Actress. Born Iris Adrian Hofstadter on May 29, 1913 in Los Angeles, California. Her father died during a flu epidemic towards the end of World War I so she was forced to quit school, which she was not fond of anyway, and go to work. She won a contest and was hired as a chorine at the Paramount Theatre in Hollywood. She later toured with the Fred Waring band and eventually ended up with the Ziegfeld Follies. It was during this time that she created her famed wisecracking, brassy blonde characterization. It was inevitable that she’d eventually be discovered by some Hollywood agent for stage and television.

She was a blonde bombshell, and her career paralleled most of the others in this category. Platinum blonde hair, chipmunk cheeks, sparkling eyes, a chorus girl figure along with a shrill, brassy demeanor put her at the top of this particular category of actresses. They always played the gangster’s moll, a sassy girlfriend, a gold digger or the ‘other woman.’ Some of those in this category include: Barbara Pepper, Joan Blondell, Gloria Grahame, Veda Ann Borg and Claire Trevor. Petite 5’ 4" Iris Adrian was one of the best. 

She guest starred on many TV series including: "The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok"; "The Munsters"; "The Beverly Hillbillies"; "Petticoat Junction"; "Green Acres"; "Get Smart" and "The Love Boat." She was married three times to Charles Over from 1935 until their divorce in 1936 and then George Jay. Her final marriage to football star Ray ‘Fido" Murphy lasted for over 30 years.

She appeared in over 100 films. Her first film was "Paramount on Parade" in 1930, in which she had a cameo appearance. Her last film was 'Herbie Goes Bananas" in 1980.  She died on September 17, 1994, as a result of injuries suffered in the 1994 Northridge earthquake in Hollywood, California at age 82. She was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills.