She used the name Jean Engstrom professionally and during her career she appeared in over 50 plays, in at least 8 movies, and in about 40 television programs before leaving acting.

Theatrical career (regional theater)

While it is not clear when Flora Jean Bovie, now known as Jean Engstrom, began acting in regional theater, it is clear that she spent a lot of time working in theater. By the time of the 1962 syndicated news article she told the interviewer that she had appeared in 52 plays. [13] Her most notable stage appearance may have come in January 1961 when she appeared in the title role of George Bernard Shaw's Candida, co-starring Jeff Morrow and directed by John Newland. The play was produced by the Los Angeles-based acting, writing and directing group Projects '58 and televised by KNXT (now KCBS-TV) television in Los Angeles and shown by television stations across the country.[14]

Movie career

A theatrical appearance with a stock company in Tucson, Arizona led to a short-lived contract with Paramount Pictures. [15] Most of Jean Engstrom's movie appearances were in bit parts and her first recorded appearances begin in 1954 with roles as party guests in Drive a Crooked Road [16] [17] starring Mickey Rooney and in A Star Is Born[18][19] (1954 film) starring Judy Garland and James Mason. In 1956, she used the name Flora Jean Engstrom for the only time when she appeared in a small role in The Search for Bridey Murphy[20] starring Teresa Wright. Her larger roles came in more modest productions, receiving featured billing in the 1957 production Voodoo Island[21] and the 1958 production The Space Children, which are now cult classics. Her character Claire Winter in Voodoo Island is presented as a lesbian with a crush on the leading lady played by Beverly Tyler, a theme that was unusual for its time. She also appeared as a party guest in the 1958 film The Party Crashers[22] , Bobby Driscoll's last movie appearance. Her final movie appearance was a starring role in the 1965 Billy Graham-produced The Restless Ones[23] in which she played Mrs. Harris, the alcoholic mother of the girl April, played by Kim Darby.

Television career

Jean Engstrom began appearing in television in 1953[9] although her earliest TV appearances have not been confirmed. Her first TV appearances recorded in current databases are in three 1955 episodes of Medic[24][25][26] starring Richard Boone. Between 1953 and 1965 she appeared in about 40 TV programs, mostly in supporting roles. She appeared in westerns, crime dramas, comedies, and contemporary dramas in which she often played mothers (including an unwed mother who gives birth during an episode of Have Gun, Will Travel), but she also played wives and widows, a school psychologist, a social secretary, and even a deputy sheriff and a psychotic killer. In addition to her three appearances on Medic[24][25][26] she appeared twice more with Richard Boone in episodes of Have Gun, Will Travel.[27][28] She also made multiple appearances on other shows, including three appearances on Perry Mason[29][30][31] starring Raymond Burr and two appearances each on Peter Gunn[32][33] starring Craig Stevens, two on Thriller[34][35] starring Boris Karloff, and two on Hazel[36][37] starring Shirley Booth. She appeared as Lonny Chapman's wife in Dead Man's Tale, series 3 episode 17 of One Step Beyond in 1961. Presented by John Newland for the ABC Network, the series ran from 1959 to 1961.

Mother and daughter

Jean Engstrom's daughter Liana was also an actress and appeared as Jena Engstrom in at least 37 television episodes between 1960 and 1964 (when it appears that she left acting for health reasons). Most on-line databases and this article have listed only two of the three TV shows in which they appeared together. The first of the two shows listed is the April 1961 episode of the CBS program Rawhide titled "Incident of the Lost Idol" in which they appeared as mother and daughter. They had only one brief scene together as the story was not about their relationship. The second show listed is the January 1962 episode "To Sell Another Human Being" of ABC's The New Breed, starring Leslie Nielsen,[38] in which mother Jean played a wealthy woman who with her husband (played by Richard Arlen) adopt a baby through an adoption mill. The police get involved when the baby's natural mother, played by daughter Jena, tries to get her baby back. The third television show in with they appeared together is an unidentified 30-minute religious program presented in 1961 in which they played mother and daughter. In this story a girl (Jena) has trouble relating to her parents until a session with teenagers at a church is recorded and the recording made available to the parents to listen to. Appearing in this show with Jean and Jena Engstrom are Robert Stevenson as Jena’s father and Richard Evans as her boyfriend. This film, minus the opening and closing credits, has been posted on-line.[39]

Confused credits

The acting credits of mother Jean and daughter Jena were confused at the time they were active together in the business resulting in mixed credits in newspapers and problems with pay checks.[40] The mixed credits appear in some Internet databases, but the situation is improving as site managers are posting corrections as the errors are discovered.

DVDs

Several of the television series listed below have been released by their studios on DVD that are available for sale or for rent. Those marked "Yes" include sets with the episodes featuring Jean Engstrom.

