Actress Jean Simmons Dies at 80 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 01-22-2010, 11:36 PM

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Jean Simmons, a radiant British actress who as a teenager appeared opposite Laurence Olivier in "Hamlet" and emerged a star whose career flourished in the 1950s and 1960s in such films as "Guys and Dolls, "Elmer Gantry" and "Spartacus," has died. She was 80.

Simmons, who won an Emmy Award for her role in the 1980s miniseries "The Thorn Birds," died Friday evening at her home in Santa Monica, said Judy Page, her agent. She had lung cancer.

Plucked from a dance class at 14 by a talent scout, she had already made several movies before gaining attention for her portrayal of the young Estella in David Lean's film adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel "Great Expectations."

After Olivier cast her in his 1948 film "Hamlet," she received the first of two Academy Award nominations, for her role as the doomed Ophelia. More than 20 years later, she was nominated for her searing portrayal of an alcoholic wife in "The Happy Ending."

Marvo301 · 01-22-2010, 11:40 PM

Jean Simmons

HuntingtonM15 · 01-22-2010, 11:41 PM

Very sad news.

Jean

Family Ties Forever! · 01-22-2010, 11:45 PM

rip

Mr. Television · 01-23-2010, 12:03 AM

One of the truly greats of the silver screen. R.I.P. Jean.

James"Thunder"Early · 01-23-2010, 12:04 AM

She was fantastic in an episode of "Murder, She Wrote" as a rival author of Jessica Fletcher's. RIP.

catlover79 · 01-23-2010, 12:04 AM

Scoobiedoo30 · 01-23-2010, 12:50 AM

RIP

*ShortCake* · 01-23-2010, 01:30 AM

She was one of my favorites.I loved her in the film with Cary Grant "The Grass is Greener". Also loved her in other films too.

This makes me sad!

HuntingtonM15 · 01-23-2010, 01:49 AM

She was another grateful celebrity who always responded promptly to fan mail.

sara · 01-23-2010, 05:01 AM

Guys and Dolls is one of my favorite musicals. That's so sad

Jean.

80sTrivia · 01-23-2010, 08:07 AM

She was such a wonderful actress. I loved her in The Thorn Birds and Elmer Gantry. She will be missed...

catlover79 · 01-23-2010, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HuntingtonM15

She was another grateful celebrity who always responded promptly to fan mail.

Awesome photo!! She was indeed a beauty.

Liza · 01-23-2010, 12:41 PM

OMG, I am sooooooo sorry to hear this! I loved her! It seems so strange to be writing about her in the past tense. She IS a great actress, she IS a great beauty, and she IS a great lady. I can't pick a favorite Jean Simmons performance, everything she's in is just magic. God bless you, Jean Merilyn Simmons!

DLevine2 · 01-24-2010, 08:09 PM

R.I.P.- Jean Simmons

01-22-2010, 11:36 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,433	Actress Jean Simmons Dies at 80 Link Jean Simmons, a radiant British actress who as a teenager appeared opposite Laurence Olivier in "Hamlet" and emerged a star whose career flourished in the 1950s and 1960s in such films as "Guys and Dolls, "Elmer Gantry" and "Spartacus," has died. She was 80. Simmons, who won an Emmy Award for her role in the 1980s miniseries "The Thorn Birds," died Friday evening at her home in Santa Monica, said Judy Page, her agent. She had lung cancer. Plucked from a dance class at 14 by a talent scout, she had already made several movies before gaining attention for her portrayal of the young Estella in David Lean's film adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel "Great Expectations." After Olivier cast her in his 1948 film "Hamlet," she received the first of two Academy Award nominations, for her role as the doomed Ophelia. More than 20 years later, she was nominated for her searing portrayal of an alcoholic wife in "The Happy Ending."
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01-22-2010, 11:40 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	Jean Simmons
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01-22-2010, 11:45 PM	#4
Family Ties Forever! Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 16, 2002 Location: Keaton residence Posts: 10,214	rip
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01-23-2010, 12:03 AM	#5
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	One of the truly greats of the silver screen. R.I.P. Jean.
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01-23-2010, 12:04 AM	#6
James"Thunder"Early Whoever's In New England Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 23, 2004 Location: The Apollo Posts: 7,088	She was fantastic in an episode of "Murder, She Wrote" as a rival author of Jessica Fletcher's. RIP.
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01-22-2010, 11:41 PM	#3
HuntingtonM15 That Bothers Me Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jun 20, 2003 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 11,060	Very sad news. Jean

01-23-2010, 12:04 AM	#7
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392
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01-23-2010, 12:50 AM	#8
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	RIP

01-23-2010, 01:30 AM	#9
ShortCake Blair Warner fan. Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 01, 2000 Location: Florida Posts: 3,761	She was one of my favorites.I loved her in the film with Cary Grant "The Grass is Greener". Also loved her in other films too. This makes me sad!
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01-23-2010, 01:49 AM	#10
HuntingtonM15 That Bothers Me Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jun 20, 2003 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 11,060	She was another grateful celebrity who always responded promptly to fan mail. Attached Images

01-23-2010, 05:01 AM	#11
sara Member Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2002 Location: grandville michigan Posts: 2,296	Guys and Dolls is one of my favorite musicals. That's so sad Jean.
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01-23-2010, 08:07 AM	#12
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,714	She was such a wonderful actress. I loved her in The Thorn Birds and Elmer Gantry. She will be missed...
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01-23-2010, 12:41 PM	#14
Liza BestYearsofOurLives Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 24, 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 6,537	OMG, I am sooooooo sorry to hear this! I loved her! It seems so strange to be writing about her in the past tense. She IS a great actress, she IS a great beauty, and she IS a great lady. I can't pick a favorite Jean Simmons performance, everything she's in is just magic. God bless you, Jean Merilyn Simmons!

01-24-2010, 08:09 PM	#15
DLevine2 DLevine2 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 06, 2006 Location: Fayetteville, Ga. Posts: 2,961	R.I.P.- Jean Simmons