Arka Evren

ACTOR

Betty Grable

Known for
How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)

28 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026

Betty Grable is an actor best known for How to Marry a Millionaire.

19 Interesting Facts About Betty Grable

  1. #001

    In the late 1940s, 20th Century-Fox insured her legs with Lloyd's of London for $250,000.

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  2. #002

    She suffered from demophobia (a fear of crowds) and was a sleepwalker.

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  3. #003

    In 1946-47, the Treasury Department stated that she was the highest-paid woman in America, earning $300,000 a year.

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  4. #004

    She was one of the 20 original Goldwyn Girls, a group that also included Lucille Ball, Virginia Bruce, Ann Dvorak and Paulette Goddard.

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  5. #006

    She was named the Best Figure of 1941. In her famous pin-up photograph, she was wearing a bracelet given to her by her then-suitor George Raft.

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  6. #008

    Samuel Goldwyn seriously considered her for Guys and Dolls (1955), but when her dog broke its leg, Grable cancelled her appointment with him. Annoyed by this, Goldwyn gave the role to the original Adelaide, his former 20th Century-Fox colleague Vivian Blaine.

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  7. #010

    At some point in the 1940s, she was reported to be earning $300,000 a year, which made her one of the highest-paid women in the world. Her films earned 20th Century-Fox more than $15 million.

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  8. #011

    In the 1960s she made Playtex's 18-hour Shortie commercials using her famous pin-up pose; she reportedly needed the money after her husband spent their savings.

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  9. #014

    She made her film debut at the age of 13 in the 20th Century Fox short Let's Go Places (1930). She lied about her age, claiming to be 15.

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  10. #015

    Singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka's song "Betty Grable" was dedicated to her memory.

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  11. #016

    Her former husband Harry James died on a date that was their 40th wedding anniversary.

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  12. #017

    While attending Hollywood Professional School, she developed a musical play with her friend Emylyn Pique (born Juanita Emylyn Pique), who later took the name Mitzi Mayfair.

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  13. #020

    When Shelley Winters dropped out of Pickup on South Street (1953), a pregnant Grable turned down the offer to appear in the film noir, and the role went to Jean Peters.

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  14. #021

    In 1935 she had a white cat named "Whitey" that could limp on its front legs and "play dead." RKO Radio Pictures took some publicity photos with Whitey.

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  15. #023

    She remained a Republican and a conservative throughout her life.

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  16. #024

    After her death she was buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.

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  17. #025

    She was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians (2009).

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  18. #027

    In Italy her films were usually dubbed by Rosetta Calavetta and Dhia Cristiani. She was occasionally dubbed by Lydia Simoneschi and Clelia Bernacchi.

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  19. #028

    She appears on the cover of her official "Electric Swing Fever" music CD.

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