It’s been announced that Golden Age musicals actress, Kathryn Grayson, has died aged 88. She passed away in her sleep. Born Zelma Kathryn Elisabeth Hedrick, Grayson was discovered by MGM talent scouts while singing on the radio. She was initially reluctant to sign with the studio as she was hoping for a career in opera, but Louis B. Mayer was keen to have his own answer to Deanna Durban, and so convinced her to come and work for him.
While she didn’t make a huge amount of films, she nevertheless became one of MGM’s top musical stars, taking major parts in the likes of Anchors Aweigh, Till The Clouds Roll By, Show Boat and what is undoubtedly her most famous role, Kiss Me Kate (opposite Howard Keel, with whom whe made three movies and later re-teamed with on stage). While her movie career tailed off in the mid 50s, she continued to work in the thearte and in nightclubs – and also realised her dream of appearing in opera. Despite her advancing age, until recently she was still giving private voice lesson to young up and comers.
She was also once enganged to Howards Hughes, but never actually remarried anyone following her second divorce in 1951.
Kathryn Grayson – February 9th, 1922-February 18th, 2010 – RIP