Betty Grable
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Female
Birthday
1916-12-18
Day of Death
1973-07-02 (56 years old)
Place of Birth
Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
Betty Grable
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.
Known For
Acting
(2023)
Lynch/Oz
as Jill Lynn (archive footage) (uncredited)
(2017)
This Is Bob Hope...
as Self (archive footage)
(2015)
Jackie Coogan: The First Child Star
as Self (archive footage)
(2009)
(1999)
Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults
as Self (archiveFootage)
(1997)
Hidden Hollywood: Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Film Vaults
as Self (archiveFootage)
(1986)
Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend
as Self (from How to Marry a Millionaire [1953]) (archive footage)
(1982)
Showbiz Goes to War
as (archive footage)
(1970)
Hollywood Blue
as (archive footage)
(1963)
Marilyn
as Self / Loco Dempsey (archive footage) (uncredited)
(1959)
(1955)
Three for the Show
as Julie Lowndes
(1955)
How To Be Very, Very Popular
as Stormy Tornado
(1953)
How to Marry a Millionaire
as Loco Dempsey
(1953)
The Farmer Takes a Wife
as Molly Larkins
(1951)
Call Me Mister
as Kay Hudson
(1951)
Meet Me After the Show
as Delilah Lee
(1950)
My Blue Heaven
as Kitty Moran
(1950)
The Costume Designer
as Self (archive footage)
(1950)
Wabash Avenue
as Ruby Summers
(1949)
The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend
as Freddie
(1948)
That Lady in Ermine
as Francesca / Angelina
(1948)
When My Baby Smiles at Me
as Bonny Kane
(1947)
Mother Wore Tights
as Mother
(1947)
The Shocking Miss Pilgrim
as Cynthia Pilgrim
(1946)
Do You Love Me
as Barry's Fan in Taxi (uncredited)
(1945)
The Dolly Sisters
as Yansci 'Jenny' Dolly
(1945)
Diamond Horseshoe
as Bonnie Collins
(1945)
The All-Star Bond Rally
as Pat Lambert (archive footage)
(1944)
Pin Up Girl
as Lorry Jones
(1944)
Four Jills in a Jeep
as Betty Grable
(1944)
Take It or Leave It
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
(1944)
Wing and a Prayer
as (archive footage)
(1943)
Coney Island
as Kate Farley
(1943)
Sweet Rosie O'Grady
as Madeleine Marlowe/Rosie O'Grady
(1942)
Footlight Serenade
as Pat Lambert
(1942)
Song of the Islands
as Eileen O'Brien
(1942)
Springtime in the Rockies
as Vicky Lane
(1941)
A Yank in the R.A.F.
as Carol Brown
(1941)
I Wake Up Screaming
as Jill Lynn
(1941)
Moon Over Miami
as Kathryn 'Kay' Latimer, also called Miss Adams
(1941)
(1940)
Down Argentine Way
as Glenda Crawford
(1940)
Tin Pan Alley
as Lily Blane
(1939)
Man About Town
as Susan Hayes
(1939)
The Day the Bookies Wept
as Ina Firpo
(1939)
Million Dollar Legs
as Carol Parker
(1938)
College Swing
as Betty
(1938)
Campus Confessions
as Joyce Gilmore
(1938)
Give Me a Sailor
as Nancy Larkin
(1937)
Thrill of a Lifetime
as Gwen
(1937)
This Way Please
as Jane Morrow
(1936)
Follow the Fleet
as Singer in Trio
(1936)
Pigskin Parade
as Laura Watson
(1936)
(1936)
Collegiate
as Dorothy
(1936)
Don't Turn 'em Loose
as Mildred Webster
(1935)
The Nitwits
as Mary Roberts
(1935)
(1935)
Old Man Rhythm
as Sylvia
(1935)
(1935)
This Band Age
as Betty - Band Singer
(1935)
(1935)
A Night at the Biltmore Bowl
as Vocalist
(1934)
The Gay Divorcee
as Guest
(1934)
Student Tour
as Cayenne
(1934)
School for Romance
as Student
(1934)
By Your Leave
as Frances
(1934)
(1934)
Susie's Affairs
as Susie Lee
(1934)
(1934)
Love Detectives
as Alice
(1934)
Ferry-Go-Round
as Betty
(1933)
Cavalcade
as Girl on Couch
(1933)
Cavalcade
as Blonde Girl on Couch (uncredited)
(1933)
Melody Cruise
as First Stewardess (uncredited)
(1933)
The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi
as Band Singer with Ted Fio Rito
(1933)
Air Tonic
as Betty Grable - Band Singer
(1933)
Child of Manhattan
as Lucy McGonagle
(1933)
What Price Innocence?
as Beverly Bennett
(1932)
Probation
as Ruth Jarrett
(1932)
The Greeks Had a Word for Them
as Hat Check Girl (uncredited)
(1932)
The Kid from Spain
as Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
(1932)
Hold 'Em Jail
as Barbara Jones
(1932)
The Age of Consent
as Student at Dormitory (uncredited)
(1932)
Over the Counter
as Customer Who Wants to Buy a Baby (uncredited)
(1932)
Hollywood Lights
as Betty
(1932)
The Flirty Sleepwalker
as Blonde Girl
(1932)
(1932)
Lady! Please!
as Undetermined Minor Role (unconfirmed)
(1931)
Kiki
as Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
(1931)
Crashing Hollywood
as Betty
(1931)
Palmy Days
as Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
(1931)
(1931)
Ex-Sweeties
as Undetermined Minor Role
(1930)
Whoopee!
as Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
(1930)
New Movietone Follies of 1930
as Chorine
(1930)
Let's Go Places
as Chorine (uncredited)
(1929)
Happy Days
as Chorus Woman