Actor / Actress
Actor / Actress
Eve Arden (born Eunice Mary Quedens; April 30, 1908 – November 12, 1990) was an American film, radio, stage and television actress. Born just north of San Francisco in Mill Valley and was interested in show business from an early age. At 16, she made her stage debut after quitting school to joined a stock company.
After appearing in minor roles in two films under her real name, Eunice Quedens, she found that the stage offered her the same minor roles. By the mid 30s, one of these minor roles would attract notice as a comedy sketch in the stage play "Ziegfeld Folies". By that time, she had changed her name to Eve Arden.
In 1937, she attracted some attention with a small role in Oh, Doctor (1937) which led to her being cast in a minor role in the film Stage Door (1937). By the time the film was finished, her part had expanded into the wise-cracking, fast-talking friend to the lead. She would play virtually the character for most of her career.
While her sophisticated wise-cracking would never make her the lead, she would be a busy actress in dozens of movies over the next dozen years. In At the Circus (1939), she was the acrobatic Peerless Pauline opposite Groucho Marx and the Russian sharp shooter in the comedy The Doughgirls (1944). For her role as Ida in Mildred Pierce (1945), she received an Academy Award nomination.
Famous for her quick ripostes, this led to work in Radio during the 40s. In 1948, CBS Radio premiered "Our Miss Brooks", which would be the perfect show for her character. As her film career began to slow, CBS would take the popular radio show to television in 1952.
The television series Our Miss Brooks (1952) would run through 1956 and led to he movie Our Miss Brooks (1956). When the show ended, she tried another television series, The Eve Arden Show (1957), but it was soon canceled. In the 60s, Eve raised a family and did a few guest roles, until her come-back television series The Mothers-In-Law (1967).
This show, co-starring Kaye Ballard ran for two seasons. After that, she would make more unsold pilots, a couple of television movies and a few guest shots. She returned in occasional cameo appearances including the Principal McGee in Grease (1978), and Warden June in Pandemonium (1982), showing that she still had the wise-cracks and screen presence to bring back the fond memories of Miss Connie Brooks.
Eve Arden is known for work in acting across film and television. New Release currently presents 34 verified screen credits connected to this profile.
Selected work includes Looney Tunes 50th Anniversary (1986), Anatomy of a Murder (1959), The Red Skelton Show (1951), Tea for Two (1950), My Dream Is Yours (1949), One Touch of Venus (1948), Night and Day (1946), Cover Girl (1944). The recorded credits span 1939 to 1986, including 9 movies and 25 TV shows.
The filmography below lists available titles, release years and known roles. This profile is updated as additional verified information becomes available.
Eunice Quedens
MovieLooney Tunes 50th Anniversary
MovieAnatomy of a Murder
TV ShowThe Red Skelton Show
MovieTea for Two
MovieMy Dream Is Yours
MovieOne Touch of Venus
MovieNight and Day
MovieCover Girl
MovieZiegfeld Girl
MovieAt the Circus
TV ShowThe Love Boat
TV ShowThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV ShowThe Mike Douglas Show
TV ShowThe Merv Griffin Show
TV ShowGreat Performances
TV ShowWhat's My Line?
TV ShowFalcon Crest
TV ShowBewitched
TV ShowTony Awards
TV ShowLove, American Style
TV ShowTonight Starring Jack Paar
TV ShowGolden Globe Awards
TV ShowMy Three Sons
TV ShowAlice
TV ShowI Love Lucy
TV ShowHart to Hart
TV ShowThe Ed Sullivan Show
TV ShowDinah!
TV ShowRun for Your Life
TV ShowThe Dinah Shore Chevy Show
TV ShowAmazing Stories
TV ShowVega$
TV ShowRowan & Martin's Laugh-In
TV ShowFaerie Tale Theatre