Betty Grable
born: 19-12-1916
birth place: St. Louis, Missouri
died: 02-07-1973
Born Elizabeth Ruth Grable in 1916, Betty Grable was groomed for stardom by her mother from an early age. As a child she attended dancing lessons, as well as learning the saxophone and singing.
During her lifetime, she would become one of the most prolific singing actresses of her time, starring in over one hundred films, including 'Pin Up Girl' and 'How To Marry A Millionaire'.
In 1929, the Grable family went on holiday to California, and Lilian, Betty’s Mother, decided that she and her daughter should stay behind, in order to enhance Betty’s chance of fame.
Betty attended the Hollywood Professional School, dance lessons at the Ernest Blecher Academy, and was coached at the Albertina Rosch School.
At thirteen, Betty was chosen for the chorus in 'Let’s Go Places'. The law at the time stated that girls had to be over fifteen to dance in the chorus, but Betty possessed forged documentation to say that she was old enough to perform. In her next show, however, her true age was discovered, and her contract duly terminated.
In 1930, Sam Goldwyn signed Betty to appear in 'Whoopee!' and this was followed by numerous chorus and bit parts, including two films starring Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire.
Betty Grable met her first husband in 1935. His name was Jackie Coogan and he had been a child star. Together, he and Betty went on tour with their show 'Hollywood Secrets', and it was this venture that really made a name for her.
Jackie and Betty married in 1937, and the same year Betty was signed to appear as the leading lady in 'Down Argentine Way'.
Betty spent World War II entertaining the troops. She and Jackie divorced in 1940, following arguments over money.
In 1943, Twentieth Century Fox had Betty’s legs insured with Lloyd’s of London for the record amount of $1.25 million.
During the same year, Betty married her second husband, bandleader Harry James. The pair had two daughters, Victoria Elizabeth (b. 1944,) and Jessica (b. 1947.)
Betty spent the late fifties performing on TV and in nightclubs, as well as appearing in 'Guys and Dolls'.
Betty Grable discovered she had lung cancer in 1972, and died from the disease a year later.
