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Jean Willes

Jean Willes

Actor · Died January 3, 1989, aged 65 · Los Angeles, California, USA

Jean Willes is best known for her roles in a number of B-movies in the 1950s and 1960s, as well as on the small screen. Lovely and curvaceous, she usually played hard-boiled gold-diggers, party girls, gun molls, and saloon girls. She came off as a wily, smarter version of Barbara Nichols or Iris Adrian, and although she was versatile, she never rose to the first tier of stardom; in retrospect, she seems to have been capable of much more than she was given during her three-decade-plus career. Born in Los Angeles on April 15, 1923, she was raised in Utah and in Seattle. Interested in an acting career, she returned to the town of her birth and in 1942 started showing up in comedy film shorts for Columbia under her birth name. She was a smart and sexy foil to, among others, such enjoyable comics as Harry Langdon, Andy Clyde, Eddie Foy Jr., Joe DeRita, Sterling Holloway, and Hugh Herbert. After bit parts in such feature-length films as So Proudly We Hail! (1943), Here Come the Waves (1944), and Salty O'Rourke (1945), she began earning co-star status in such post-war feature-length programs as Revenue Agent (1950) opposite Douglas Kennedy, in A Yank in Indo-China (1952), and in one of Johnny Weissmuller's "Jungle Jim" outings. Willes became a cheesecake fixture in Hollywood, and film and TV work was steady. But when she was lucky enough to score a role in an "A" film, she was barely glimpsed, as in the Bob Hope comedy Son of Paleface (1952) and the "Best Picture" war epic From Here to Eternity (1953). She had the most screen time in an "A" film as Dr. Miles Bennell (Kevin McCarthy)'s beautiful nurse and, reading between the lines, former paramour, in the sci-fi cult classic, Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956). (SPOILER: She succumbs to the aliens, like everyone else aside from Bennell, in the fictional California town of Santa Mira.) She was one of the four women vying for an aging Clark Gable's attentions in The King and Four Queens (1956), one of his lesser efforts. Guest spots on TV gave her greater visibility, and she frequently was seen in westerns (The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955), Maverick (1957)) and crime dramas (Perry Mason (1957)), usually playing unsympathetic women although occasionally playing more agreeable or respectable characters. Her last feature films roles were in McHale's Navy (1964), The Cheyenne Social Club (1970), and Bite the Bullet (1975). After a few more TV roles, she retired in 1976. Willes died of liver cancer on January 3, 1989 at the age of 65. Her second husband, NFL football player Gerard Cowhig, died at their Van Nuys, California, home in 1995. They had one son, Gerry.

Read more

Biography from IMDb.

Born
April 15, 1923
Died
January 3, 1989 (aged 65)
From
Los Angeles, California, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
48 on MovieCove · 133 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 12% in 30 days

What are Jean Willes' films like?

Across their 12 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Society.

Genres

Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
24%
Society
24%
Bonds
20%
Self
16%
Power
10%
Survival
8%
Identity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 12 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 7 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 2 · Charged 8 · Intense 2

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 4 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 10 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
9
Absurd
3
Contemplative
3
Dread
2
Joyful
2
Other
11

How their films linger

Fun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet4
  • Tragic1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Jean Willes' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 29 of their 48 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Roku Channel (15).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jean Willes' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

133 credits, 48 with a MovieCove page.

  • Bite the Bullet(1975)

    as Rosie

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Savannah

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • The Cheyenne Social Club(1970)

    as Alice

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Comic(1969)

    as Denise in Film Clip (archive footage) (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Here's Lucy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Gertie Rebs

  • The Guns of Will Sonnett (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Munsters(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Cartwright

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • McHale's Navy(1964)

    as Margot Monet

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Gypsy(1962)

    as Miss Cratchitt

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Beverly Hillbillies(1962)

    Show 2 episodes · as Countess Maria

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • The Alfred Hitchcock Hour(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Eva

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • The Virginian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Lily Duval

  • Gun Street(1961)

    as Joan Brady

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Target: The Corruptors! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hazel(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Miss Dunbar

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • By Love Possessed(1961)

    as Junie McCarthy

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Surfside 6 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Stagecoach West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Hilda Loring

  • The Westerner(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Sal

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Coronado 9 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Crowded Sky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Gloria Panawek

  • Ocean's Eleven(1960)

    as Mrs. Bergdorf

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Elmer Gantry(1960)

    as Prostitute (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • The Slowest Gun in the West(1960)

    as Kathy McQueen

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Johnny Midnight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Not for Hire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hawaiian Eye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Olivia McKay

  • The Twilight Zone(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Ethel McConnell

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • The FBI Story(1959)

    as Anna Sage

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Wichita Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Lock-Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The DuPont Show with June Allyson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Tory

  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Amelia Terry · as Molly Travers · as Mrs. O'Brien

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • The Deputy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Rosy - Saloon Gal

  • These Thousand Hills (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Jen

  • 77 Sunset Strip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Bat Masterson(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Grace Williams · as Lucy Slater

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all shows

  • Lawman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Annie Keller · as Kate Wilson

  • Yancy Derringer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Jessie Belle

  • The Texan(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Martha Driscoll

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Frontier Doctor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Bronco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Dolly Lewis

  • Peter Gunn(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Wanted: Dead or Alive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Dora Gaines · as Manila Jones · as Meghan Francis · as Ruth

