Arleen Whelan

Arleen Whelan (September 1, 1916 – April 7, 1993 ) was an American film actress.

Early years Whelan was a native of Salt Lake City, Utah. Before she became an actress, she worked in Southern California as a manicurist, contributing her earnings to help with her family's expenses.

Career Whelan appeared in 25 films between 1937 and 1957, reportedly after 20th Century Fox director H. Bruce Humberstone saw Whelan working as a manicurist in a barbershop. After her screen test, the studio cast Whelan as the female lead in a film version of Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped (1938).

Whelan's Broadway credits include Oh, Brother! (1945) and The Doughgirls (1942).

Personal life Whelan wed actor Alexander D'Arcy in September 1940, and they were divorced in 1943. On October 1, 1942, she married Hugh Owen (a film distributor). They separated on July 8, 1952, and she filed for divorce in 1953. Her third marriage, to Warren O. Cagney, also ended in divorce.

On April 8, 1993, Whelan died in Orange, California, following a stroke.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes1937 On Again-Off Again Minor Role Uncredited 1938 Kidnapped Jean MacDonald Gateway Catherine O'Shea Thanks for Everything Madge Raines 1939 Boy Friend Sue Duffy Young Mr. Lincoln Sarah Clay Sabotage Gail 1940 Young People Judith Charter Pilot Raquel Andrews 1941 Charley's Aunt Kitty Verdun 1942 Castle in the Desert Brenda Hartford Sundown Jim Catherine Barr 1943 Stage Door Canteen Herself 1947 Suddenly, It's Spring Gloria Fay Ramrod Rose Leland Variety Girl Variety Girl Uncredited The Senator Was Indiscreet Valerie Shepherd 1948 That Wonderful Urge Jessica Woods 1949 Dear Wife Tommy Murphy 1951 Passage West Rose Billings 1952 Flaming Feather Carolina 1953 Never Wave at a WAC Sgt. Toni Wayne San Antone Julia Allerby The Sun Shines Bright Lucy Lee Lake 1956 The Women of Pitcairn Island Hutia 1957 The Badge of Marshal Brennan Murdock Raiders of Old California Julie Johnson