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Laraine DayAmerican actress
Date of Birth: 13.10.1920
Country:  USA |
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Biography of Laraine Day
Early Life and CareerLaraine Day, originally known as La Raine Johnson, was born in Roosevelt, Utah, and was a descendant of one of the early leaders of the Mormon movement. She moved to California with her family and began her acting career with the "Long Beach Players" group. Her film debut came in 1937 with a small role in the movie "Stella Dallas". Soon after, she landed leading roles in several western films under the patronage of the "RKO" studio. During this time, she also met and formed a good relationship with John Wayne. She even played a prank on her colleague by scattering keys with tags that said "If you find this key, call John Wayne, RKO Studios". Rumor has it that the actor received numerous calls on the first day, but the joker was never revealed.
Rise to Fame
In 1939, Day signed a contract with MGM Studios, marking the beginning of her path to stardom. She started with the role of Nurse Mary Lamont, the love interest of the main character in the "Dr. Kildare" film series. The first film, "Calling Dr. Kildare," was released in 1939, with Lew Ayres playing the titular role. It is worth noting that other studios often offered Day more enticing roles. She had a successful supporting role in the Irish melodrama "My Son, My Son!". In 1940, she played the lead role in Alfred Hitchcock's thriller "Foreign Correspondent" alongside Joel McCrea, and in 1946, she starred in the psychological thriller "The Locket" with Robert Mitchum, Brian Aherne, and Gene Raymond. Day had the opportunity to work with stars of that time such as Lana Turner, Cary Grant, and John Wayne.
Later Life and Personal Life
In 1951, Day hosted a television show known as "Daydreaming with Laraine" or "The Laraine Day Show". From 1942 to 1947, she was married to Ray Hendricks, and in 1947, she married baseball manager Leo Durocher. This marriage lasted much longer, until 1960. During this time, Day was sometimes referred to as the First Lady of Baseball. When Durocher worked with the New York Giants team, Day even released a book titled "Day With the Giants". After her divorce from Durocher, Day married television producer Michael Grilikhes. This marriage was the most successful of the three and ended with Grilikhes' death in 2007. Day and Grilikhes had two daughters, Dana and Gigi. After their birth, Day appeared less frequently in films and only made occasional appearances on television, mostly in motherly roles. She dedicated most of her time to her two daughters and her church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In recognition of her contributions to the film industry, Laraine Day received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 6676 Hollywood Boulevard. She passed away on November 10, 2007, in Ivins, Utah, at the age of 87. According to her agent and publicist, Dale Olson, Day died in the home of her daughter Gigi Bell and granddaughter Giselle Bell. She had moved to Utah in March 2007, shortly after the death of her third husband.
