Jeanette Anna MacDonald (June 18, 1903 – January 14, 1965) was an American singer and actress best remembered for her musical films of the 1930s with
Maurice Chevalier (
The Love Parade,
Love Me Tonight,
The Merry Widow and
One Hour With You) and
Nelson Eddy (
Naughty Marietta,
Rose-Marie, and
Maytime). During the 1930s and 1940s she starred in 29 feature films, four nominated for Best Picture Oscars (
The Love Parade,
One Hour with You,
Naughty Marietta and
San Francisco), and recorded extensively, earning three
gold records. She later appeared in opera, concerts, radio, and television. MacDonald was one of the most influential sopranos of the 20th century, introducing opera to movie-going audiences and inspiring a generation of singers.