Jean Carson was a talented and versatile actress who appeared in many stage, film and television productions. She was best known for her role as Daphne, one of the “fun girls” who flirted with Sheriff Andy and Deputy Barney on the classic sitcom The Andy Griffith Show. But how did Jean Carson die and what was her cause of death?
Early Life and Career
Jean Carson was born Jean Leete on February 28, 1923, in Charleston, West Virginia. She was the daughter of Alexander W. Carson and Sadie Leete, a descendant of William Leete, the first governor of the Colony of Connecticut. She developed an interest in show business at an early age and got her first acting job at 12, playing a “bad little Indian girl” in a traveling production of Carmen.
She attended Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she studied music and dance. She moved to New York City in 1948 and made her Broadway debut in George S. Kaufman’s Bravo. She received a Theatre World Award for her performance, but the show was a flop and closed after 44 performances.
She continued to work on Broadway, appearing in plays such as Anniversary Waltz with Macdonald Carey, Two Blind Mice with Melvyn Douglas, and Bird Cage, which earned her a Tony Award nomination. She also ventured into television, guest starring on shows such as Studio One, NBC Presents, The Twilight Zone, and The Ford Theatre Hour.
The Andy Griffith Show and Other Roles
Jean Carson’s most memorable role was Daphne, one of the “fun girls” who appeared on The Andy Griffith Show from 1962 to 1965. Daphne was a blonde bombshell who greeted her admirers with a throaty “Hello Doll”. She often teamed up with Joyce Jameson as Skippy, another “fun girl”, to cause trouble for Sheriff Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) and Deputy Barney Fife (Don Knotts).
Jean Carson also had a brief role as Naomi, a convict who escaped from prison with two other women and held Barney and Floyd hostage in a 1962 episode titled “Convicts At Large”. She showed her comedic skills and versatility in both roles, making a lasting impression on the fans of the show.
Jean Carson also appeared in films such as The Phenix City Story (1955) and I Married a Monster from Outer Space (1958). She felt that she was typecast by some of these roles, saying “I’m what you call a ‘second woman’ or ‘second tomato.’ They’re always blondes with big bosoms.” She preferred to play more challenging and diverse characters on stage and television.
Personal Life and Death
Jean Carson was married to Leonard Smith Jr., who was the assistant manager of the Roxy Theater. They had two sons, Andrew and Christopher. Jean Carson struggled with alcoholism for many years and became active with Alcoholics Anonymous. She retired from acting in the early 1980s and moved to Palm Springs, California, to be closer to her family.
On November 2, 2005, Jean Carson died in Palm Springs from complications of a stroke. She was 82 years old. She was survived by her two sons and four grandchildren. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean.
Jean Carson left behind a legacy of laughter and entertainment for generations of viewers. She will always be remembered as one of the “fun girls” who brightened up The Andy Griffith Show with her charm and humor.
