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Gloria Grahame
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Gloria Grahame

Gloria Grahame was an American film actress. Born Gloria Hallward in Los Angeles, California, her mother Jean Grahame was a stage actress and acting teacher who taught Gloria acting during her childhood and adolescence. She was signed to a contact with MGM Studios after Louis B. Mayer saw her performing on Broadway. Changing her name to Gloria Grahame, she made her film debut in Blonde Fever (1944) and scored her most widely praised MGM role as the small town girl Violet, who is saved from a life of shame by George Bailey in It's A Wonderful Life (1946). MGM was not able to develop her potential as a star and her contract was sold to RKO Studios in 1947.

She received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress nomination for Crossfire (1947), and won the same award for The Bad and the Beautiful (1952). Often regarded as a difficult actress, Grahame's career began to wane after her role in Oklahoma! (1955), although she continued to play supporting roles for the rest of her life in the United States, and also in the United Kingdom, where she resided for many years.

In 1981 Grahame collapsed during a rehearsal for a British stage play, and returned to New York City where she died soon after from cancer.

Gloria Grahame has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contribution to Motion Pictures, at 6522 Hollywood Boulevard.


Note: This profile was written in or before 2004.

Gloria Grahame Facts

Birth NameGloria Hallward
OccupationActress
BirthdayNovember 28, 1923
SignSagittarius
BirthplaceLos Angeles, California, USA
Date of deathOctober 5, 1981 (age 57)
Height5' 6" (1m68)  How tall is Gloria Grahame compared to you?
Awards1953 Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actress (for The Bad and the Beautiful)

Selected Filmography

Not available.