Betty Grable
- Teen actor
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.
Acted in
This Is Bob Hope...
2017
as Self (archive footage)
Jackie Coogan: The First Child Star
2015
as Self (archive footage)
Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History - The 1940s: Stars, Stripes and Singing
2009
as (archive footage)
Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults
2002
as Self (archiveFootage)
Hidden Hollywood: Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Film Vaults
1997
as Self (archiveFootage)
Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend
1986
as Self (from How to Marry a Millionaire [1953]) (archive footage)
Showbiz Goes to War
1982
as (archive footage)
Hollywood Blue
1970
as (archive footage)
The Carol Burnett Show
1967
as Self - Guest
The Hollywood Palace
1964
as Self - Presenter
Marilyn
1963
as Self / Loco Dempsey (archive footage) (uncredited)
Some of Manie's Friends
1959
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
1957
as Betty Grable
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1956
as Self
How To Be Very, Very Popular
1955
as Stormy Tornado
Three for the Show
1955
as Julie Lowndes
How to Marry a Millionaire
1953
as Loco Dempsey
The Farmer Takes a Wife
1953
as Molly Larkins
The Oscars
1953
as Self
Meet Me After the Show
1951
as Delilah Lee
Call Me Mister
1951
as Kay Hudson
My Blue Heaven
1950
as Kitty Moran
The Costume Designer
1950
as Self (archive footage)
Wabash Avenue
1950
as Ruby Summers
What's My Line?
1950
as Self - Mystery Guest
The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend
1949
as Freddie
When My Baby Smiles at Me
1948
as Bonny Kane
That Lady in Ermine
1948
as Francesca / Angelina
Mother Wore Tights
1947
as Mother
The Shocking Miss Pilgrim
1947
as Cynthia Pilgrim
Do You Love Me
1946
as Barry's Fan in Taxi (uncredited)
The Dolly Sisters
1945
as Yansci 'Jenny' Dolly
The All-Star Bond Rally
1945
as Pat Lambert (archive footage)
Diamond Horseshoe
1945
as Bonnie Collins
Take It or Leave It
1944
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
Pin Up Girl
1944
as Lorry Jones
Four Jills in a Jeep
1944
as Betty Grable
Wing and a Prayer
1944
as (archive footage)
Sweet Rosie O'Grady
1943
as Madeleine Marlowe/Rosie O'Grady
Coney Island
1943
as Kate Farley
Springtime in the Rockies
1942
as Vicky Lane
Footlight Serenade
1942
as Pat Lambert
Song of the Islands
1942
as Eileen O'Brien
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 2
1941
I Wake Up Screaming
1941
as Jill Lynn
A Yank in the R.A.F.
1941
as Carol Brown
Moon Over Miami
1941
as Kathryn 'Kay' Latimer, also called Miss Adams
Tin Pan Alley
1940
as Lily Blane
Down Argentine Way
1940
as Glenda Crawford
The Day the Bookies Wept
1939
as Ina Firpo
Million Dollar Legs
1939
as Carol Parker
Man About Town
1939
as Susan Hayes
Campus Confessions
1938
as Joyce Gilmore
Give Me a Sailor
1938
as Nancy Larkin
College Swing
1938
as Betty
Thrill of a Lifetime
1937
as Gwen
This Way Please
1937
as Jane Morrow
Pigskin Parade
1936
as Laura Watson
Don't Turn 'em Loose
1936
as Mildred Webster
Sunkist Stars at Palm Springs
1936
Follow the Fleet
1936
as Singer in Trio
Collegiate
1936
as Dorothy
A Quiet Fourth
1935
Old Man Rhythm
1935
as Sylvia
Drawing Rumors
1935
A Night at the Biltmore Bowl
1935
as Vocalist
The Nitwits
1935
as Mary Roberts
The Spirit of 1976
1935
This Band Age
1935
as Betty - Band Singer
Ferry-Go-Round
1934
as Betty
By Your Leave
1934
as Frances
The Gay Divorcee
1934
as Guest
Student Tour
1934
as Cayenne
Susie's Affairs
1934
as Susie Lee
Business Is a Pleasure
1934
Love Detectives
1934
as Alice
Elmer Steps Out
1934
School for Romance
1934
as Student
Air Tonic
1933
as Betty Grable - Band Singer
The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi
1933
as Band Singer with Ted Fio Rito
What Price Innocence?
1933
as Beverly Bennett
Melody Cruise
1933
as First Stewardess (uncredited)
Child of Manhattan
1933
as Lucy McGonagle
Cavalcade
1933
as Girl on Couch
Cavalcade
1933
as Blonde Girl on Couch (uncredited)
The Kid from Spain
1932
as Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
Over the Counter
1932
as Customer Who Wants to Buy a Baby (uncredited)
Hold 'Em Jail
1932
as Barbara Jones
The Age of Consent
1932
as Student at Dormitory (uncredited)
Hollywood Lights
1932
The Flirty Sleepwalker
1932
as Blonde Girl
Probation
1932
as Ruth Jarrett
Hollywood Luck
1932
Lady! Please!
1932
as Undetermined Minor Role (unconfirmed)
The Greeks Had a Word for Them
1932
as Hat Check Girl (uncredited)
Once a Hero
1931
Palmy Days
1931
as Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
Ex-Sweeties
1931
as Undetermined Minor Role
Crashing Hollywood
1931
Kiki
1931
as Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
Whoopee!
1930
as Goldwyn Girl (uncredited)
New Movietone Follies of 1930
1930
as Chorine
Happy Days
1929
as Chorus Woman