Jean Engstrom was an American actress who appeared in regional theater, movies, and television in the 1950s and 1960s. She was best known for her roles in Voodoo Island (1957), Medic (1954), and Telephone Time (1956). She was also the mother of actress Jena Engstrom, who starred in several western series. Jean Engstrom died of breast cancer on March 20, 1997, at the age of 76. This article will explore her life, career, and cause of death in detail.
Early Life and Family
Jean Engstrom was born as Flora Jean Bovie on July 25, 1920, in Detroit, Michigan. She was the elder of two children born to Clarence Augustus Bovie, an artist and commercial illustrator, and Nona Iola Cochrun. After her father’s death, she and her mother and younger brother moved to Augusta, Michigan, and then to Battle Creek, Michigan. When she was 16, the family relocated to Southern California, where she completed high school.
Jean Engstrom originally wanted to become a singer, but a car accident damaged her vocal cords and she turned to modeling. She married Richard Harold Moon on February 14, 1940, in Baldwin Park, California, and gave birth to their only child, Liana Jeanne Moon, on June 30, 1942. The couple divorced, and Jean married her second husband, Elliott E. Engstrom, in 1947. Elliott adopted Liana, who later changed her name to Jena Engstrom and followed her mother’s footsteps into acting.
Acting Career
Jean Engstrom began acting with little theater groups in and around Hollywood in the 1940s. She later moved to work in movies and television and studied with Francis Lederer’s improvisation group. She used the name Jean Engstrom professionally and appeared in over 50 plays, in at least eight movies, and in about 40 television programs before leaving acting.
Some of her notable movie credits include The Bigamist (1953), The Phenix City Story (1955), Voodoo Island (1957), and The Young Savages (1961). She also guest-starred in many popular television shows, such as Perry Mason, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Twilight Zone, The Fugitive, and The Outer Limits. She often played strong-willed, independent, and sometimes villainous women.
Jean Engstrom also worked with her daughter Jena in three television shows. They appeared as mother and daughter in Rawhide, The New Breed, and a religious program. They had a close relationship and supported each other’s careers.
Breast Cancer and Death
In the mid-1980s, Jean Engstrom developed breast cancer and had a mastectomy in July 1985. She continued to fight the disease for more than a decade, but it eventually claimed her life. She died on March 20, 1997, in a convalescent hospital in Hemet, California. She was survived by her husband Elliott, her daughter Jena, and her grandchildren. She was buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California.
Jean Engstrom was a talented and versatile actress who left a lasting impression on her fans and colleagues. She was also a loving and devoted mother and wife who faced her illness with courage and grace. She will always be remembered for her contributions to the entertainment industry and her legacy of family.
