Nan Grey (born Eschal Loleet Grey Miller;[1] July 25, 1918 – July 25, 1993) was an American film actress.

Nan Grey
Grey in 1942
Born
Eschal Loleet Grey Miller

(1918-07-25)July 25, 1918
Houston, Texas, U.S.
DiedJuly 25, 1993(1993-07-25) (aged 75)
San Diego, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1934–1941
Spouses
(m. 1939⁠–⁠1950)
(m. 1950⁠–⁠1993)
Children2 daughters

Early years

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Grey was born in Houston, Texas. In 1934, at age 16, she went to Hollywood with her mother for a holiday. She was persuaded by a friend to take a screen test and ended up in pictures.[citation needed]

Grey attended the school that Universal Studios operated for children who had film contracts.[2]

Career

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Film

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Grey's screen debut was in 1934 in Warner Bros.'s The Firebird.[3] She starred opposite John Wayne in the 1936 film Sea Spoilers. Grey appeared in the Universal Monsters films Dracula's Daughter (1936) and The Invisible Man Returns (1940). She also appeared in the popular 1936 musical comedy Three Smart Girls, as well as the 1939 sequel Three Smart Girls Grow Up.

Radio

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Grey played Kathy Marshall in the NBC radio soap opera Those We Love[4] 1938-1945.[3] Grey played in The Lux Radio Theatre, November 8, 1937 episode, "She Loves Me Not" with Bing Crosby, Joan Blondell, and Sterling Holloway[5][6][7]

Invention

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In the 1960s, Grey invented and marketed a cosmetic mirror especially suited to nearsighted women. An obituary noted, "Among its users was Princess Grace of Monaco."[3]

Personal life

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On May 4, 1939, Grey married U. S. Racing Hall of Fame jockey Jack Westrope in Phoenix, Arizona.[8]

She married singer Frankie Laine in June 1950, and Laine adopted Grey's daughters (Pam and Jan) from her marriage to Westrope.[citation needed]

Death

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The Laines' 43-year union lasted until her death from heart failure on July 25, 1993, her 75th birthday.[9]

Filmography

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Grey in Dracula's Daughter (1936)
Year Title Role Notes
1934 The St. Louis Kid First Girl (scenes deleted)
1934 The Firebird Alice von Attem
1934 Babbitt Eunice Littlefield
1935 The Woman in Red Minor Role Uncredited
1935 Mary Jane's Pa Lucille Preston
1935 The Affair of Susan Miss Skelly
1935 His Night Out Minor Role Uncredited
1935 The Great Impersonation Middleton's Daughter Uncredited
1936 Next Time We Love Ingenue Uncredited
1936 Sutter's Gold Ann Eliza Sutter
1936 Love Before Breakfast Telephone Girl Uncredited
1936 Dracula's Daughter Lili
1936 Nobody's Fool Young Girl Uncredited
1936 Crash Donovan Doris Tennyson
1936 Sea Spoilers Connie Dawson
1936 Three Smart Girls Joan
1937 Let Them Live Judith Marshall
1937 The Man in Blue June Hanson
1937 Love in a Bungalow Mary Callahan
1937 Some Blondes Are Dangerous Judy Williams
1938 The Jury's Secret Mary Norris
1938 The Black Doll Marian Rood
1938 Reckless Living Laurie Andrews
1938 Danger on the Air Christina 'Steenie' MacCorkle
1938 Girls' School Linda Simpson
1938 The Storm Peggy Phillips
1939 Three Smart Girls Grow Up Joan Craig
1939 Ex-Champ Joan Grey
1939 The Under-Pup Priscilla Adams
1939 Tower of London Lady Alice Barton
1940 The Invisible Man Returns Helen Manson
1940 The House of the Seven Gables Phoebe Pyncheon
1940 Sandy Is a Lady Mary Phillips
1940 You're Not So Tough Millie
1940 Margie Margie
1940 A Little Bit of Heaven Janet Loring
1941 Under Age Jane Baird

References

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  1. ^ Room, Adrian (2010). Dictionary of Pseudonyms: 13,000 Assumed Names and Their Origins, 5th ed. McFarland. p. 209. ISBN 9780786457632. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  2. ^ Shaffer, George (June 26, 1936). "Studio School Passes Three Film Players". Chicago Tribune. Illinois, Chicago. Chicago Tribune Press Service. p. 23. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c "Nan Grey, Actress In Films of 1930's And Inventor, 75". New York Times. July 27, 1993. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  4. ^ Proctor, Kay (April 1940). "Enchanted Love" (PDF). Radio and Television Mirror. 13 (6): 6–7, 58–59. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  5. ^ "Copyright 2018, J. David Goldin". radiogoldindex.com. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  6. ^ Wright, Stewart; Passage, Frank. "The Lux Radio Theater". Old Time Radio Program Logs. The Original Old Time Radio (OTR) WWW Pages. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  7. ^ "lux radio theatre". www.botar.us.
  8. ^ "Jockey Westrope Weds Film Actress Nan Grey". The San Bernardino County Sun. California, San Bernardino. United Press. May 5, 1939. p. 17. Retrieved February 8, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.  
  9. ^ Oliver, Myrna (July 17, 1993). "Nan Grey; Left Acting Career After Marriage". Los Angeles Times. California, Los Angeles. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
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