Jean Carroll came from a show business family. Her parents were actors. Her mother, Fern Lacey, was the original "Buster Brown" in vaudeville. Jean, with her sister JoAnn (Miss Hollywood of 1932), did extra and bit parts at M.G.M. and Hal Roach Studios from 1931 to 1933. They were in vaudeville and later were headliners in burlesque from 1933 on.