Personal Info
Known For:
Acting
Birthday:
December 18, 1916
Place of Birth:
Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
Social Media
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
Filmography
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Lynch/Oz | Jill Lynn (archive footage) (uncredited) |
| 2017 | This Is Bob Hope... | Self (archive footage) |
| 2015 | Jackie Coogan: The First Child Star | Self (archive footage) |
| 2009 | Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing | (archive footage) |
| 1999 | Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults | Self (archiveFootage) |
| 1997 | Hidden Hollywood: Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Film Vaults | Self (archiveFootage) |
| 1986 | Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend | Self (from How to Marry a Millionaire [1953]) (archive footage) |
| 1982 | Showbiz Goes to War | (archive footage) |
| 1970 | Hollywood Blue | (archive footage) |
| 1963 | Marilyn | Self / Loco Dempsey (archive footage) (uncredited) |
| 1959 | Some of Manie's Friends | |
| 1955 | How To Be Very, Very Popular | Stormy Tornado |
| 1955 | Three for the Show | Julie Lowndes |
| 1953 | How to Marry a Millionaire | Loco Dempsey |
| 1953 | The Farmer Takes a Wife | Molly Larkins |
| 1951 | Meet Me After the Show | Delilah Lee |
| 1951 | Call Me Mister | Kay Hudson |
| 1950 | My Blue Heaven | Kitty Moran |
| 1950 | Wabash Avenue | Ruby Summers |
| 1950 | The Costume Designer | Self (archive footage) |
| 1949 | The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend | Freddie |
| 1948 | That Lady in Ermine | Francesca / Angelina |
| 1948 | When My Baby Smiles at Me | Bonny Kane |
| 1947 | Mother Wore Tights | Mother |
| 1947 | The Shocking Miss Pilgrim | Cynthia Pilgrim |
| 1946 | Do You Love Me | Barry's Fan in Taxi (uncredited) |
| 1945 | The Dolly Sisters | Yansci 'Jenny' Dolly |
| 1945 | Diamond Horseshoe | Bonnie Collins |
| 1945 | The All-Star Bond Rally | Pat Lambert (archive footage) |
| 1944 | Pin Up Girl | Lorry Jones |
| 1944 | Four Jills in a Jeep | Betty Grable |
| 1944 | Wing and a Prayer | (archive footage) |
| 1944 | Take It or Leave It | (archive footage) (uncredited) |
| 1943 | Coney Island | Kate Farley |
| 1943 | Sweet Rosie O'Grady | Madeleine Marlowe/Rosie O'Grady |
| 1942 | Footlight Serenade | Pat Lambert |
| 1942 | Springtime in the Rockies | Vicky Lane |
| 1942 | Song of the Islands | Eileen O'Brien |
| 1941 | I Wake Up Screaming | Jill Lynn |
| 1941 | Moon Over Miami | Kathryn 'Kay' Latimer, also called Miss Adams |
| 1941 | A Yank in the R.A.F. | Carol Brown |
| 1941 | Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 2 | |
| 1940 | Down Argentine Way | Glenda Crawford |
| 1940 | Tin Pan Alley | Lily Blane |
| 1939 | The Day the Bookies Wept | Ina Firpo |
| 1939 | Man About Town | Susan Hayes |
| 1939 | Million Dollar Legs | Carol Parker |
| 1938 | College Swing | Betty |
| 1938 | Give Me a Sailor | Nancy Larkin |
| 1938 | Campus Confessions | Joyce Gilmore |
| 1937 | This Way Please | Jane Morrow |
| 1937 | Thrill of a Lifetime | Gwen |
| 1936 | Follow the Fleet | Singer in Trio |
| 1936 | Pigskin Parade | Laura Watson |
| 1936 | Don't Turn 'em Loose | Mildred Webster |
| 1936 | Collegiate | Dorothy |
| 1936 | Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs | |
| 1935 | The Nitwits | Mary Roberts |
| 1935 | A Quiet Fourth | |
| 1935 | Old Man Rhythm | Sylvia |
| 1935 | A Night at the Biltmore Bowl | Vocalist |
| 1935 | This Band Age | Betty - Band Singer |
| 1935 | Drawing Rumors | |
| 1935 | The Spirit of 1976 | |
| 1934 | The Gay Divorcee | Guest |
| 1934 | By Your Leave | Frances |
| 1934 | Student Tour | Cayenne |
| 1934 | Love Detectives | Alice |
| 1934 | Susie's Affairs | Susie Lee |
| 1934 | School for Romance | Student |
| 1934 | Elmer Steps Out | |
| 1934 | Ferry-Go-Round | Betty |
| 1934 | Business Is a Pleasure | |
| 1933 | Cavalcade | Girl on Couch |
| 1933 | Child of Manhattan | Lucy McGonagle |
| 1933 | What Price Innocence? | Beverly Bennett |
| 1933 | Cavalcade | Blonde Girl on Couch (uncredited) |
| 1933 | The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi | Band Singer with Ted Fio Rito |
| 1933 | Melody Cruise | First Stewardess (uncredited) |
| 1933 | Air Tonic | Betty Grable - Band Singer |
| 1932 | Hollywood Lights | Betty |
| 1932 | The Greeks Had a Word for Them | Hat Check Girl (uncredited) |
| 1932 | Probation | Ruth Jarrett |
| 1932 | The Kid from Spain | Goldwyn Girl (uncredited) |
| 1932 | Hold 'Em Jail | Barbara Jones |
| 1932 | Over the Counter | Customer Who Wants to Buy a Baby (uncredited) |
| 1932 | The Age of Consent | Student at Dormitory (uncredited) |
| 1932 | The Flirty Sleepwalker | Blonde Girl |
| 1932 | Hollywood Luck | |
| 1932 | Lady! Please! | Undetermined Minor Role (unconfirmed) |
| 1931 | Kiki | Goldwyn Girl (uncredited) |
| 1931 | Palmy Days | Goldwyn Girl (uncredited) |
| 1931 | Crashing Hollywood | Betty |
| 1931 | Ex-Sweeties | Undetermined Minor Role |
| 1931 | Once a Hero | |
| 1930 | Whoopee! | Goldwyn Girl (uncredited) |
| 1930 | New Movietone Follies of 1930 | Chorine |
| 1930 | Let's Go Places | Chorine (uncredited) |
| 1929 | Happy Days | Chorus Woman |
| Year | TV Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | The Carol Burnett Show | Self - Guest |
| 1964 | The Hollywood Palace | Self - Presenter |
| 1962 | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Self |
| 1957 | The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour | Betty Grable |
| 1956 | The Dinah Shore Chevy Show | Self |
| 1953 | The Oscars | Self |
| 1950 | What's My Line? | Self - Mystery Guest |
| 1948 | The Ed Sullivan Show | Self |