Nan Grey (born Eschol Loleete Miller;"Texas, Birth Index, 1903-1997", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VD9K-LN5 : Tue Feb 25 12:49:20 UTC 2025), Entry for Eschol Loleete Miller, 25 Jul 1921. July 25, 1921 – July 25, 1993) was an American film actress.

Early years Born in Houston, Texas, on July 25, 1921,Howes, Durward (1935). American Women: The Official Who's Who Among the Women of the Nation. Richard Blank Publishing. p. 357. . "GREY, NAN, actress; b. Houston, Texas, July 25, 1921; d. E. J. and Violet (Ross) Miller. Edn. attended public schs. and studied with priv. tutors. Pres. occ. Motion Picture Actress with Universal Pictures, Inc.""Texas, Birth Index, 1903-1997", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VD9K-LN5 : Tue Feb 25 12:49:20 UTC 2025), Entry for Eschol Loleete Miller, 25 Jul 1921."United States, Census, 1930", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HBCG-9PZ : Wed Mar 06 11:44:00 UTC 2024), Entry for Meade P Miller and Mattie P Miller, 1930. Grey was the daughter of stage actress Violet Ross Miller and projectionist Edward J. Miller. Despite reportedly having early on been inspired to pursue acting by her mother's example (indeed, Grey's first documented public performance was given at age 3, with "little Eschol Miller" cast as Cupid at a neighbor's bridal shower), it appears that Grey spent the bulk of her pre-teens residing solely with father and paternal grandparents. As for her own career, Grey's first bona fide foray came, circa 1930, with her entry into the Hallie R. Pritchard School of Dancing, from which she graduated in June 1934. Shortly thereafter, Grey 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.

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

Career Film Grey's screen debut was in 1934 in Warner Bros.'s The Firebird. 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 Grey played Kathy Marshall in the NBC radio soap opera Those We Love 1938-1945. Grey played in The Lux Radio Theatre, November 8, 1937 episode, "She Loves Me Not" with Bing Crosby, Joan Blondell, and Sterling Holloway

Television Grey's final screen credit—as well as her first and only television appearance, co-starring with newly wed spouse No. 2, singer Frankie Laine—was on the 1960 episode of Rawhide, "Incident on the Road to Yesterday". Brought about by the huge popularity of Laine's rendition of the show's theme song,Burlingame, Jon (1996). Music for Prime Time. New York : Schirmer Books. p. 81. . "'Keep rollin', rollin', rollin', tho' the streams are swollen. Keep them dogies rollin', Rawhide!' went the colorful Washington lyrics. Laine's rendition proved so popular that the Rawhide producers wrote him and his actress wife Nan Grey into a third-season episode, 'Incident on the Road to Yesterday." the episode stars the fledgling actor as a former bandit attempting to make amends for a robbery ten years after the fact, and, in the process, being reunited with "old flame", Grey.

Invention 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."

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

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

Death The Laines' 43-year union lasted until her death from heart failure on July 25, 1993, her 72nd birthday.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes1934 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 Uncredited1935 Mary Jane's Pa Lucille Preston 1935 The Affair of Susan Miss Skelly 1935 His Night Out Minor Role Uncredited1935 The Great Impersonation Middleton's Daughter Uncredited1936 Next Time We Love Ingenue Uncredited1936 Sutter's Gold Ann Eliza Sutter 1936 Love Before Breakfast Telephone Girl Uncredited1936 Dracula's Daughter Lili 1936 Nobody's Fool Young Girl Uncredited1936 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

Notes

References

External links

Nan Grey in The Black Doll (1938) from YouTube Nan Grey in Danger on the Air (1938) from Youtube