Betty Grable
Born: 1916-12-18 in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
Died: 1973-07-02
Known For: Acting
Biography
Betty Grable (December 18, 1916 – July 2, 1973) was an American actress, pin-up girl, dancer, model, and singer. Grable was enrolled in Clark's Dancing School at the age of three. At age 13, Grable and her mother set out for Hollywood with the hopes of stardom. There she landed several minor parts in films such as Whoopee!, New Movietone Follies of 1930, Happy Days and Let's Go Places. In 1932, she signed with RKO Radio Pictures. The bit parts continued for the next three years until Grable was cast in By Your Leave. One of her big roles was in College Swing.. When she landed the role of Glenda Crawford in Down Argentine Way, the public finally took notice of her. Stardom came through comedies such as Coney Island and Sweet Rosie O'Grady. Her famous pin-up pose during World War II adorned barracks all around the world. With that pin-up and as the star of lavish musicals, Betty became the highest-paid star in Hollywood in 1947. Later her studio 20th Century-Fox insured her legs for a million dollars. Betty continued to be popular until the mid-1950s, when musicals went into a decline. Her last film was How to Be Very, Very Popular. She then concentrated on Broadway and nightclubs. She was married to actor Jackie Coogan (1937–1939) and musician Harry James (1943–1965). Betty Grable died at age 56 of lung cancer on July 2, 1973.
Filmography
2022
- Becoming Marilyn as (archive footage)
2017
- The Fabulous Allan Carr as Self (archive footage)
- This Is Bob Hope... as Self (archive footage)
2015
- Jackie Coogan: The First Child Star as Self (archive footage)
2011
- Marilyn at the Movies as Self (archive footage)
2009
1999
- Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults as (archive footage)
1997
- Hidden Hollywood: Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Film Vaults as Self (archiveFootage)
1995
1982
- Showbiz Goes to War as (archive footage)
1976
- Bob Hope's World of Comedy as (archive footage)
1970
- Hollywood Blue as (archive footage)
1967
- The Carol Burnett Show as Self - Guest
1964
- The Hollywood Palace as Self - Presenter
1963
- Marilyn as archive footage
1962
1957
- The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour as Betty Grable
1956
- The Dinah Shore Chevy Show as Self
1955
- Three for the Show as Julie Lowndes
- How to Be Very, Very Popular as Stormy Tornado
1953
- The Oscars as Self
- How to Marry a Millionaire as Loco Dempsey
- The Farmer Takes a Wife as Molly Larkins
1951
- Meet Me After the Show as Delilah Lee
- Call Me Mister as Kay Hudson
1950
- What's My Line? as Self
- The Costume Designer as Self (archive footage)
- My Blue Heaven as Kitty Moran
- Wabash Avenue as Ruby Summers
1949
- The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend as Freddie
1948
- The Ed Sullivan Show as Self
- That Lady in Ermine as Francesca / Angelina
- When My Baby Smiles at Me as Bonny Kane
1947
- The Shocking Miss Pilgrim as Cynthia Pilgrim
- Mother Wore Tights as Mother
1946
- Do You Love Me as Barry's Fan in Taxi
1945
- The All-Star Bond Rally as Pat Lambert (archive footage)
- The Dolly Sisters as Jenny Dolly
- Diamond Horseshoe as Bonnie Collins
1944
- Wing and a Prayer as (archive footage)
- Pin Up Girl as Lorry Jones
- Take It or Leave It as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Four Jills in a Jeep as Betty Grable
1943
- Coney Island as Kate Farley
- Sweet Rosie O'Grady as Madeleine Marlowe/Rosie O'Grady
1942
- Song of the Islands as Eileen O'Brien
- Springtime in the Rockies as Vicky Lane
- Footlight Serenade as Pat Lambert
1941
- I Wake Up Screaming as Jill Lynn
- A Yank in the R.A.F. as Carol Brown
- Moon Over Miami as Kathryn 'Kay' Latimer, also called Miss Adams
- Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 2
1940
- Down Argentine Way as Glenda Crawford
- Tin Pan Alley as Lily Blane
1939
- The Day the Bookies Wept as Ina Firpo
- Man About Town as Susan Hayes
- Million Dollar Legs as Carol Parker
1938
- Give Me a Sailor as Nancy Larkin
- College Swing as Betty
- Campus Confessions as Joyce Gilmore
1937
- Thrill of a Lifetime as Gwen
- This Way Please as Jane Morrow
1936
- Follow the Fleet as Singer in Trio
- Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs
- Don't Turn 'em Loose as Mildred Webster
- Pigskin Parade as Laura Watson
1935
- Collegiate as Dorothy
- A Night at the Biltmore Bowl as Vocalist
- Old Man Rhythm as Sylvia
- A Quiet Fourth
- The Nitwits as Mary Roberts
- The Spirit of 1976
- This Band Age as Betty - Band Singer
- Drawing Rumors
1934
- The Gay Divorcee as Guest
- Love Detectives as Alice
- By Your Leave as Frances
- Student Tour as Cayenne
- Business Is a Pleasure
- Susie's Affairs as Susie Lee
- Elmer Steps Out
- School for Romance as Student
- Ferry-Go-Round as Betty
1933
- Cavalcade as Girl on Couch
- What Price Innocence? as Beverly Bennett
- The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi as Band Singer with Ted Fio Rito
- Melody Cruise as First Stewardess (uncredited)
- Child of Manhattan as Lucy McGonagle
- Air Tonic as Betty Grable - Band Singer
1932
- The Greeks Had a Word for Them as Hat Check Girl (uncredited)
- The Kid from Spain as Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
- Hollywood Luck
- The Age of Consent as Student at Dormitory (uncredited)
- Hold 'Em Jail as Barbara Jones
- Probation as Ruth Jarrett
- The Flirty Sleepwalker as Blonde Girl
- Hollywood Lights as Betty
- Over the Counter as Customer Who Wants to Buy a Baby (uncredited)
- Lady! Please! as Undetermined Minor Role (unconfirmed)
1931
- Palmy Days as Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
- Kiki as Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
- Once a Hero
- Crashing Hollywood as Betty
- Ex-Sweeties as Undetermined Minor Role
1930
- New Movietone Follies of 1930 as Chorine
- Let's Go Places as Chorine (uncredited)
- Whoopee! as Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
1929
- Happy Days as Chorus Woman