Television roles[15][41][42]

Note: "Episode" column: 2.9 indicates Season 2, Episode 9, etc.

AIR DATE	SHOW	EPISODE	EPISODE TITLE	CHARACTER	NOTES	DVD
1953-1955	My Favorite Husband[9]				No other information available about this appearance.
Jan. 24, 1955	Medic	1.15	"Breath of Life"[24]	Nurse Blakeny	1st of 3 appearances on this show.	Yes
Sep. 15, 1955	Medic	2.1	"All the Lonely Nights"[25]	Marian Castle	2nd of 3 appearances on this show.	Yes
Oct. 31, 1955	Medic	2.7	"When Mama Says Jump"[26]	Mrs. Dixon	3rd of 3 appearances on this show.	Yes
Nov. 15, 1955	Big Town	6.6	"Prison Riot"[43]
May 1, 1957	State Trooper	1.32	"Diamonds Come High"[44]	Deputy Sheriff Lili Haskell		Yes
May 3, 1957	The West Point Story[9]	1.32	"Flareup"[45]	Colonel’s Wife		Yes
Dec. 24, 1957	Telephone Time	3.16	"A Picture of the Magi"[46][47][48]	Elga		Yes
Jan. 6, 1958	Highway Patrol	3.14	"Hideout""[49]	Flo Durfee		Yes
Apr. 6, 1958	General Electric Theater	6.26	"No Hiding Place"[50]	Mrs. Lindsay
Jul. 15, 1958	Shirley Temple Theatre	1.9	"The Little Lame Prince"[51]	Snow Maiden
Apr. 6, 1959	Peter Gunn	1.28	"Pay Now, Kill Later"[32]	Lady Customer	1st of 2 appearances on this show.	Yes
Dec. 6, 1960	Thriller	1.12	"The Big Blackout"[34]	Nurse Sue	1st of 2 appearances on this show.	Yes
Jan. 17, 1961	Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond	3.17	"Dead Man's Tale"[52]	Jan Werris
Feb. 13, 1961	Peter Gunn	3.19	"I Know It's Murder"[33]	Helene Eustis	2nd of 2 appearances on this show.	Yes
Feb. 16, 1961	Gunslinger	1.2	"The Hostage Fort"[53]	Mrs. Barnes
Mar. 18, 1961	Have Gun, Will Travel	4.26	"The Gold Bar"[27]	Leah	1st of 2 appearances on this show.	Yes
Apr. 16, 1961	Rawhide	3.24	"Incident of the Lost Idol"[54]	Mrs. Manson	Daughter Jean Engstrom also appears in this episode.	Yes
Oct. 16, 1961	87th Precinct	1.4	"The Modus Man"[55]	Mrs. Renfew		Yes
Dec. 7, 1961	The Investigators	1.10	"Panic Wagon"[56]	Frieda Gregory
Jan 16,1962	The New Breed	1.16	"To Sell Another Human Being"[38][57]	Carol Willets	Daughter Jena Engstrom also appears in this episode.
Feb. 1, 1962	Hazel	1.18	"Hazel's Secret Wish"[36]	Mrs. Camden	1st of 2 appearances on this show.	Yes
Feb 9, 1962	Route 66	2.18	"How Much a Pound Is Albatross?"[58]	Dr. Bell		Yes
Apr. 9, 1962	Thriller	2.28	"The Innocent Bystanders"[35]	Anne Grant	2nd of 2 appearances on this show.	Yes
Sep. 20, 1962	Hazel	2.1	"Hazel's Cousin"[37]	June Lowell	2nd of 2 appearances on this show.	Yes
Oct. 4, 1962	Perry Mason	6.2	"The Case of the Capricious Corpse"[29]	Claudia Demming	1st of 3 appearances on this show.	Yes
Oct. 6, 1962	Have Gun, Will Travel	6.4	"A Place for Abel Hix"[28]	Mrs. Hix	2nd of 2 appearances on this show.	Yes
Mar. 24, 1963	This Is the Life		"Side By Side"[59]	Laura Blair
Apr. 23, 1963	Empire	1.29	"65 Miles Is a Long, Long Way"[60]	Mrs. Sangster
Oct. 3, 1963	The Donna Reed Show	6.3	"Whatever You Wish"[61]	Ellen Farrell
Nov. 15, 1963	The Farmer's Daughter	1.9	"Miss Cheese"[62]	Saleslady
Dec. 20, 1963	The Great Adventure	1.11	"A Boy at War"[63]	Elizabeth
Jan 9, 1964	Perry Mason	7.14	"The Case of the Accosted Accountant"[30]	Vera Hillman	2nd of 2 appearances on this show.	Yes
Oct. 20, 1964	Mr. Novak	2.4	"Little Girl Lost"[64]	Mrs. Currie
Apr. 22, 1965	Dr. Kildare	4.30	"Believe and Live"[65]	Dr. Larson's Nurse
Nov. 14, 1965	Bonanza	7.10	"The Strange One"	Francine
Dec. 19, 1965	Perry Mason	9.14	"The Case of the Golden Girls"[31]	Corinne Richland	3rd of 3 appearances on this show.	Yes
Dec. 23, 1965	My Three Sons	6.14	"Douglas a Go-Go"[66]	Mrs. Hargrove
Feb. 2, 1966	Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre	3.12	"When Hell Froze"[67][68]	Hattie House
Oct. 5, 1966	Death Valley Days	15.4	"Brute Angel"[69]	Esther McBain
Nov 14, 1966	Family Affair	1.9	"A Matter for Experts"[70]	Edith Morse, Phd.	(final television appearance)	Yes

