Jean Rogers

Jean Rogers (March 25, 1916 – February 24, 1991) was an American actress, who starred in serial films in the 1930s and low–budgeted feature films in the 1940s as a leading lady. She is best remembered for playing Dale Arden in the serials Flash Gordon (1936) and Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars (1938).

Early life

Rogers was born Eleanor Dorothy Lovegren in Belmont, Massachusetts. Her father was an immigrant from Malmö, Sweden. She had hoped to study art. In 1933, though, she won a beauty contest sponsored by Paramount Pictures, which led to her career in Hollywood. Rogers starred in several serials for Universal between 1935 and 1938, including Ace Drummond and Flash Gordon.

Flash Gordon

Rogers was assigned the role of Dale Arden in the first two Flash Gordon serials. Buster Crabbe and Rogers were perfectly cast as the hero and heroine in the first serial Flash Gordon, and Rogers' beauty, long blonde hair, and revealing costumes endeared her to moviegoers. The evil ruler "Ming the Merciless" (Charles B. Middleton) lusted after her, and Flash Gordon was forced to rescue her from one situation after another. While filming the series in 1937, her costume caught on fire and she suffered burns on her hands. Co-star Crabbe smothered the fire by wrapping a blanket on her.