Beatrice Gray
Encyclopedia
Beatrice Gray was an American
actress and dancer best known for her appearances in a series of western films during the 1940s and 1950s.
Gray was born Bertrice Kimbrough on a farm near Carthage
, Illinois
. She began working in the entertainment industry in Broadway
productions, as well as a performer in nightclub
s.
Gray earned her first acting role in the musical, New Faces of 1935. After moving to California
in 1937, Gray appeared in the New Faces of 1937
by RKO Pictures
. She also worked as a dancer for Busby Berkeley
.
Gray appeared in a number of westerns throughout the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, many of which were produced by Monogram Pictures
. Her other films were with Universal Pictures, including the 1958 movie, Wild Heritage. She ultimately appeared in three films starring Hoot Gibson
and Bob Steele
- The Utah Kid
, Marked Trails
and Trigger Law
- all in 1944.
Gray was the mother of child actor, Billy Gray
, who was best known for his role in Bud Anderson in the television series, Father Knows Best
.
Beatrice Gray died of natural causes in Los Angeles, California
, on November 25, 2009, at the age of 98.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress and dancer best known for her appearances in a series of western films during the 1940s and 1950s.
Gray was born Bertrice Kimbrough on a farm near Carthage
Carthage, Illinois
Carthage is a city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,725 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Hancock County. Carthage is most famous for being the site of the murder of Joseph Smith in 1844.- History :...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. She began working in the entertainment industry in Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
productions, as well as a performer in nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s.
Gray earned her first acting role in the musical, New Faces of 1935. After moving to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1937, Gray appeared in the New Faces of 1937
New Faces of 1937
New Faces of 1937, aka Young People is a black and white 1937 American musical film.-Cast:*Joe Penner - Seymore Seymore*Milton Berle - Wallington 'Wally' Wedge*Harry Parke - Parkyakarkus 'Parky'...
by RKO Pictures
RKO Pictures
RKO Pictures is an American film production and distribution company. As RKO Radio Pictures Inc., it was one of the Big Five studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orpheum theater chains and Joseph P...
. She also worked as a dancer for Busby Berkeley
Busby Berkeley
Busby Berkeley was a highly influential Hollywood movie director and musical choreographer. Berkeley was famous for his elaborate musical production numbers that often involved complex geometric patterns...
.
Gray appeared in a number of westerns throughout the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, many of which were produced by Monogram Pictures
Monogram Pictures
Monogram Pictures Corporation is a Hollywood studio that produced and released films, most on low budgets, between 1931 and 1953, when the firm completed a transition to the name Allied Artists Pictures Corporation. Monogram is considered a leader among the smaller studios sometimes referred to...
. Her other films were with Universal Pictures, including the 1958 movie, Wild Heritage. She ultimately appeared in three films starring Hoot Gibson
Hoot Gibson
Hoot Gibson was an American rodeo champion and a pioneer cowboy film actor, director and producer.-Early life and career:...
and Bob Steele
Bob Steele (actor)
Bob Steele was an American actor. He was born Robert Adrian Bradbury in Portland, Oregon, into a vaudeville family. After years of touring, the family settled down in Hollywood in the late 1910s, where his father, Robert N...
- The Utah Kid
The Utah Kid (1944 film)
- Cast :*Hoot Gibson as Marshal Hoot Higgins*Bob Steele as Bob Roberts*Beatrice Gray as Marjorie Carter*Ralph Lewis as Cheyenne Kent*Evelyn Eaton as Dolores*Mauritz Hugo as Barton*George Morrell as Sheriff*Dan White as Henchman Slim...
, Marked Trails
Marked Trails
- Cast :*Hoot Gibson as Hoot Parkford*Bob Steele as Bob Stevens*Veda Ann Borg as Blanche / Mary Conway*Ralph Lewis as Henchman Jed*Mauritz Hugo as Jim Slade*Charles Stevens as Henchman Denver*Bud Osborne as Sheriff Jim*Lynton Brent as Henchman Tex...
and Trigger Law
Trigger law
A trigger law is a nickname for a law that is unenforceable and irrelevant in the present, but may achieve relevance and enforceability if a key change circumstances occur.-Examples:...
- all in 1944.
Gray was the mother of child actor, Billy Gray
Billy Gray (actor)
William Thomas "Billy" Gray , is a former American actor known primarily for his role as James "Bud" Anderson, Jr., in 193 episodes of the NBC and CBS situation comedy, Father Knows Best, which aired between 1954 and 1960. Gray's fellow cast members were Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue,...
, who was best known for his role in Bud Anderson in the television series, Father Knows Best
Father Knows Best
Father Knows Best is an American radio and television comedy series which portrayed a middle class family life in the Midwest. It was created by writer Ed James in the 1940s.-Radio:...
.
Beatrice Gray died of natural causes in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, on November 25, 2009, at the age of 98.
Selected filmography
- The KansanThe Kansan (film)The Kansan is a 1943 American film directed by George Archainbaud. The film is also known as Wagon Wheels in the United Kingdom.- Cast :*Richard Dix as John Bonniwell*Jane Wyatt as Eleanor Sager*Albert Dekker as Steve Barat...
– 1943 - The Utah KidThe Utah Kid (1944 film)- Cast :*Hoot Gibson as Marshal Hoot Higgins*Bob Steele as Bob Roberts*Beatrice Gray as Marjorie Carter*Ralph Lewis as Cheyenne Kent*Evelyn Eaton as Dolores*Mauritz Hugo as Barton*George Morrell as Sheriff*Dan White as Henchman Slim...
– 1944 - Marked TrailsMarked Trails- Cast :*Hoot Gibson as Hoot Parkford*Bob Steele as Bob Stevens*Veda Ann Borg as Blanche / Mary Conway*Ralph Lewis as Henchman Jed*Mauritz Hugo as Jim Slade*Charles Stevens as Henchman Denver*Bud Osborne as Sheriff Jim*Lynton Brent as Henchman Tex...
– 1944 - Trigger LawTrigger lawA trigger law is a nickname for a law that is unenforceable and irrelevant in the present, but may achieve relevance and enforceability if a key change circumstances occur.-Examples:...
– 1944 - Stranger from Santa Fe – 1945 (Marcia Farley)
- Trail of Vengeance – 1945 (Alice Gordon)
- UnconqueredUnconqueredUnconquered is a 1947 adventure film produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille and released by Paramount. The film depicts the violent struggles between American colonists and Native Americans on the western frontier in the mid-18th century during the time of Pontiac's Rebellion, primarily around...
– 1947 (woman) - The Gene Autry ShowThe Gene Autry ShowThe Gene Autry Show is an American western/cowboy television series which aired for 91 episodes on CBS from July 23, 1950 until August 7, 1956, originally sponsored by Wrigley's Doublemint chewing gum.-Overview:...
(TV) – 1950 - Callaway Went ThatawayCallaway Went ThatawayCallaway Went Thataway is a 1951 American comedy film starring Fred MacMurray, Dorothy McGuire, and Howard Keel. It was written, directed, and produced by Melvin Frank and Norman Panama...
– 1951 - Untamed Frontier – 1952
- Wild Heritage – 1958