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Betty Grable Biography

Actor / Pinup

Name at birth: Elizabeth Ruth Grable

Betty Grable was a major Hollywood star of the 1930s and 1940s, thanks to movies like Tin Pan Alley (1940), Coney Island (1943) and Pin Up Girl (1944). Grable's shapely legs were legendary; at one point they were insured for over one million dollars. Despite her long acting career, Grable is better remembered for a famous pinup photo: the shot, with Grable peeking over her shoulder in a bathing suit, was a favorite among American soldiers in World War II. She was married to actor Jackie Coogan (1937-40) and to band leader Harry James (1943-65).

Extra credit: Grable had two daughters with James: Victoria (b. 1944) and Jessica (b. 1947)... Other Hollywood stars of the era included Lana Turner, Joan Crawford and Ava Gardner.