Movie roles[15][41]

RELEASE	TITLE	CHARACTER	COMMENTS	DVD
Mar. 10, 1954	Drive a Crooked Road[16][17]	party guest	Uncredited
Oct. 16, 1954	A Star Is Born[18][19]	Malibu party guest	Uncredited	Yes
Oct. 1, 1956	The Search for Bridey Murphy[20]	hysterical woman	As Flora Jean Engstrom, Uncredited
Feb. 1957	Voodoo Island[21]	Claire Winter		Yes
Jun. 1958	The Space Children[71]	Peg Gamble		Yes
Sep. 1958	The Party Crashers[22]	May	Uncredited
Nov. 28, 1961	The Errand Boy[72]	bit role	Uncredited	Yes
Dec. 2, 1965	The Restless Ones[23]	Mrs. Harris (April's Mother)		Yes

References

1. "Flora Jean Engstrom: California Death Index, 1940-1997". FamilySearch.org. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
2. "State of California, Certificate of Death". State of California, Department of Public Health. Flora Jean Engstrom, State File Number 3 051997 037076, Local Registration Number 3199733002702. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
3. "Michigan, 1930 United States Federal Census". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
4. "Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953". FamilySearch.org. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
5. "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918". FamilySearch.org. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
6. "Nona I. Segers: California, Death Index, 1940-1997". FamilySearch.org. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
7. "California, 1940 United States Federal Census". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
8. "California, 1940 United States Federal Census". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
9. "Jean Engstrom: No Time for Stardom". TV Guide. September 6–12, 1958. pp. 28–29.
10. "California County Marriages, 1850-1952". FamilySearch.org. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
11. "California Birth Index, 1905-1995". FamilySearch.org. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
12. "Flora Jean Engstrom: Find a Grave Memorial". findagrave.com. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
13. Vernon, Terry (16 January 1962). "Mother-Daughter Team On TV". Long Beach (California) Independent. p. C-12.
14. Russell, Fred H. (12 April 1961). "Shaw's 'Candida' To Be Feature On Sunday". The Bridgeport (Connecticut) Post. p. 54.
15. "Jean Engstrom". TV Guide. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
16. "Drive a Crooked Road". IMDb. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
17. "Drive a Crooked Road". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
18. "A Star is Born". IMDb. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
19. "Movie – A Star Is Born (1954)". Turner Classic Movies (TCM). Retrieved November 9, 2013.
20. "Movie – The Search for Bridey Murphy (1956)". Turner Classic Movies (TCM). Retrieved November 9, 2013.
21. "Movie – Voodoo Island (1957)". Turner Classic Movies (TCM). Retrieved November 9, 2013.
22. "Movie – The Party Crashers (1958)". Turner Classic Movies (TCM). Retrieved November 9, 2013.
23. "Movie – The Restless Ones (1965): Cast and Details". Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Retrieved November 9, 2013.
24. Breath of Life (2011). Medic: Disc 2 (DVD (Disc 2)). Timeless Media Group.
25. All the Lonely Nights (2011). Medic: Disc 3 (DVD (Disc 3)). Timeless Media Group.
26. When Mama Says Jump (2011). Medic: Disc 4 (DVD (Disc 4)). Timeless Media Group.
27. "Have Gun, Will Travel: The Gold Bar". The Classic TV Archive (CTVA). Retrieved November 8, 2013.
28. "Have Gun, Will Travel: A Place for Abel Hix". The Classic TV Archive (CTVA). Retrieved November 8, 2013.
29. "Perry Mason: The Case of the Capricious Corpse". The Classic TV Archive (CTVA). Retrieved November 8, 2013.
30. "Perry Mason: The Case of the Accosted Accountant". Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Retrieved November 9, 2013.
31. "Perry Mason: The Case of the Golden Girls". The Classic TV Archive (CTVA). Retrieved November 8, 2013.
32. "Peter Gun: Pay Now, Kill Later". The Classic TV Archive (CTVA). Retrieved November 8, 2013.
33. "Peter Gun: I Know It's Murder". The Classic TV Archive (CTVA). Retrieved November 8, 2013.
