Shirley Jean Rickert American actress Date of Birth: 25.03.1926 Country: USA

Shirley Jean Rickett: The American Actress

Shirley Jean Rickett was an American actress, best known for her role as the "blondie girl" in the popular 1930s series "Our Gang." She was born in Tacoma, Washington. In 1927, her mother entered her 18-month-old daughter into a beauty pageant, which Shirley won. Following her victory, her mother relocated the entire family to Hollywood. Shirley recalled waiting in line at the studio gates every morning, hoping for an audition. Initially, they approached major companies like Paramount and MGM, but later switched to the so-called "Poverty Row" studios outside of Hollywood Boulevard. Eventually, their luck turned around, and the selection process for a new children's series, "Our Gang," began. Shirley made her debut in "Our Gang" in 1931 alongside Jackie Cooper, Bobby Hutchins, Matthew "Stymie" Beard, Dorothy DeBorba, Allen Hoskins, and Norman "Chubby" Chaney. Shirley herself did not fully grasp what she was doing – for her, it was simply a fun game with other children. The children took everything in stride, but their mothers, who dreamed of fame for their children, were much more aggressive. Shirley, on the other hand, admitted she never particularly aspired to become a famous actress. After about a dozen short films in the "Our Gang" series, Rickett left the project to join the competing series, "Mickey McGuire," with Mickey Rooney in the lead role. Confident in her daughter's bright future, Shirley's mother terminated the contract after only five short films. Unfortunately, finding a new place in the sun proved to be challenging. In 1934, Rickett appeared in the film "The Scarlet Letter," and later that same year, she portrayed an oil heiress in John Wayne's early Western, "Neath the Arizona Skies," sporting a stylish black wig from Max Factor. Despite these roles, fame eluded the actress. By the mid-1930s, she had to make ends meet with sporadic roles in serials. During World War II, she secured a contract with Columbia Pictures for a brief period before becoming a dancer in a series of musicals, including "The Pirate" with Gene Kelly, "Royal Wedding" with Fred Astaire, and "Singin' in the Rain." It was during this time that Rickett met James Dean. They were never a couple in the traditional sense – Shirley was simply one of James's few friends. Nevertheless, Dean found Rickett's candor and honesty intriguing, and he appreciated that her child star status had not affected her. They remained close friends until Dean's death in 1955. Hollywood tabloids linked her to several eligible bachelors of the time, including Scott Marlowe, Anthony Perkins, Montgomery Clift, and Tab Hunter. After leaving Hollywood, Shirley became a dancer in the projects "Gilda and Her Crowning Glory," performing in New York and Las Vegas. During this time, she had the opportunity to work with Tempest Storm, Jean Carroll, and Jane Briggeman. In the mid-1950s, "Our Gang" began airing on American television again, and Rickett was surprised to find a new wave of fans. In 1959, Shirley left show business and stopped dancing. She went on to pursue a series of more practical professions, including waitressing, secretarial work, sales, and even becoming a truck driver for the U.S. Air Force. Rickett was married twice in her lifetime, and both marriages ended in divorce. She was survived by her only daughter.