Mary Jane Harker. Warner Brothers Actress & Model. 2nd Cousin to Paige Young. Bio. & Photos. Under Construction. 11/10/2025

Below are scans of Mary Jane Harker’s birth certificate.

She is not Jane Ellen Harker of Minnesota that appears on her IMDb entry, and Warner Brothers wiki.

*Update*

find-a-grave and IMDb have updated Harker’s entry with the correct birth and death dates and locations.

There remain several websites with the incorrect information about this WB contract player from the 1940s.

Image of full informational birth certificate copy.

Mary Jane Harker was born on November 13, 1923, in the city of San Francisco.

Birth certificate of Mary Jane Harker from San Francisco, California, detailing her birth date as November 13, 1923. — **Mt. Zion Hospital.** Founded in **1897** by the Jewish community in **San Francisco** to “serve the indigent of all races and creeds.”

Birth certificate of Mary Jane Harker, detailing her birth date and parents' information. — Harker’s MotherJ osephine is from **Utah** and Father **George, Wisconsin.** I’ve seen **George Truman Harker’s** birthplace listed as **South Dakota** as well.

Birth certificate of Mary Jane Harker, detailing her parents and place of birth.

Seal and certification of California birth information.

1940 Census. Jane Harker is living on No. Highland Ave. in Los Angeles. Birthplace “California.”

Scan of the 1940 United States Federal Census for Jane Harker, detailing her personal information such as age, birthplace, and residence.

Newspaper clipping featuring Jane Harker from the Long Beach newspaper dated August 12, 1945, showcasing an article about World War II with a portrait of Harker. — Jane is an up and coming starlet for Warner Brothers Studio.
As this article states, her mother Josephine was a vaudeville performer, often with her sister Virginia.
They used the name “**The Virginia Sisters**.” Notice it says “California Girl” not **Minnesota.**

*Below note the Vaudeville group the Virginia Sisters that is written about in the above article*.

Virginia and Josephine Young (Jane Harker’s mother) form a Vaudeville act with Virginia’s husband, Ned Argo.

Scanned excerpt from a newspaper review discussing a performance by Ned Argo and the Virginia Sisters, highlighting their musical act. — June **6, 1919** **Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada.** Reporter giving the most “negative” review of the Argo/Sisters act I have read so far.

Advertisement for Pantages Vaudeville featuring multiple acts including Ned Argo and the Young Sisters, along with details about showtimes and ticket prices. — **Salt Lake City Herald**. **Oct 1, 1919.**

Advertisement for Hoyt's Theatre featuring Pantages Vaudeville with performances by Ned Argo and the Virginia Sisters. — **Long Beach Telegram** Sept. 23, 1919

Newspaper clipping discussing a performance featuring Ned Argo and the Virginia Sisters, highlighting the harp playing and vocal qualities of the performers. — **Long Beach Telegram** review of **Ned** and the **Virginia Sisters.** Sept. **24, 1919**

Jane Harker’s mother originally from Salt Lake City. Brigham Young is an ancestor.

Salt Lake Tribune Jul. 19, 1945

A newspaper article featuring Jane Harker, a Warner Bros. actress, describing her as Brigham Young's great-granddaughter and mentioning her role in the film 'Night and Day.'

Newspaper clipping featuring Jane Harker juggling, published in the Des Moines Sunday Register on September 1, 1946. — Jane’s photo and first paragraph mention.

Another news article mentioning the relation to Brigham Young. This one from the **Logan, Utah** Herald-Journal **May 22, 1946**

The Cleveland Plain Dealer. “San Francisco Girl.”

Jane retires from Hollywood to marry a Navy pilot. Much more on this soon.

Image of a newspaper article detailing the romantic engagement of Miss Harker and Navy Lieutenant Lanier. — **Birmingham, Alabama** Post Feb. 1, 1946 Jane Harker’s lineage and birthplace is listed on the right hand column: Born in San Francisco.

Newspaper article featuring actress Jane Harker introducing her husband, Lt. Cmdr. Sam Lanier, to photographer Gene Richie on a Warner Brothers set. — **Birmingham Alabama** newspaper **January 23, 1947.** Native son and war hero **Lt. Cmdr. Sam** **Lanier**, resident of nearby Bessemer, married California native and Hollywood starlet, **Jane Harker.**

Martinez News Gazette Apr. 15, 1947. Harker quits Hollywood career for marriage to Navy flyer.

“A native of San Francisco”

Newspaper clipping announcing the marriage plans of starlet Jane Harker and Lt. Samuel L. Lanier.

Black and white photograph of a woman with styled hair and a dark dress sitting next to a man in a suit at a table, with drinks and other people in the background.

Informational birth certificate of Mary Jane Harker, born November 13, 1923, in San Francisco. — “actress is a native of San Francisco.” From my collection.

Black and white newspaper clipping announcing Jane Harker's engagement to Lt. Samuel L. Lanier, highlighting her background as a Warner Bros. featured player from San Francisco. — **Los Angeles Daily News Feb, 1, 1946** These two articles headlines were mixed up!

