In the James household, every holiday is a special day for the children. We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message. The movie was a big commercial hit. But that didnt mean her life was perfector even well-adjusted. She tied the knot with actor Jackie Coogan in 1937 and divorced him in 1939. Betty Grable had several nicknames during her career like: "the girl with the million dollar legs," "the quick-silver blonde," "the queen of the Hollywood musical," and "the darling of the forties." Wearing a white one-piece bathing . She was preceded in death by her husband Jack, who passed away on September 8, 2011. By 1930, she had worked as a chorus girl before signing with legendary Hollywood producer Samuel Goldwyn. Recounts the life of one of the greatest movie stars of the 1940s, revealing the dreams and heartbreaks of Betty Grable's career and personal life, from the little girl ruthlessly torn from her family to her years as a cancer patient. She preferred to star in up-beat and outlandish musicals, many of which followed the generic boy-meets-girl story tack. She was propelled into the acting profession by her mother. Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter. Nose art featuring her is painted on the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Sentimental Journey. Though Grable received no billing, she led the opening number, "Cowboys." It's one of the most famous pin-up photos of all time -- Betty Grable, in a tight, one-piece bathing suit, posing with her back to the camera and looking over her shoulder. She was so insecure, she consistently turned down important movies that would stretch her acting skills, and was particularly wary about starring in movies opposite the most famous male actors. Throughout the 1930s, she did seemingly everything there is to do in show business. The U.S. Treasury Department in 1946 and 1947 listed her as the highest-salaried American woman; she earned more than $3 million during her career. Betty Grable (1916-1973) Birth name: Elizabeth Ruth Grable Birthdate: Monday, December 18th, 1916 Location: St Louis, Missouri, USA Died: Monday, July 2nd, 1973 Location: Los Angeles, California, USA Cause of death: Lung cancer Some thought Grable and Monroe wouldn't get along but Grable was quoted as saying (to Monroe): "Go and get yours honey! He was under considerable stress from a lawsuit against his parents over his childhood earnings and the couple divorced in 1939. This proved to be Grable's only film appearance for the year. When she was 12, she played an adult chorus girl in the film Happy Days - a feat. It was a triumphant show of strength, but it backfired horribly. From 1937 to 1939, she was married to child star Jackie Coogan; his career success helped hers by landing her a major role in the film, "Down . She had Dutch, English, German, and Irish ancestry. Following the major success of, A Yank in the RAF, Grable was assigned to, I Wake Up Screaming, in 1941, a black-and-white film noir, co-starring Carole Landis and Victor Mature. Why do people say that forever is not altogether real in love and relationship. In the 1970s, only a handful of years after her career really went on the decline, doctors diagnosed Grable with lung cancer. Lorry signs photos for the boys. She made nationwide headlines when it was revealed she was working in a rectory. Was she really a model Betty would go on to be signed by RKO Pictures, but wouldnt find much success with the studio after being given her contract.In 1937, Betty married former child star, Jackie Coogan. When the film was released, it received mixed reviews; it was referred to as "a bright and beguiling swatch of nonsense" and it did not generate the revenue Fox had hoped. In 1943, she was the number-one box office draw in the world and, in 1947, she was the highest-paid entertainer in the United States. Before he was a magazine mogul, Hugh Hefner served in WWII and, like practically all of his comrades, fell in love with Grables pin-up photo. Which caused bitterness that did not end with her In fact, Grable and Monroe got along famously; Grable reportedly told Monroe: "Go and get yours, honey! It enjoyed reasonable success at the box office, particularly overseas. Directed by H. Bruce Humberstone and produced by William LeBaron, the screenplay was adapted by Robert Ellis, Helen Logan and Earl Baldwin based on a short story titled Imagine Us! Birthday: December 18, 1916 (Sagittarius), Born In: St. Louis, Missouri, United States. [61], She was inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians. From the moment it came out it was iconic, and immediately became the most popular pin-up poster. She and Harry James had two daughters: Victoria Elizabeth James (born March 3, 1944) and Jessica James (born May 20, 1947 - March 20, 2016). Fox, being a bunch of money-grubbing men, staunchly denied Grables request. Betty Grable was the pinup queen and inarguably the biggest star of the 1940's, according to box-office records. She suffered from lung cancer and died of the disease in 1973. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/betty-grable-3794.php, American Female Film & Theater Personalities, 20th Century Film & Theater Personalities, 20th Century American Film & Theater Personalities. She played a vaudeville performer whose daughter is embarrassed of her mothers profession. She was born Elizabeth Ruth Grable in St. Louis, Missouri to John Conn Grable (18831954) and Lillian Rose Hofmann (18891964). AfterPigskin Parade, she suddenly found herself typecast as a naive college student, starring in a series of humdrum roles and even duller films. After Tin Pan Alley, Grable was teamed again with Ameche in the hit musical Moon Over Miami (1941), which co-starred up-and-coming actress Carole Landis. The Farmer Takes a Wife, was highly publicized, but, was unfortunately, critically panned and proved to be a box-office failure. Grable stuck in his head so much that when Hefner returned home, he