Jean Ackerman

Biography

Jean Ackerman was born Jeanette MacCraw on December 11, 1903 in New York City. Her father had immigrated from Scotland and her mother was from Germany. After graduating from high school she married Richard Ackerman. Jean separated from her husband and decided to pursue a career in show business. She joined the cast of the Ziegfeld Follies in 1927. Then she appeared in the Broadway musicals Whoopee and Smiles. Jean also worked as a model and appeared in ads for Lucky cigarettes. She was called "The World's Most Beautiful Brunette". During this time she was romantically linked to several prominent men including New York Mayor Jimmy Walker. In 1929 she appeared in Ziegfeld's Midnight Frolic. Then she had a bit part in the 1931 film The Girl Habit. By this time she had divorced her husband and was dating Walter Hirshon, a wealthy stockbroker. Jean married him on May 31, 1931. The couple adopted a daughter named Wendy Jean. Unfortunately their marriage ended in divorce in 1940. She was awarded $750 a month in alimony. Jean had a brief romance with comedian Ed Wynn. Later she moved to Miami, Florida. Sadly on November 26, 1960 she died from cancer. She was only fifty-six years old.