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
(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)
Meet Me After the Show
as Delilah Lee
(1951)
Call Me Mister
as Kay Hudson
(1950)
My Blue Heaven
as Kitty Moran
(1950)
Wabash Avenue
as Ruby Summers
(1950)
The Costume Designer
as Self (archive footage)
(1949)
The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend
as Freddie
(1948)
When My Baby Smiles at Me
as Bonny Kane
(1948)
That Lady in Ermine
as Francesca / Angelina
(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
(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)
Wing and a Prayer
as (archive footage)
(1944)
Take It or Leave It
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
(1944)
Pin Up Girl
as Lorry Jones
(1944)
Four Jills in a Jeep
as Betty Grable
(1943)
Coney Island
as Kate Farley
(1943)
Sweet Rosie O'Grady
as Madeleine Marlowe/Rosie O'Grady
(1942)
Song of the Islands
as Eileen O'Brien
(1942)
Springtime in the Rockies
as Vicky Lane
(1942)
Footlight Serenade
as Pat Lambert
(1941)
I Wake Up Screaming
as Jill Lynn
(1941)
A Yank in the R.A.F.
as Carol Brown
(1941)
(1941)
Moon Over Miami
as Kathryn 'Kay' Latimer, also called Miss Adams
(1940)
Down Argentine Way
as Glenda Crawford
(1940)
Tin Pan Alley
as Lily Blane
(1939)
Man About Town
as Susan Hayes
(1939)
Million Dollar Legs
as Carol Parker
(1939)
The Day the Bookies Wept
as Ina Firpo
(1938)
Give Me a Sailor
as Nancy Larkin
(1938)
College Swing
as Betty
(1938)
Campus Confessions
as Joyce Gilmore
(1937)
Thrill of a Lifetime
as Gwen
(1937)
This Way Please
as Jane Morrow
(1936)
Follow the Fleet
as Singer in Trio
(1936)
(1936)
Don't Turn 'em Loose
as Mildred Webster
(1936)
Pigskin Parade
as Laura Watson
(1936)
Collegiate
as Dorothy
(1935)
The Nitwits
as Mary Roberts
(1935)
Old Man Rhythm
as Sylvia
(1935)
(1935)
A Night at the Biltmore Bowl
as Vocalist
(1935)
(1935)
This Band Age
as Betty - Band Singer
(1935)
(1934)
The Gay Divorcee
as Guest
(1934)
Student Tour
as Cayenne
(1934)
By Your Leave
as Frances
(1934)
School for Romance
as Student
(1934)
(1934)
Susie's Affairs
as Susie Lee
(1934)
(1934)
Ferry-Go-Round
as Betty
(1934)
Love Detectives
as Alice
(1933)
Cavalcade
as Girl on Couch
(1933)
Cavalcade
as Blonde Girl on Couch (uncredited)
(1933)
Child of Manhattan
as Lucy McGonagle
(1933)
What Price Innocence?
as Beverly Bennett
(1933)
The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi
as Band Singer with Ted Fio Rito
(1933)
Melody Cruise
as First Stewardess (uncredited)
(1933)
Air Tonic
as Betty Grable - Band Singer
(1932)
The Greeks Had a Word for Them
as Hat Check Girl (uncredited)
(1932)
The Kid from Spain
as Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
(1932)
The Age of Consent
as Student at Dormitory (uncredited)
(1932)
Over the Counter
as Customer Who Wants to Buy a Baby (uncredited)
(1932)
Hold 'Em Jail
as Barbara Jones
(1932)
Probation
as Ruth Jarrett
(1932)
The Flirty Sleepwalker
as Blonde Girl
(1932)
(1932)
Hollywood Lights
as Betty
(1932)
Lady! Please!
as Undetermined Minor Role (unconfirmed)
(1931)
Palmy Days
as Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
(1931)
Kiki
as Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
(1931)
Crashing Hollywood
as Betty
(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