Jean Simmons, star of 'Guys and Dolls' and 'Spartacus,' dies at 80

Jean Simmons, a British Actress who flourished during the Golden Age of Hollywood, has died. She was 80.

The film star passed away at her home in Santa Monica, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 22, reports the LA Times. She had been battling lung cancer.

Simmons earned her first Oscar nomination when she was barely 20 for playing Ophelia in Laurence Olivier's "Hamlet" and had to wait 20 years for her second nomination for her work in "The Happy Ending."

Although she earned well-deserved praise and awards for her serious roles, among them Varinia opposite Kirk Douglas in "Spartacus" and Sister Sharon in "Elmer Gantry," many remember her most fondly for her frothiest big-screen role: Sergeant Sarah Brown in "Guys and Dolls."


In "Guys and Dolls," Simmons played the adorably uptight Sergeant Sarah Brown of the Save a Soul Mission.  Her love interest, Sky Masterson, was played by an incredibly suave Marlon Brando. Neither one was a particularly great singer, especially obvious considering this was a musical that also co-starred Frank Sinatra as Nathan Detroit and musical theater actress Vivian Blaine as Adelaide.

Nevertheless, Simmons and Brando had great chemistry, and their performances were still a treat to watch. "I'll Know" showed Sarah and Sky's different approaches to life, but also that Sarah harbored a romantic streak.



"If I Were a Bell" was a particularly fun song that took place after Sarah had one too many alcoholic dulce de leche coconut drinks in Havana.






RIP Jean Simmons, and thank you.

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Photo credit: MGM