  • No Time for Sergeants(1958)

    as WAF Captain

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Desire Under the Elms(1958)

    as Florence Cabot

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Lori Richards

  • Zorro(1957)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Trackdown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hear Me Good (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Rita Hall

  • The Tijuana Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Liz March

  • Goodyear Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Mary Johnson

  • Maverick(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Belle Starr · as Lil

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Perry Mason(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Anita Bonsal · as Irene Wallace

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • M Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Thelma Goodrich

  • Hell on Devil's Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Suzanne

  • Richard Diamond, Private Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Madge

  • The Man Who Turned to Stone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Tracy

  • Official Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The King and Four Queens(1956)

    as Ruby McDade

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Jenny Gracie · as Kate Asher · as Marcy Overton

  • State Trooper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Ann · as Jackie Purcell · as Ruby Nowell

  • The Revolt of Mamie Stover(1956)

    as Gladys

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Claire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Roberta Lawrence

  • Invasion of the Body Snatchers(1956)

    as Nurse Sally Withers

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Lieutenant Wore Skirts(1956)

    as Joan Sweeney

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • He Took a Powder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Jean

  • Bobby Ware Is Missing(1955)

    as Janet Ware

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Crossroads (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Blanche Runyon

  • Count Three and Pray(1955)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Cheyenne(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Meg Stevens

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • The Great Gildersleeve (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • 5 Against the House(1955)

    as Virginia

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Nobody's Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Actor

  • Gypped in the Penthouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Jane

  • His Pest Friend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Jean

  • The Millionaire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Gail (uncredited) · as Judy Bennett

  • Bowery to Bagdad(1954)

    as Melody, alias "Claire Culpepper"

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Masterson of Kansas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Dallas Corey

  • Father Knows Best(1954)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dance hostess (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • A Star Is Born(1954)

    as Fan at a Benefit Show (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Studio 57 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Nurse

  • Adventures Of The Falcon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Lone Wolf (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Ed

  • The Glass Web (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Sonia

  • From Here to Eternity(1953)

    as Annette (uncredited) · as Annette - Club Receptionist (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Run for the Hills (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Prancer Veach

  • Abbott and Costello Go to Mars(1953)

    as Capt. Olivia

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • All Ashore (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Rose

  • I'm the Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Irene · as Nurse · as Sarah's Friend

  • The Abbott and Costello Show(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Doris Wentworth

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Mr. & Mrs. North(1952)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • The Ford Television Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Sally Sherman

  • Four Star Playhouse(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Allyson Pender · as Helen Anchor · as Lucy

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Adventures of Superman(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Marion Cummings

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • The Sniper(1952)

    as Woman Exiting Bar

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Gobs and Gals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Mrs. Riley

  • A Yank in Indo-China (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Actor

  • Jungle Jim in the Forbidden Land (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Denise

  • The First Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Fawn Wallace

  • A Fool and His Honey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Wally's Wife

  • The Champs Step Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Miss Pearson

  • Hula-La-La (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Luana

  • The Family Secret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Actor

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Claire Gallatin

  • Boston Blackie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Jewel Howard

  • Don't Throw That Knife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Lucy Wyckoff

  • The Awful Sleuth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Ruthie

  • He Flew the Shrew (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as The Shrew

  • Revenue Agent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Marge King

  • A Snitch in Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Miss Gladys Scudder

  • The Jack Benny Program (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Mamie / Elizabeth Hamilton

  • The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Alice · as Alice Emory

  • The Fuller Brush Girl(1950)

    as Mary (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • House About It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Actor

  • His Baiting Beauty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Ethel Dunkel

  • Chinatown at Midnight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Alice

  • Let Down Your Aerial (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Actor

  • The Winner's Circle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Jean Trent

  • Hectic Honeymoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Ruth Jones

  • Blondie in the Dough (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Miss Marsh, Thorpe's Secretary (uncredited)

  • Down to Earth(1947)

    as Betty

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Bride and Gloom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Sally (as Jean Donahue)

  • The Scooper Dooper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Betty Parker

  • Slappily Married (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Customer (uncredited)

  • Honeymoon Blues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Peggy Dawson

  • Monkey Businessmen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Nurse Shapely (uncredited)

  • Ain't Love Cuckoo? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Cuckoo Narrator

  • You Came Along (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Showgirl (uncredited)

  • Salty O'Rourke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as The Other Girl (uncredited)

  • So Proudly We Hail!(1943)

    as Lt. Carol Johnson

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 92nd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 133 titles from 1943 to 1975; peak year 1961.

Biggest box office

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

$4K worldwide

Highest rated

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

Midcredits 96th

Film career

19431975

Peak 1961 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting133 of 133: 133 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score66th

By decade

1940s15 · acting1950s93 · acting1960s22 · acting1970s3 · acting

Billing

usually 10th · top billed in 0% of 15 roles
4358

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Jean Willes' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 60th percentile, the median of all 28; across their 12 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 60th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Approval · how many liked their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Reach · how many have seen their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Midcredits score across 48 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up18
  • 50th to 74th23
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

32 of their 48 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved11
  • Crowd Pleaser32
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed2

Most divisive · actor

Bobby Ware Is Missing (1955)

52nd percentile spread · 13% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

Midcredits 96th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 68/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 76, detractors 42. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Jean Willes work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jean Willes' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Mervyn LeRoy shares the most, 2.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles