Jean Howell

Jean Howell
Howell c.1960
Born
Jean Cameron Howell

(1927-11-21)November 21, 1927
Covina, California, U.S.
DiedJuly 23, 1996(1996-07-23) (aged 68)
Santa Monica, California, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Washington
OccupationActress
Years active1954–1996
Spouse(s)Larry Thor
(m. 1955; died 1976)
Children3

Jean Cameron Howell (November 21, 1927 – July 23, 1996) was an American television actress. She also appeared occasionally in films.

Early life and career

Howell in the TV series Four Star Playhouse (1955)

Born in Covina, California on November 21, 1927, Howell was the daughter of Burl Hayden Howell and Esther Hyde ‘’Buddy’’ Howell, along with her sister Dixon. In 1935, the family moved to the Sebastopol, California area, where she attended Analy High School class of 1944. Howell graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Washington in 1948, following which she toured for one year with the UW Players.

On stage, Howell acted in New York in summer stock theater and at the Horseshoe Theater in Los Angeles. Television programs on which she appeared included Lux Video Theatre, The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse, Perry Mason, Dragnet, Space Patrol, Armstrong Circle Theatre, Four Star Playhouse, and Telephone Time. Her films included the 1957 western Hell's Crossroads.

Personal life and death

On October 22, 1955, gossip columnist Louella Parsons reported that Howell had, for approximately three weeks, been "the secret bride" of TV announcer 'Larry Thor. Their first child, a daughter, Kristina, was born in 1958, followed, eventually, by two sons, Cameron and Eifan.

In her later years, Howell was an advocate for environmental efforts to clean up Santa Monica Bay. She gave talks about ecology and also trained speakers for similar activities.

Predeceased by her husband, Howell died of cancer on July 23, 1996, in Santa Monica, California, at the age of 68.

Selected filmography

References

  1. ↑ "Too Much Monkeyin'". Los Angeles Mirror. Los Angeles, California. July 5, 1956. p. 3. Retrieved July 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ "California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGLW-XJMS : Tue Feb 18 20:15:51 UTC 2025), Entry for Jean Cameron Howell and Burl Hayden Howell, 21 November 1927.
  3. ↑ "Society". Argus-Leader. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. November 26, 1927. p. 7. Retrieved July 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Word has been received here telling of the birth of a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Burl Howell (Esther Hyde), of Walnut, Calif.
  4. ↑ Bader, Marge (November 17, 1981). "Dateline: Sebastopol". The Press Democrat. Santa Rosa, California. p. 23. Retrieved July 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. A woman noted for her involvement in Visiting Nurses Service, Sonoma County Historical Society and other community service agencies will be the guest speaker for Women of Influence on Monday at 11:45 a.m. at Lion and Lamb Restaurant. Esther 'Buddy' Howell and her husband, Burl, became interested in VNS several years ago and wanted to find a way to ensure its funding. They opened Treasure House, which is a consignment antique store
  5. ↑ Samson, Chris (December 6, 1982). "$209, 355 for arts center". Argus-Courier. Petaluma, California. p. 1. Retrieved July 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. The largest individual contribution was made by Burl and Buddy Howell of the Santa Rosa area. The retired couple, who will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary soon, pledged $50,000, to be paid in increments of $5,000 a year over the next 10 years to pay for box office help at the arts center.
  6. ↑ "'Women of Influence' luncheon is Monday". Sonoma West Times & News. Sebastopol, California. November 18, 1981. p. 12. Retrieved July 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Mrs. Burl (Buddy) Howell will speak to the Women of Influence luncheon, sponsored by the Analy Republican Women, Federated, at the Lion and Lamb restaurant in Sebastopol on Monday, Nov. 23, at 11:45 a.m.
  7. ↑ "United States, Census, 1930", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XCDS-42Q : Sat Jan 18 11:40:37 UTC 2025), Entry for Burl H Howell and Esther H Howell, 1930.
  8. 1 2 Staff (July 31, 2010) "Obituary of Dixon Anne Sheldon" The Press Democrat, (Sebastopol, California)
  9. ↑ "Society". Progress-Bulletin. Pomona, California. July 18, 1936. p. 5. Retrieved July 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Otterbein, July 18—Mrs. Maude Cooper and Mrs. Beulah Holland entertained at a party on Tuesday afternoon for Dixon and Jean Howell of Sebastapool. About thirty little girls, former schoolmates of the guests of honor at Rowland school enjoyed the occasion.
  10. ↑ "Society". Argus-Leader. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. November 26, 1927. p. 7. Retrieved July 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Word has been received here telling of the birth of a daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Burl Howell (Esther Hyde), of Walnut, Calif.
  11. ↑ "High School Graduation on June 1". Sonoma West Times & News. Sebastopol, California. May 26, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved July 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Seventy-seven graduating seniors will receive their diplomas at commencement exercises to be held next Thursday evening at 8 o'clock in the Analy Union High school auditorium. [...] Those who will receive diplomas are: Betty Bache, Stanley Badger, Rebecca Banks, Peter Bennett, Clyde Bertrand, Harold Biaggi, [...] Robert Gosney, Jr. Robert Hagedorn, Gloria Hagg, Gervin Hansen, Jr., Dora Hop, Jean Howell,
  12. ↑ Staff (March 3, 1955). "Occidental News". Sonoma West Times & News. Sebastopol, California. p. 10. Retrieved March 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "STAR STUDENT". The Press Democrat. Santa Rosa, California. June 8, 1948. p. 1. Retrieved July 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Jean Howell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Burl Howell of Route 1, Box 263 Sebastopol, has been chosen for Phi Beta Kappa, collegiate scholastic honor society. A student at the University of Washington, she is past president of an honorary student fine arts society and a member of the university's touring theater for the coming year. Miss Howell graduated from Analy Union High School in 1944.
  14. 1 2 Vernon, Terry (February 2, 1956). "Tele-Views". Long Beach Independent. Long Beach, California. p. 20. Retrieved July 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. James Barton stars with Jack Kelly and Jean Howell in the role of a narrow-minded farmer whose stubborness [sic] threatens to alienate his eldest daughter and his farm on 'Lux Video Theatre' at (4) at 10 p.m.
  15. 1 2 Staff (April 3, 1955). "Occidental News". Los Angeles Examiner TV Week. Los Angeles, California. p. 2. Retrieved July 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Brian Keith, John Doucette and Jean Howell head up Pepsi Cola Playhouse, Channel 7 at 7:30, in 'Passage Home,' wherein a ship's captain robs his passengers and leaves them stranded on a tropical island.
  16. ↑ Staff (January 21, 1957). "Jean Howell in 'Bombers B-52'". Valley Times. North Hollywood, California. p. 12. Retrieved March 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ Pitts, Michael R. (December 21, 2012). Western Movies: A Guide to 5,105 Feature Films (2nd ed.). New York: McFarland. p. 149. ISBN 978-0-7864-6372-5. Retrieved March 19, 2021.
  18. ↑ Parsons, Louella (October 22, 1945). "STAR STUDENT". Los Angeles Examiner. Los Angeles, California. p. 1. Retrieved July 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. For three weeks, writer-actress Jean Howell has been the secret bride of TV announcer Larry Thor.
  19. ↑ Garber, Arlene (March 25, 1958). "Radio-Television Briefs". Hollywood Citizen-News. Los Angeles, California. p. 22. Retrieved July 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Mr. and Mrs. Larry Thor became parents Sunday of a daughter, Kristina. The father is an actor and the mother is an actress known as Jean Howell.
  20. 1 2 "Obituaries". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. July 28, 1996. p. 22. Retrieved July 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Over the years, Jean trained several hundred speakers to bring the educational program of Heal the Bay to all ages of the public. After graduating from the University of Washington, Phi Beta Kappa, she moved to Hollywood to continue her acting career and met the man of her dreams, Larry Thor, who preceded her in death in 1976 [...] She is survived by her children, Kristina, Cameron, and Leifur. A Celebration of Life will be held for her on Sunday, July 28, from 2pm to 6pm at her home in Santa Monica. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Heal the Bay, 2701 Ocean Park Blvd. Suite 150, Santa Monica
  21. ↑ "Religious Services: Thousand Oaks". News Chronicle. Thousand Oaks, California. January 18, 1992. p. B-7. Retrieved July 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. The Conejo Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meets at 10 a.m. Sundays at Old Meadows Park on Marview Drive off Erbes Road. This Sunday Jean Howell, a representative of Heal the Bay in Santa Monica, will speak.
  22. ↑ "What's On: 13th". The Argonaut. Marina del Rey, California. February 13, 1992. p. 24. Retrieved July 11, 2026 – via Newspapers.com. Jean Howell of Heal the Bay environmental group presenting slide show on ocean cleanup at public yachting luncheon, noon-2 p.m. Thurs., Feb. 13, California Yacht Club, 4469 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey. Cost: $9.95. Reservations, 823-4567.
  23. ↑ Orloff, Arthur (May 1976). "Larry Thor 1916–1976". WGA West Newsletter. p. 10. ProQuest 2293621750. I had intended to express in the Newsletter my feeling about my good and close friend, confidant and stimulating companion, Larry Thor, but this short piece from his wife Jean says it so well: 'To celebrate the life that was, we gather together in love. He was unique, each or us knows. Funny, loving, diversely talented, a gentle man...'