Newspaper article titled 'Jane Harker Spurns Films For Marriage' discussing Jane Harker's decision to leave her acting career for marriage. — **Valley Time**s April 15, 1947 “San Francisco born beauty.”

Jane and Capt. Sam Lanier married and had 4 children.

The family lived in San Diego, Hawaii then around the late 60s, settled in Jacksonville for a long time and then Ponte Verde, Florida where Jane died in 1988 at the age of 64.

Screenshot of Jane Harker Lanier's entry in the Florida Death Index, detailing her name, birth date, death date, and other relevant information.

Screenshot of Jane Harker Lanier's detail record showing name, race, age at death, birth date, death date, and death place.

Later in Life:

Tampa Bay Times Oct. 22, 1978 Jane Lanier on right. She had 10 years left in her life.

Death record of Jane Harker Lanier Ancestry.com

More on Jane Harker’s Family and brief Hollywood Career

8 x 10 B&W photo from scan purchased on ebay.

Scanned newspaper clipping announcing Mary Jane Harker's discovery at a talent agency, detailing her background and signing with Warner Bros. — Description on the back.
The Mary in Mary Jane would soon be dropped. This photo was published in **Movie Life Magazine, Sept. 1945**. Publicity for Miss Harker’s own *Hollywood Myth.* I read many news articles that said she was a secretary hiding her beauty behind a pair of glasses. She *may* indeed have been a secretary to an agent, but Jane *had been studying* at the **Geller Theatre** Workshop for a few years and appeared in a few plays at the Geller Theatre. More on this below.

More family history 1930

Mary Jane Harker was living with her family in South Pasadena on Fletcher St. in the census this year.

Father: George Truman Harker, Mother: Josephine Harker, Brother: Jack Truman Young Harker.

Mary J. highlighted in yellow–father George T. Mother Josephine and brother Jack T.

they also had a live-in housekeeper named Pat Kirkpatrick listed under Mary J.

Scanned 1940 census document showing household information including names and locations.

Yellow line is Mary Jane’s lines, she is 6 years old—born in California. George T. was from South Dakota. Josephine Utah, Jack Truman California.

LA Building Records shown online say George T. Harker purchased the house and adjoining chicken house around 1930/31.

I recorded a directory listing from 1932 that George T. Harker owned a place on Arminta in Canoga Park.

SFV Times Jul. 7, 1938 Jane goes with her Uncle Ned, harpist, and her 1st cousin Donna V. on a trip to San Francisco. As you recall, Jane was born in the city in 1923. Donna V. LaRocca was the mother of Paige Young.

1940 census

1937 Josephine and George T Harker divorce.

I found this under the heading

DIVORCE SUITS FILED

May 28, 1937 LAT

This under ^^^^^^DIVORCES GRANTED. June 23, 1937. LAT. An unusually brief time from filing to granted.

Enter Neyneen Hamilton

1940 United States Federal Census document for Neyneen Hamilton, detailing personal information including age, birthplace, occupation, and residence. — Neyneen was Living at **2314 No. Highland Ave. 2330** Highland was her studio as seen above. **1940** census ancestry.com

Scan of a 1940 census document listing Jane Harker living with Neyneen and Gloria Hamilton, detailing household information. — from ancestry.com

Newspaper advertisement announcing Neyneen Farrell, a voice teacher, and her students Gloria Hamilton and James Parnell. — Relative of Jane Harker. Gloria Hamilton is her daughter listed on the census above.
Jane is 16 years old and living with **Neyneen** and Gloria, also 16.
In 2 years Jane would be Queen of the Prom in **Reseda, San Fernando Valley**.
Neyneen was from a musical Mormon family as was Josephine Harker, and they were cousins. Both moved to Los Angeles.

It’s possible Jane was going to Hollywood High School at this time. The adult in the home was Neyneen, a local voice teacher and relative from Utah.

A few press articles about Jane Harker say she graduated from Hollywood High.

,More truthfully, she went to Hollywood High and was now Jane back up in the Valley. In1942 she is elected Prom Queen her Senior year.

High school years.

1942 and Jane Harker is named Queen of the prom at the Canoga Park High School.

The headline misspells her name but the article gets it correctly.

Jane Harker’s publicity states she was “discovered” as a secretary for an agent. And all they needed to do was “remove her glasses,” and Jane was “star-ready.”

Look at the following press articles. Mary Jane had a previous plan for entering the Hollywood industry.

The evidence:

GELLER THEATER WORKSHOP

Scanned image of Mary Jane Harker's birth certificate showing her birthdate and birthplace.

Los Angeles Times Jan. 13, 1945 Geller write-up says Jane Harker was already at Warner Bros. studio. Bottom of first paragraph. Geller Gossip was a semi-regular column in the Los Angeles Times.

