Kathryn Grayson American actress and singer Date of Birth: 09.02.1922 Country: USA

Biography of Kathryn Grayson

Kathryn Grayson, born in 1922 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was an American actress and singer. Originally named Zelma Kathryn Elisabeth Hedrick, she later adopted the stage name Kathryn Grayson, combining her middle name and her mother's maiden name.

Grayson discovered her performing talent after a small appearance in a local theater in St. Louis, Missouri, where her family had moved. At the age of 12, she began developing her vocal abilities at the Chicago Civic Opera. In the early 1940s, Grayson signed a contract with MGM and made her film debut in 1941 with the comedy-drama "Andy Hardy's Private Secretary."

During this time, MGM had high hopes for the young and beautiful actress, aiming to make her the next Deanna Durbin. As a result, she was given significant and successful roles in popular projects such as "Thousands Cheer" (1943), "Anchors Aweigh" (1945), and "Ziegfeld Follies" (1945).

In 1946, Grayson played the lead role in the musical comedy "Two Sisters from Boston" and appeared in the biographical musical film "Till the Clouds Roll By" about the life of legendary American composer Jerome Kern. She co-starred with Robert Walker, Judy Garland, and Frank Sinatra in the film. She continued to work in musical films, including "It Happened in Brooklyn" (1947) and "The Kissing Bandit" (1948), where she appeared alongside Sinatra.

In 1949, Grayson landed the leading role in the melodramatic musical "That Midnight Kiss" and in 1950, she starred in the musical "The Toast of New Orleans." However, with the decline of the musical era, Grayson's star began to fade. She transitioned to the theater stage and also appeared in several television series. Some notable theatrical productions she participated in include "Show Boat," "Rosalinda," "Kiss Me, Kate," "Naughty Marietta," and "The Merry Widow." She received the prestigious Sarah Siddons Award for her role in "The Merry Widow." In 1956, she was nominated for an Emmy for her performance in the television series "General Electric Theater."

Apart from her acting career, Grayson showcased her soprano voice on the radio and in her own concerts. In 1952, she was offered a $10,000 contract for a week of performances at the "Riviera" nightclub in New Jersey. In 1953, she recorded a studio version of the song "The Desert Song" with Tony Martin.

Grayson's last on-screen role was in the late 1980s in the TV series "Murder, She Wrote." Throughout her career, she appeared in a total of two dozen films.

Grayson was married twice. Her first marriage was to actor John Shelton in 1941, but they divorced in 1946. In 1947, she married actor Johnnie Johnston, and they had one child before divorcing in 1952. Although she did not remarry, Grayson was often seen in the company of producer Robert Evans in the late 1950s. She was also known to be a close friend of Ava Gardner.

Kathryn Grayson lived to the age of 88 and passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home in Los Angeles, California, on February 17, 2010.