Jane Frazee


Mary Jane Frehse, known as Jane Frazee, was an American actress, singer, and dancer.

Professional life

Jane, age six, and her 12-year-old sister Ruth formed a singing vaudeville act known as The Frazee Sisters. The act broke up in 1940, when Jane landed a leading role in the B film Melody and Moonlight for Republic Pictures. Shortly after the film's release she was signed by Universal Pictures and was featured in Buck Privates, the high-grossing 1941 comedy/World War II film starring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. The strong impression she made in that film elevated her to leading-lady roles in Universal's popular "B" musicals, usually appearing opposite Robert Paige. She left Universal in late 1942, when she married actor-director Glenn Tryon, who was 16 years her senior. The actress was still very much in demand, and returned to Republic for more musicals. She also appeared frequently in budget features for Columbia Pictures.
After World War II, most of the larger Hollywood studios curtailed their lower-budget productions and produced fewer features. This affected scores of actors, who sought refuge at the smaller studios that had been making low-budget features all along. Thus Jane Frazee found steady if unprestigious work at Monogram Pictures and Lippert Pictures, in addition to her Republic duties. This led to the even lower-budgeted and faster-paced field of westerns, and ultimately television.
The actress ended her screen career co-starring in short subjects produced by Warner Brothers. These were the popular Joe McDoakes comedies starring George O'Hanlon. The 10-minute shorts were domestic sketches noted for their wild comic exaggeration, and Frazee earned her laughs with excellent comedy timing. The series lapsed in 1956.
After retiring from acting, Frazee started a real estate business.

Personal life

Frazee's marriage to Glenn Tryon lasted five years and produced one son, Timothy. Jane Frazee died of a stroke in 1985.

Filmography

Billed with sister Ruth as The Frazee Sisters

Jane Frazee co-starred as Joe's wife Alice, without screen credit: