Betty Grable
Born
December 18, 1916
Died
July 2, 1973 (56 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
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
This Is Bob Hope...
Self (archive footage)
2017
Jackie Coogan: The First Child Star
Self (archive footage)
2015
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing
(archive footage)
2009
Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults
Self (archiveFootage)
1999
Hidden Hollywood: Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Film Vaults
Self (archiveFootage)
1997
Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend
Self (from How to Marry a Millionaire [1953]) (archive footage)
1986
Showbiz Goes to War
(archive footage)
1982
Hollywood Blue
(archive footage)
1970
The Carol Burnett Show
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1967
The Hollywood Palace
Self - Presenter · (1 episode)
1964
Marilyn
Self / Loco Dempsey (archive footage) (uncredited)
1963
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (1 episode)
1962
Some of Manie's Friends
1959
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
Betty Grable · (1 episode)
1957
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
Self · (4 episodes)
1956
How To Be Very, Very Popular
Stormy Tornado
1955
Three for the Show
Julie Lowndes
1955
How to Marry a Millionaire
Loco Dempsey
1953
The Farmer Takes a Wife
Molly Larkins
1953
The Oscars
Self · (1 episode)
1953
Meet Me After the Show
Delilah Lee
1951
Call Me Mister
Kay Hudson
1951
My Blue Heaven
Kitty Moran
1950
The Costume Designer
Self (archive footage)
1950
Wabash Avenue
Ruby Summers
1950
What's My Line?
Self - Mystery Guest · (2 episodes)
1950
The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend
Freddie
1949
When My Baby Smiles at Me
Bonny Kane
1948
That Lady in Ermine
Francesca / Angelina
1948
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self · (2 episodes)
1948
Mother Wore Tights
Mother
1947
The Shocking Miss Pilgrim
Cynthia Pilgrim
1947
Do You Love Me
Barry's Fan in Taxi
1946
The Dolly Sisters
Yansci 'Jenny' Dolly
1945
The All-Star Bond Rally
Pat Lambert (archive footage)
1945
Diamond Horseshoe
Bonnie Collins
1945
Take It or Leave It
(archive footage) (uncredited)
1944
Pin Up Girl
Lorry Jones
1944
Four Jills in a Jeep
Betty Grable
1944
Wing and a Prayer
(archive footage)
1944
Sweet Rosie O'Grady
Madeleine Marlowe/Rosie O'Grady
1943
Coney Island
Kate Farley
1943
Springtime in the Rockies
Vicky Lane
1942
Footlight Serenade
Pat Lambert
1942
Song of the Islands
Eileen O'Brien
1942
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 2
1941
I Wake Up Screaming
Jill Lynn
1941
A Yank in the R.A.F.
Carol Brown
1941
Moon Over Miami
Kathryn 'Kay' Latimer, also called Miss Adams
1941
Tin Pan Alley
Lily Blane
1940
Down Argentine Way
Glenda Crawford
1940
The Day the Bookies Wept
Ina Firpo
1939
Million Dollar Legs
Carol Parker
1939
Man About Town
Susan Hayes
1939
Campus Confessions
Joyce Gilmore
1938
Give Me a Sailor
Nancy Larkin
1938
College Swing
Betty
1938
Thrill of a Lifetime
Gwen
1937
This Way Please
Jane Morrow
1937
Pigskin Parade
Laura Watson
1936
Don't Turn 'em Loose
Mildred Webster
1936
Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs
1936
Follow the Fleet
Singer in Trio
1936
Collegiate
Dorothy
1936
A Quiet Fourth
1935
Old Man Rhythm
Sylvia
1935
Drawing Rumors
1935
A Night at the Biltmore Bowl
Vocalist
1935
The Nitwits
Mary Roberts
1935
The Spirit of 1976
1935
This Band Age
Betty - Band Singer
1935
Ferry-Go-Round
Betty
1934
By Your Leave
Frances
1934
The Gay Divorcee
Guest
1934
Student Tour
Cayenne
1934
Susie's Affairs
Susie Lee
1934
Business Is a Pleasure
1934
Love Detectives
Alice
1934
Elmer Steps Out
1934
School for Romance
Student
1934
Air Tonic
Betty Grable - Band Singer
1933
The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi
Band Singer with Ted Fio Rito
1933
What Price Innocence?
Beverly Bennett
1933
Melody Cruise
First Stewardess (uncredited)
1933
Child of Manhattan
Lucy McGonagle
1933
Cavalcade
Girl on Couch
1933
Cavalcade
Blonde Girl on Couch (uncredited)
1933
The Kid from Spain
Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
1932
Over the Counter
Customer Who Wants to Buy a Baby (uncredited)
1932
Hold 'Em Jail
Barbara Jones
1932
The Age of Consent
Student at Dormitory (uncredited)
1932
Hollywood Lights
Betty
1932
The Flirty Sleepwalker
Blonde Girl
1932
Probation
Ruth Jarrett
1932
Hollywood Luck
1932
Lady! Please!
Undetermined Minor Role (unconfirmed)
1932
The Greeks Had a Word for Them
Hat Check Girl (uncredited)
1932
Once a Hero
1931
Palmy Days
Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
1931
Ex-Sweeties
Undetermined Minor Role
1931
Crashing Hollywood
Betty
1931
Kiki
Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
1931
Whoopee!
Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
1930
New Movietone Follies of 1930
Chorine
1930
Let's Go Places
Chorine (uncredited)
1930
Happy Days
Chorus Woman
1929