Eve was born just north of San Francisco and was interested in show business from an early age. At 16, she made her stage debut after quitting school to joined a stock company. After appearing in minor roles in two films under her real name, Eunice Quedens, she found that the stage offered her the same minor roles. By the mid 30's, one of these minor roles would attract notice as a comedy sketch i ...
show all Eve was born just north of San Francisco and was interested in show business from an early age. At 16, she made her stage debut after quitting school to joined a stock company. After appearing in minor roles in two films under her real name, Eunice Quedens, she found that the stage offered her the same minor roles. By the mid 30's, one of these minor roles would attract notice as a comedy sketch in the stage play "Ziegfeld Folies". By that time, she had changed her name to Eve Arden. In 1937, she attracted some attention with a small role in 'Oh Doctor (1937)' which led to her being cast, again in a minor role for the film 'Stage Door (1937)'. But by the time the film was finished, her part had been expanded and she became the wise-cracking, fast-talking friend to the lead. She would play the character for the rest of her career. While her sophisticated wise cracking would never make her the lead, she would be a busy actress in dozens of movies over the next dozen years. And she would play parts other than secretaries and girl friends. In 'At the Circus (1939)', she would be the acrobatic Peerless Pauline opposite Groucho and the Russian sharp shooter in the comedy 'The Doughgirls (1944)'. For her role as Ida in 'Mildred Pierce (1945)', Eve would be nominated for an Academy Award. She had become famous for her quick ripostes and this led to work in Radio during the 40s. In 1948, CBS radio would start "Our Miss Brooks", which would be the perfect show for her character. As her career in the movies was slowing, CBS would take the popular Radio show "Our Miss Brooks" to Television in 1952. The Television Series "Our Miss Brooks" would run through 1956 and be featured in the movie 'Our Miss Brooks (1955)'. When her show ended, she tried another series on Television with "The Eve Arden Show" (1957)", but it was soon canceled. By 1960, Eve was washed up and except for guest roles, would not make a come-back until the Television Series "The Mothers-In-Law" in 1967. This show, where she starred with Kaye Ballard as Mother-in-laws would run for two years. After that, she would make more unsold pilots, a couple of Television movies and a few guest shots as her only appearances on the screen. She made another come back as the Principal McGee in 'Grease (1978)', showing that she still had the wise cracks and screen presence to bring back the fond memories of Miss Connie Brooks.
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