A brunette soprano who trilled her way to fame at MGM in the mid-1940s, Kathryn Grayson enjoyed a decade of stardom in operettas and musical comedies. Her best-remembered early role was as the female lead in "Anchors Aweigh" (1945) opposite Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra. Full-figured and ladylike, Grayson teamed with baritone Howard Keel for three films, including the lavish remake of "Show Boat" (1951) and one of her best films, an enjoyable adaptation of Cole Porter's Broadway hit, "Kiss Me, Kate" (1953). She later performed occasionally onstage and in nightclubs.
Family
FATHER: Clarence Hedrick.
MOTHER: Lillian Hedrick. Died at age 56 in December 1954.
BROTHER: Clarence Hedrick Jr. Older.
BROTHER: Michael Hedrick. Actor. Born c. 1917.
SISTER: Mildred Frances Kurstin. Born c. 1924.
DAUGHTER: Patricia Kathryn Johnston. Born in October 1948; married to actor Bobby Towers.
Companion
HUSBAND: John Shelton. Actor. Married in 1940; divorced in 1946; died in 1972.
HUSBAND: Johnny Johnston. Singer, actor. Married in August 1947; divorced in 1951; died on January 6, 1996.
COMPANION: Robert Evans. Actor, producer. Dated in the late 1950s.
Milestone
Born in North Carolina
Raised in St Louis, Missouri
Studied voice at the Chicago Civic Opera
1937: Signed to a recording contract by RCA at age 15 (date approximate)
Put under contract by MGM; abandoned recording career
1941: First film, MGM's "Andy Hardy's Private Secretary"
1942: First romantic leads, in "Rio Rita" and "Seven Sweethearts"
Appeared on TV in early 1950s in "General Electric Theater"
1951: First film opposite Howard Keel, "Show Boat"
1953: Last film for MGM, "Kiss Me, Kate"
1956: Last film, "The Vagabond King", made for Paramount
1960: Made operatic debut in "Madame Butterfly", "La Boheme" and "La Traviata"
Replaced Julie Andrews as Guinevere in the Broadway production of "Camelot"; later toured the USA in the role
1978: Appeared on TV in "Gene Kelly...An American in Pasadena" along with a half dozen of the actor-dancer's former leading ladies
1982: Played first dramatic stage role in "Night Watch"
1987: Starred in a stage production of the British farce "Noises Off"
1987 - 1990: Had recurring role of Ideal Malloy on "Murder, She Wrote" (CBS)
1989: Made TV appearance on "America's All-Star Tribute to Elizabeth Taylor"
1997: Featured in the stage production "A Celebration of the Glorious MGM Musicals" at NYC's Carnegie Hall
Education
Manual Arts High School - Los Angeles, California
Chicago Civic Opera - Chicago, Illinois - studied voice with Frances Marshall
Some sources give Ms. Grayson's birth year as 1923.
Upcoming Titles Playing on TCM for Kathryn Grayson
bill
all
mario lanza said it best.
her lips -her eyes-her cheeks- her hair.
i only wish i had met her.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS GRAYSON....
More>>
bob snyder
Kathryn Grayson-A Golden Voice from the Golden Era
The beautiful and uniquely talented Kathryn Grayson performed dazzling renditions of both classic arias and popular songs, and brought an ...
More>>
Tcm.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network.