1. Jean Pierre Carl Buron, known professionally as Jean Hersholt, was a Danish-American actor.
18 Facts About Jean Hersholt
1. 2.
Jean Hersholt co-starred with Shirley Temple in the film Heidi.
3.
Jean Hersholt claimed to have been born into a family of actors, but in reality, both of his parents, Henri Pierre Buron and Clara, were hairdressers.
4.
Jean Hersholt emigrated to the United States in 1913, and spent the remainder of his acting career in America.
5.
Jean Hersholt is best remembered for his roles in two iconic films.
6.
Jean Hersholt wanted to portray the role on radio but could not obtain the rights.
7.
Jean Hersholt chose to create his own doctor character for radio.
8.
Jean Hersholt received assistance from Nurse Judy Price and occasionally from others.
9.
Jean Hersholt was so strongly associated with the role that he received mail asking for real-life medical advice.
10.
For example, Jean Hersholt co-wrote a Dr Christian novel and starred in a series of six family feature films as Dr Christian in a franchise spanning two years, from 1939 to 1941.
11.
In 1939, Jean Hersholt broadened his social interests and played a critical role in establishing the Motion Picture Relief Fund, now known as the Motion Picture and Television Fund.
12.
The fund Jean Hersholt supported was used to establish the Motion Picture Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California.
13.
Jean Hersholt translated over 160 of Andersen's fairy tales into English.
14.
Jean Hersholt was appointed a knight of the Danish Order of the Dannebrog and awarded a medal in 1948, partly due to this literary academic endeavor.
15.
Jean Hersholt was the paternal half-uncle of actor Leslie Nielsen and former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Erik Nielsen.
16.
Jean Hersholt died of cancer in Hollywood in 1956 and is interred in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
17.
Jean Hersholt was honored for his services to the industry three times with an honorary Academy Award, first in 1940 and the second time in 1949 and the third time in 1950.
18.
Jean Hersholt is one of only 11 people with two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.