Costume & Make-Up

Jean Burt Reilly

Jean Elizabeth Burt usually credited as Jean Burt Reilly was an American hair stylist whose career in Hollywood spanned nearly four decades. Born in Vananda, Montana, and educated at San Diego High School, Burt began her career as a radio performer in the early 1930s. She later toured with the Marx Brothers performing scenes from A Night at the Opera (1935) and appeared uncredited in the film as the manicurist in the famous stateroom scene. She also appeared as a telephone operator in A Day at the Races (1937). A few months before the latter film's release, she passed the California State Board of Cosmetology examination in permanent waving. She subsequently worked for Max Factor as an advisory expert on makeup before becoming a Hollywood hair stylist. Her first film as a hair stylist was Casablanca (1942), beginning a 39-year screen career. By the mid-1950s, Reilly had become head of hair styling at Warner Bros., frequently working in a supervisory capacity. Her credits included The Music Man, Days of Wine and Roses, Robin and the 7 Hoods, Ensign Pulver, My Fair Lady, The Great Race, Camelot, Cool Hand Luke, Rocky II, Ordinary People and Raging Bull. Her final film was True Confessions (1981).