Jeanne Crain Brinkman

Brinkman, Jeanne Crain of Santa Barbara, CA, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on December 14, 2003.
Jeanne was a devoted wife to her husband of 58 years and a loving mother to her seven children. Jeanne is survived by her children Paul, Jr. (Marsha), Timothy (Marylou), Jeanine Hemard (Tato), Lisabette Brinkman (Jamie Binstock), Maria Griffith (Larry) and grandchildren Erin, Lynne, Paul III, Cameron, Bret, Jeffrey, Andrew, Alex and Tessa. She is also survived by her brother-in-law Peter Brinkman and nephew Kevin Holian. Her sons Michael and Christopher, and her husband Paul Brinkman Sr., predeceased her. Jeanne Elizabeth Crain was born May 25, 1925 in Barstow, California. She attended St. Mary's Academy, graduated from Inglewood High School and attended UCLA. She held the titles of Miss Long Beach, Miss California, and was 1st Runner-up Miss America. She was a gifted actress who made her film debut at 20th Century Fox for Daryl F. Zanuck in 1943. She starred in over 60 films, including "State Fair," "Margie," "Apartment for Peggy," "A Letter to Three Wives," "Leave Her to Heaven," "Cheaper By the Dozen" and "The Joker is Wild." She earned a Best Actress Academy Award nomination in 1949 for her role in Elia Kazan's controversial film "Pinky." She won the Italian Oscar in 1961 for her role as Nefertiti in "Nefertiti Regina del Nilo." A celebration of life Mass for Jeanne will be held at the Old Mission in Santa Barbara on Friday, December 19th at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Brinkman Scholarship Fund at Loyola High School in Los Angeles.