set to work on Playboywith her in mind. 20th Century Fox had reached out to her specifically for the part, loaning her out from her new studio, Paramount. Betty Grable was an adorable, rosy-cheeked, blonde little girl. Betty's father, Conn Grable, lives permanently at the ranch and oversees things. The film was a commercial super hit and earned more than $5 million at the box office. Reportedly, one US fighter perished with Grables famous photograph clutched right in his hand, as if Americas Sweetheart could somehow save him. Most of Grable's immediate ancestors were American, but her distant heritage was of Dutch, Irish, German and English stock. After small parts in countless low-budgeted B-Hollywood-movies through the 1930s, Grable finally gained national attention for her stage role in the Cole Porter Broadway hit Du Barry Was a Lady (1939). The couple had two daughters. With that pin-up and as the star of lavish musicals, Betty became the highest-paid star in Hollywood. The release of the film was surrounded by a massive publicity campaign, but despite the promotion, the film failed to fulfill its hype, and many critics complained of the lack of chemistry between Grable and North. Her mother groomed her for a career in show business from an early age. Her former home has been listed at $12.25 million. When her contract at Paramount expired, Grable decided to quit acting, being fed up with appearing in college films. Grable appeared in her first film made away from Fox in over 15 years Three for the Show (1955) for Columbia Pictures, and the movie featured up-and-coming talents Jack Lemmon and Marge and Gower Champion. She was 86 years old. When Grable returned to Paramount, she began a new phase in her career; the studio began casting her in a series of college-aimed movies, usually having her portray a nave student. December 18 Actress #11. on First Name Betty #9. Born 100 years ago Dec. 18, 1916, Grable was a massive star of the 1940s . Although the press hinted that a tense behind-the-scenes rivalry existed between the two actresses, they both denied it, claiming to be good friends. Grable died July 2, 1973, of lung cancer at age 56 in Santa Monica, California. The Definitive Betty Grable Collection. She signed a contract with Paramount Pictures in the late 1930s. https://www.newnetherlandinstitute.org/history-and-heritage/dutch_a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_Grable. Thanks for your time! But that didn't mean her life was perfector even well-adjusted. She agreed to make How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955) for Fox on the assurance Marilyn Monroe would be her co-star. Moon Over Miami. She retired from the movie industry in 1955, and never returned. Grable, whose career was declining, was assumed to be jealous of Monroe because she was being groomed as Fox's newest star and possibly as Grable's unofficial successor. Grable entered into a relationship with a dancer, Bob Remick, several years her junior. Her two daughters Victoria and Jessica were brought up by anyone available. The celebrated "pin-up girl" of World War II, American actress Betty Grable was the daughter of a stockbroker and an aggressive "stage mother." When her older sister Marjorie balked at a show business career, Grable was taken in hand by her mother and trained to sing, dance, tell jokes and play the ukulele and saxophone. Betty Grable really tried her best to make it work after moving to Nevada. She attended the Hollywood Professional school but Lillian lied about her daughter's age and Betty (real age 13), landed several minor parts as a chorus girl in early musicals (Whoopee! B etty Grable was famed more for her shapely legs than for her acting and singing, as the star of dozens of Hollywood musicals was always ready to concede. Geni requires JavaScript! Grable retired from screen acting in 1955 after she withdrew from her Fox contract, but she continued to perform on the stage and on television. Your suggestions can be as general or specific as you like, from Life to Compact Cars and Trucks to A Subspecies of Capybara Called Hydrochoerus Isthmius. Well get our writers on it because we want to create articles on the topics youre interested in. Herepaid her with another cruel trick. father: John Conn Grable (1883-1954) mother: Lillian Rose Hofmann (1889-1964) children: Jessica James, Victoria Elizabeth James Born Country: United States Actresses American Women Height: 5'4" (163 cm ), 5'4" Females Died on: July 2, 1973 place of death: Santa Monica, California, United States Thrill of a Lifetime. She was, apparently, never schooled beyond the seventh grade. . She briefly returned to filming to make a cameo in Do You Love Me (1946), in which she appeared as a fan of her husband Harry James' character. Betty was too young; the minimum working age was 15. Were always looking for your input! Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery. The Truth Always Comes Out: Dark Family Secrets Exposed, Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, France's Most Powerful Mistress, Tragic Facts About Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIIIs First Wife, Glam Facts About Nils Asther, The Male Greta Garbo, Scorned Facts About Farida, Egypts Rejected Queen, Rebellious Facts About Drew Barrymore, Hollywood's Comeback Kid, Adventurous Facts About Frances Marion, Hollywoods Pioneer Writer. [45], She next starred in How to Marry a Millionaire, a romantic comedy about three models plotting to marry wealthy men, co-starring Marilyn Monroe and Lauren Bacall. Elizabeth Ruth "Betty" Grable ( 18. joulukuuta 1916 Saint Louis, Missouri - 2. heinkuuta 1973 Santa Monica, Kalifornia) oli yhdysvaltalainen laulaja, malli, nyttelij ja tanssija. Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe. One particular pose showed Grable's back to the camera as she playfully smiled looking over her right shoulder, with the pose chosen because she was several months pregnant with her first child.