Jean Hazlewood: The Real Story of Richard Widmark’s Wife

Jean Hazlewood is best known as the first wife of famous actor Richard Widmark. Yet she had her own story too. She was a screenwriter and a smart woman who enjoyed drama. She also spent many years close to the movie world.

Jean and Richard had a love story that began long before Hollywood fame. They met as young college students. They later married in 1942. Their marriage lasted about 55 years until Jean died in 1997.

So who was Jean Hazlewood away from her famous husband? In this article we will explore her early life and education. We will also look at her marriage and family. Her work as a screenwriter is another key part of her story.

Jean Hazlewood Quick Bio

Who Was Jean Hazlewood?

Jean Hazlewood was an American screenwriter. Her full name was Ora Jean Hazlewood. She was born on August 4 1916 in Illinois. She later became known to many people because of her marriage to Richard Widmark.

Still Jean was more than the wife of a movie star. She had a strong interest in drama and stories. Her creative side later led her to work as a screenwriter. Her best known film work was on The Secret Ways.

Jean lived a much quieter life than Richard. She did not seem interested in being a big public name. This is one reason there are fewer details about her life today. She seemed happy to keep many family matters private.

Jean Hazlewood’s Early Life

Jean Hazlewood was born in Illinois in the United States. Some family records name her parents as Craig Beebe Hazlewood and Estella Elizabeth Nieghbors. Very little clear information is available about her brothers or sisters.

Her childhood also remains mostly private. Jean grew up at a time when people did not share every part of their lives with the public. There was no social media. A person could live a normal life without the world knowing each small detail.

What we do know is that Jean became interested in drama. That interest later played a big part in her life. It helped lead her toward college and writing. It also helped her meet the man she would spend more than five decades with.

Jean Hazlewood’s Education

Jean Hazlewood attended Lake Forest College in Illinois. Her college years became an important part of her story. She studied drama and spent time learning about acting and stories. This interest would later help her work in film.

Lake Forest College also changed Jean’s personal life. It was there that she met Richard Widmark. At the time Richard was another young student. He was not yet the Hollywood actor that movie fans would later know around the world.

Think about how different their lives were then. There were no movie premieres or big Hollywood roles. Jean met Richard before all of that happened. Their bond started during a simple time when both were still working out what they wanted from life.

Jean Hazlewood and Richard Widmark’s Love Story

Jean Hazlewood and Richard Widmark first crossed paths while attending Lake Forest College. They shared an interest in drama. Their friendship grew into love and they began building a future together before Richard found fame.

Richard later went to New York as he worked on his acting career. Jean also continued her interest in drama. These early years were not filled with Hollywood wealth. They were young people trying to build their lives and follow their dreams.

This makes their love story interesting. Jean did not meet Richard because he was famous. She knew him before the movie posters and awards. She saw his career grow from the start and remained part of his life as everything around them began to change.

Jean Hazlewood’s Marriage to Richard Widmark

Jean Hazlewood married Richard Widmark on April 5 1942. At this point Richard had not yet become a major movie star. His famous film career would take off several years later. Jean was already beside him when that success arrived.

Richard became widely known after appearing in Kiss of Death in 1947. His role as Tommy Udo made a strong mark on movie fans. The part also earned him an Academy Award nomination and helped make him a major Hollywood name.

Fame could have changed their family life. Yet Jean and Richard stayed together for decades. Their marriage lasted until Jean’s death in 1997. That was about 55 years of marriage through career changes and family life.

Jean Hazlewood’s Career as a Screenwriter

Jean Hazlewood had her own creative work. She became a screenwriter and used her interest in drama in the film world. Her career was much quieter than Richard’s acting career. Still her writing gave her a place in classic Hollywood history.

Jean is best known for her work on the 1961 film The Secret Ways. The movie was based on a book by writer Alistair MacLean. Jean worked on adapting the story for the screen. Richard Widmark also starred in the movie.

This part of Jean Hazlewood’s life is important. It shows that she was not only standing beside a famous actor. She understood stories and film. Her work gave her a creative voice of her own and connected her directly to Richard’s movie world.

