Kerr, Jean (1923–2003)

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Kerr, Jean (1923–2003)

American playwright and humorist. Born Jean Collins, July 10, 1923, in Scranton, Pennsylvania; died Jan 5, 2003, in White Plains, NY; dau. of Thomas J. Collins (construction engineer) and Kitty (O'Neill) Collins; Marywood College, BA, 1943; Catholic University of America, MFA, 1945; m. Walter Kerr (drama critic of New York Herald Tribune), Aug 9, 1943; children: Christopher; (twins) Colin and John; Gilbert, Gregory and Katharine Kerr.

With husband, adapted 1st play from Franz Werfel's The Song of Bernadette which ran for 3 performances (1946); wrote 1st solo comedy, Jenny Kissed Me (1948), which ran for 20; collaborated with husband on revue Touch and Go (1949) and with Eleanor Brooke for King of Hearts (1954); published 1st book Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1957), an autobiographical collection of comic sketches on domestic life, which topped nonfiction bestseller list for 20 weeks (the book would spawn a movie with Doris Day [1960], and tv series); had biggest stage hit with Mary, Mary (1961), followed by Finishing Touches (1973) and Lunch Hour (1980); other books include The Snake Has All the Lines (1960), Penny Candy (1970) and How I Got to Be Perfect (1978).

See also Women in World History.