Advertisement for Ben Bard's acting classes, featuring Geller Theatre Workshop casting announcements and Dell Powers voice and stage training details. — **Los Angeles Evening News** **May 5, 1945.** Ad forGeller Theatre Workshop among other acting teachers and coaches offering to help your career.

Stardust Row column

Image of a newspaper article titled 'STARDUST ROW,' featuring Jane Harker among other performers. — Last paragraph of 2nd column, **Geller** student Jane Harker gets a call from **Warner Brothers!** She quickly gets a part in *Night & Day* along with mentioned **Vera Lee** and Lorraine Comerford fellow Geller students.

Scan of Jane Harker's birth certificate showing her birth details.

Another Stardust Row Column. End of first column mentions Philadelphia Story is playing at the Geller Theatre.

Jane Harker is in cast.

The next paragraph says Jane finished her role in Night and Day at Warner Bros.

Geller article mentions students “before the cameras” this week. Probably work as extras? Or even one line? It was a great way to promote themselves to prospective students.

Some students were called to be extras on the set of The Postman Always Rings Twice. No one guessing, I’m sure, that the film would become one of the most revered Noir films of all time.

More on Parents Josephine and George T.

Josephine is listed as “owner of a chicken ranch” in the1940 census. Jane’s brother Jack T. is listed “poultry worker.” Josephine and George had been divorced since 1937. I believe Josephine won the chicken ranch in the divorce. She tried to make a go of it. I’ve read that the areas of the SFV, including Reseda, Conoga Park and Winnetka, were at one time a popular location to own and operate chicken farms.

Jane Harker’s brother, Jack Truman Young Harker, signed up for service in WW2. Notice he uses his Mother Josephine’s Arminta address for a contact. I don’t know what he was doing in Montebello at this time. Says he works for Lockheed Aircraft in Burbank.

Paige Young’s father Robert Cotterell, spent many years working for Douglas Air.

The Arminta house with adjoining chicken houses owned by the Harkers, was razed in 1968.

I bet there are zero remaining chicken ranches in that area now.

1945-1947 The World of Warner Brothers Studio

Jane’s short career coincides with the popularity of GI pinups during and after WW2. These were largely produced by Hollywood photographers and publicists.

100s of photos of Warner Brothers Studio (WB) starlet Jane Harker were seen in newspapers across the USA. And a few “movie star” magazine of the era.

Of course, WBs was promoting other young starlets in cheesecake/pinup photos at the time like Jane’s fellow contract players: Peggy Knudsen, Dorothy Malone, Andrea King, Angela Greene, Suzi Crandall, Arlene Dahl and Martha Vickers.

Here we see a Studio image combining pinup and patriotism. There were many holiday themed pinups, as you will see.: Christmas, Halloween, Easter Thanksgiving, and the 4th.

From left: Peggy Knudsen, Suzy Crandall and Jane Harker.

credit: Debbie Rich Pinterest

Way above these starlets in bit or minor parts were the Leading Ladies of WB in the 1940s: Bette Davis and Joan Crawford.

Ann Sheridan was an up-and-comer at Warner Brothers working her way up the ladder of stardom. Sheridan wanted to be offered interesting, challenging roles like Bette and Joan.

Davis and Crawford were not posing for cheesecake or pinup type photos at this time in their career, but did their share of establishing Hollywood Glamour photography as a genre.

During WW2,

Bette Davis and actor John Garfield found the Hollywood Canteen, a free club for service members seen in photo.

Joan Crawford dedicated many hours to the Hollywood Canteen. She was one of the first Hollywood stars to join the USO, according to Google AI.

Joan in 1942, wearing the uniform of the **American Women’s Voluntary Services.** Elizabeth Ayala Pinterest.

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Shortly after the war ends:

Jane Harker appears in Deception with Bette Davis, 1946.

She appeared with Joan Crawford in Humoresque 1946.

Garfield co-starred with Crawford in Humoresque which features one of Jane Harker’s most memorable Hollywood roles. Brief though it is.

Ann Sheridan from Texas was an up and coming actress/starlet promoted as the Oomph Girl, a Hollywood campaign to boost her career.

Ann Sheridan image used in an advertising campaign for Signal Gasoline. 1940s. Promotion was this free photo of Ann.

Tony Steffer Pinterest

Oomph Girl caught on!

Jane Harker appeared with Ann Sheridan in The Unfaithful 1947. It was one of Harker’s biggest roles in her repertoire of small and bit parts..

Ann was ambitious for the interesting and challenging roles that Bette and Joan were offered.

Later she expressed mixed feelings about the pinup and Oomph image, and wondering if it cost her any roles.

Other well-known actresses and lesser known starlets, became pinup favorites of the GIs during WW2.

During the war, the most famous pinup photos were of Hollywood stars Betty Grable, 20-Century-Fox and Rita Hayworth, Columbia.

Betty Grable’s quintessential WW2 pin-up photo. Produced by a Hollywood studio photographer named Frank Powolny. It was a promotion of Grable’s movie Sweet Rosie O’Grady.