Jean Hazlewood and The Secret Ways

Jean Hazlewood’s best known film work was The Secret Ways. The movie came out in 1961. It was based on a book by Alistair MacLean. Jean helped turn the book into a story that could work well on the big screen.

Richard Widmark played the main role in the movie. He was also very close to the making of the film. This made the project special for the couple. Jean worked on the story while her husband helped bring it to life on screen.

This film is an important part of Jean Hazlewood’s story. She did not have a long list of movie credits. Still The Secret Ways showed her skill as a writer. It also gave her a clear place in the film world.

Jean Hazlewood’s Daughter and Family

Jean Hazlewood and Richard Widmark had one child together. Their daughter was Anne Heath Widmark. She was born on July 25 1945. Anne grew up while her father was becoming one of the big names in American movies.

Anne later followed a creative path of her own. She became known as an artist and writer. Like her mother she did not build her life around being a major public star. She kept much of her personal world away from the press.

Anne also married famous baseball player Sandy Koufax in 1969. Their marriage lasted until 1982. Jean was therefore connected to two very famous worlds through her family. One was Hollywood and the other was American baseball.

Jean Hazlewood’s Private Life

Jean Hazlewood lived beside a very famous man. Yet she did not seem to want the same level of public attention. She kept a low profile and shared little about her daily life with newspapers or fans.

This helps explain why many parts of her story are still not well known in 2026. We know about her marriage and writing work. Yet there are few public interviews where Jean talks about her feelings or private family life.

Her quiet life should not be seen as a lack of success. Jean seemed to value her home and family. She also had her own creative work. She simply did not turn her private life into a public show.

Jean Hazlewood’s Later Years and Death

Jean Hazlewood and Richard remained together as they grew older. Their marriage had started before Richard became a movie star. Decades later they were still husband and wife. Sadly Jean faced a serious health problem during her later years.

Jean had Alzheimer’s disease. The illness can slowly harm a person’s memory and daily life. Her later years were difficult because of the disease. Richard remained part of her life as her health became worse.

Jean died on March 2 1997 in Santa Barbara California. She was 80 years old. Her death ended a marriage that had lasted around 55 years. She was later buried at Roxbury Center Cemetery in Connecticut.

Richard Widmark’s Life After Jean Hazlewood

Richard Widmark had shared most of his adult life with Jean. Her death in 1997 brought that long part of his life to an end. He was already an older man after spending decades working in movies and television.

Richard later married Susan Blanchard in 1999. Susan had once been married to famous actor Henry Fonda. Richard and Susan did not have children together. They remained married during the final years of Richard’s life.

Richard died on March 24 2008 in Roxbury Connecticut. He was 93 years old. His health had become poor during his final years. He was buried at Roxbury Center Cemetery where Jean had also been laid to rest.

Final Thoughts

Jean Hazlewood may always be closely linked with Richard Widmark. That makes sense because their marriage lasted about 55 years. Yet her own work is also worth remembering. She had an interest in drama and became a screenwriter.

Her work on The Secret Ways is an important part of that story. It gave Jean a chance to use her writing skills in Hollywood. Her husband may have been the famous face on screen but Jean helped shape the story behind it.

Her family also became part of her legacy. Jean and Richard raised their daughter Anne together. Anne later became an artist and writer. In this way the creative side of the family continued into another generation.

(FAQs)

What was Jean Hazlewood’s cause of death?

Jean Hazlewood died from Alzheimer’s disease on March 2 1997. She died in Santa Barbara California at age 80.

How old was Jean Hazlewood when she died?

Jean Hazlewood was 80 years old when she died. She was born on August 4 1916 and died on March 2 1997.

When was Jean Hazlewood’s birthday?

Jean Hazlewood’s birthday was August 4. She was born on August 4 1916 in Illinois in the United States.

What was Jean Hazlewood’s net worth?

Jean Hazlewood’s exact net worth is not publicly known. She worked as a screenwriter but trusted sources do not give a clear figure for her personal wealth.

Where is Jean Hazlewood today and where did she live?

Jean Hazlewood is no longer alive. She died in Santa Barbara California in 1997. She had spent about 55 years married to actor Richard Widmark before her death.

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