Kathryn Grayson

Kathryn Grayson as she appeared in the Technicolor musical THE KSSING BANDIT (1948), along with Frank Sinatra. Grayson was born Zelma Kathryn Elisabeth Hedrick in Winston-Salem, NC, on February 9, 1922. This pretty, petite brunette with a heart-shaped face was discovered by MGM talent scouts while singing on the radio. The studio quickly signed her to a contract, and she was given acting lessons, including countless publicity photos. She, made her first film in “Andy Hardy's Private Secretary” (1941) with Mickey Rooney, followed with three films in 1942: “The Vanishing Virginian”, “Rio Rita” and “Seven Sweethearts”. In 1943, she appeared in the film “Thousands Cheer”, along with Gene Kelly, Mickey Rooney, Eleanor Powell, June Allyson and others. After entertaining troops during the war and performing on radio programs, she returned to films in “Anchors Aweigh” (1945), co-starring Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra. Anchors Aweigh was the fifth-highest grossing film of 1945. This was followed by “Two Sisters from Boston” and guest appearances in “Ziegfeld Follies” and “Till the Clouds Roll By” (all 1946). She was paired with Mario Lanza a few times, but the two never got along due mostly to Lanza's hot temper and alcohol abuse. Grayson's most memorable roles came in the early 1950s, including “Show Boat” (1951), where she played "Magnolia", the musical “Lovely to look At” (1952), “Kiss Me Kate” (1953), playing actress "Lilli Vanessi", in a musical version of "The Taming of the Shrew". In 1953 she exited MGM, then made only one more film, “The Vagabond King” (1956), at Paramount. She later worked in nightclubs and on stage. She was married twice in her life, and had one daughter from her first marriage. According to her secretary, Grayson passed away in her sleep at her home in Los Angeles on February 17, 2010, aged 88.

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