Jean Hazlewood: What Happened To Richard Widmark’s Wife?

Jean Hazlewood was an American screenwriter and the late wife of Richard Weedt Widmark. Jean’s husband Richard Widmark was an American film, stage, and television actor and producer. He was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6800 Hollywood Boulevard. He was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Jean Hazlewood: Bio Summary

Who Is Richard Widmark’s Wife, Jean?

Jean Hazlewood was born Ora Jean Hazlewood on August 4, 1916, in Illinois, USA. She is the daughter of Craig Beebe Hazlewood and Estella Elizabeth Nieghbors, per Geneanet. She may not be the only child of her parents but details of her siblings aren’t known. There isn’t much information about her early life and family background. She attended Lake Forest College.

Jean Hazlewood was a screenwriter. She was known for her work in The Secret Ways (1961) and The 33rd Annual Academy Awards (1961), per her IMDb profile. She adapted the Alistair MacLean novel The Secret Ways for the 1961 film version. She lived a private life and avoided the press. She didn’t reveal much about herself. She became the wife of Richard Widmark, an icon of American cinema.

Richard Widmark was cast in villainous or anti-hero roles in films noir during the early stage of his career but later he switched to more heroic leading and supporting roles in Westerns, mainstream dramas, and horror films among others. He had a career that spanned more than 60 years. He was regarded as one of the finest actors Hollywood ever had.

Also Read: Anne Heath Widmark: Where Is Richard Widmark’s Daughter Now?

How Did Jean Hazlewood And Richard Widmark Meet?

Jean Hazlewood and Richard Widmark met while they were both attending Lake Forest College. It is assumed that when they met each other, Jean’s stunning looks caught Richard’s eye. They began a relationship soon after they first met. In a beautiful wedding ceremony, Jean and Richard got married on April 5, 1942, in front of their loved ones. During their marriage, they produced one child. They had a daughter who they named Anne Heath Widmark.

Anne was born on July 25, 1945. She became an artist and author. She married baseball player Sandy Koufax from 1969 until they divorced in 1982. However, unlike other celebrities whose marriages fail, Jean Hazlewood and her husband Richard Widmark remained together until Jean died. The duo bonded well. They were married for 55 years. It was after Jean passed away that Richard remarried.

After the death of his wife Jean Hazlewood, Richard Widmark then got married to American socialite and former lyricist and theatrical producer Susan Blanchard. Susan is the daughter of Dorothy Hammerstein and stepdaughter of Oscar Hammerstein II; she had been Henry Fonda’s third wife. Richard remained married to Susan until his death. They didn’t have any children together.

Also Read: Jane Purucker Clarke: Who Is Sandy Koufax’s Wife?

What Happened To Richard Widmark’s Wife?

Richard Widmark’s wife Jean Hazlewood died of Alzheimer’s disease. She died on March 2, 1997, in Santa Barbara, California, US, at age 80. According to Findagrave, she is buried in the “new” section of the Roxbury Center Cemetery, North Street, Roxbury. Her husband Richard Widmark died on March 24, 2008, in Roxbury, Connecticut, U.S., at age 93. He died after a long illness. His failing health in his final years was aggravated by a fall he suffered in 2007. He was buried at Roxbury Center Cemetery.