Betty Grable American film actress, singer and dancer Date of Birth: 18.12.1916 Country: USA

1. Biography of Betty Grable
2. Early Career
3. Rise to Fame
4. Success at 20th Century Fox
5. Later Years and Personal Life

Biography of Betty Grable

Elizabeth Ruth "Betty" Grable was an American film actress, singer, and dancer. Born on December 18, 1916, in St. Louis, Missouri, she was the youngest of three children in her family. Grable's ancestry included American, Dutch, Irish, German, and English roots.

Early Career

Grable entered the acting profession at the urging of her mother. At the age of 12, she appeared in the musical "Happy Days" in 1929. Her mother then transformed her into a platinum blonde, using fake documents to help Grable secure her next role. However, when the deception was discovered, she was fired. Eventually, in 1930, Grable joined the ensemble of the comedy musical "Whoopee!" with Eddie Cantor, and she settled for small roles in various film projects.

Rise to Fame

In the late 1930s, Grable signed a contract with Paramount Pictures. She played leading roles in several low-budget films, mostly portraying college students. In 1939, she and her husband, Jackie Coogan, appeared in the cheap comedy "Million Dollar Legs." However, the couple divorced the same year. After her contract expired, Grable stated that she no longer wanted to appear in B-movies.

Success at 20th Century Fox

Fed up with the showbiz industry, Grable reluctantly agreed to go on tour as a solo performer. This experience brought her in contact with producer Darryl F. Zanuck, who helped her secure a long-term contract with 20th Century Fox. This fortunate turn led her to the musical drama "Down Argentine Way," which marked the beginning of her rise to success.

It was believed that Grable's main rival throughout her career was Alice Faye and that Grable had surpassed her to become the new leading musical star of 20th Century Fox. However, in reality, the two actresses remained close friends, and Faye, displeased with how the studio treated her, made the decision to leave.

For a long time, Grable shone in musical films, sharing the screen with desirable leading men such as Victor Mature, Don Ameche, John Payne, and Tyrone Power. In 1943, it was noted that Grable's films were the highest-grossing worldwide, and in 1947, she became the highest-paid artist in the United States. Her two most successful films of her career were the musical "Mother Wore Tights" in 1947 and the comedy "How to Marry a Millionaire" in 1953.

Later Years and Personal Life

Grable retired from the big screen in 1955 when her contract with 20th Century Fox expired, but she continued to work in television and on stage. She was often regarded as having the most beautiful legs in Hollywood, and her employers conducted numerous photoshoots to showcase her perfect proportions. Her iconic photo in a swimsuit helped Grable become the poster girl for pin-up posters during World War II, even surpassing Rita Hayworth in popularity. This famous photo later made it into Life magazine's list of "100 Photographs that Changed the World." Grable's legs were insured by Lloyd's of London for $1 million.

Grable was married to trumpeter Harry James from 1943 to 1965, and they had two daughters together. Throughout their marriage, the actress suffered from James' drunken behavior and infidelity. After their divorce, she dated dancer Bob Remick until her death from lung cancer in 1973. Grable was known to be a sleepwalker and suffered from a fear of crowds (demophobia).