34. "Thriller: The Big Blackout". The Classic TV Archive (CTVA). Retrieved November 8, 2013.
35. "Thriller: The Big Blackout". The Classic TV Archive (CTVA). Retrieved November 8, 2013.
36. "Hazel: Hazel's Secret Wish". Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Retrieved November 9, 2013.
37. "Hazel: Hazel's Cousin". Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Retrieved November 9, 2013.
38. Vernon, Terry (16 January 1963). "Tele]Vues: Mother-Daughter Team On TV". The Long Beach (California) Independent, Page C-12. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
39. "F-9483". 1961. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
40. "The Name's Almost the Same for Jean and Jena Engstrom". San Antonio (Texas) Express and News, Page 10. 13 January 1963. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
41. Jean Engstrom on IMDb
42. "The Classic TV Archive (CTVA)". Retrieved 21 April 2013.
43. "Prison Riot –Big Town (TV series)". IMDb. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
44. Diamonds Come High (2010). State Trooper: Disc 3 (DVD (Disc 3)). Timeless Media Group.
45. Flareup (2013). West Point: Disc 3 (DVD (Disc 3)). Timeless Media Group.
46. "Picture of the Magi – Telephone Time (TV series)". IMDb. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
47. "Picture of the Magi – Telephone Time (TV series)". The San Diego Union. December 22, 1957. p. Section e, Page 63. Retrieved October 29, 2013.
48. A Picture of the Magi (2005). Two Holiday Classics: A Picture of the Magi and The Christmas Carol (DVD). Westlake Entertainment Group.
49. Hideout (2013). Highway Patrol Complete Season 3 (DVD (Disc 2)). TGG Direct, LLC.
50. "No Hiding Place – The General Electric Theater". IMDb. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
51. "Cold Gift publicity photo of Rex Thompson and Jean Engstrom in the 'Little Lame Prince' episode of The Shirley Temple Theatre". The Daily Review. Hayward, California. July 11, 1958. p. 26. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
52. "One Step Beyond: Dead Man's Tale". The Classic TV Archive (CTVA). Retrieved November 8, 2013.
53. "Gunslinger: The Hostage Fort". The Classic TV Archive (CTVA). Retrieved November 8, 2013.
54. "Incident of the Lost Idol" (1961) (2008). Rawhide: The Third Season: Volume 2 (DVD (Disc 3)). CBS DVD.
55. "87th Precinct: The Modus Man". The Classic TV Archive (CTVA). Retrieved November 8, 2013.
56. "The Investigators: Panic Wagon". The Classic TV Archive (CTVA). Retrieved November 8, 2013.
57. "The New Breed: To Sell Another Human Being". The Classic TV Archive (CTVA). Retrieved November 8, 2013.
58. "Route 66: How Much a Pound Is Albatross?". Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Retrieved November 9, 2013.
59. "This Is the Life: Side by Side". Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Retrieved November 9, 2013.
60. "Empire: 65 Miles Is a Long, Long Way". The Classic TV Archive (CTVA). Retrieved November 8, 2013.
61. "The Donna Reed Show: Whatever You Wish". The Classic TV Archive (CTVA). Retrieved November 8, 2013.
62. "The Farmer's Daughter: Miss Cheese". The Classic TV Archive (CTVA). Retrieved November 8, 2013.
63. "The Great Adventure: A Boy at War". The Classic TV Archive (CTVA). Retrieved November 8, 2013.
64. "Mr. Novak: Little Girl Lost". The Classic TV Archive (CTVA). Retrieved November 8, 2013.
65. "Dr. Kildare: Believe and Live". The Classic TV Archive (CTVA). Retrieved November 8, 2013.
66. "My Three Sons: Douglas a Go-Go". The Classic TV Archive (CTVA). Retrieved November 8, 2013.
67. "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre: When Hell Froze". The Classic TV Archive (CTVA). Retrieved November 8, 2013.
68. "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre: When Hell Froze". Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Retrieved November 9, 2013.
69. "Death Valley Days: Brute Angel". The Classic TV Archive (CTVA). Retrieved November 8, 2013.
70. "Family Affair: A Matter for Experts". The Classic TV Archive (CTVA). Retrieved November 8, 2013.
71. "Movie – The Space Children (1958)". Turner Classic Movies (TCM). Retrieved November 9, 2013.
72. "TV Guide: The Errand Boy". TV Guide. Retrieved November 11, 2013.

External links

• Jean Engstrom on IMDb