Frances Grant (born Stella Theophane Fortier, February 15, 1909 – February 20, 1982) was an American movie actress and dancer. She appeared as the leading lady of

Gene Autry Orvon Grover "Gene" Autry (September 29, 1907 – October 2, 1998), nicknamed the Singing Cowboy, was an American singer, songwriter, actor, musician, rodeo performer, and baseball owner who gained fame largely by singing in a crooning s ...

in ''

Red River Valley The Red River Valley is a region in central North America that is drained by the Red River of the North; it is part of both Canada and the United States. Forming the border between Minnesota and North Dakota when these territories were admitted ...

'' (1936) and '' Oh, Susanna!'' (1936) and other

B-film A B movie or B film is a low-budget commercial motion picture. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified films intended for distribution as the less-publicized bottom half of a double feature ...

s such as '' Thunder Mountain'' (1935). and ''

Cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry ...

'' (1936).

Biography

Frances Grant was born on February 15, 1913, in Roxbury, Massachusetts to Alfred Fortier and Mary Agnes Caples Fortier, one of two daughters. She acted in stock theater after high school. In the early 1930s, she became the dancing partner of

Hal Le Roy Hal Le Roy (born John LeRoy Schotte, December 10, 1913 – May 2, 1985) was an American dancer, actor, and singer appearing on stage, in film, and on television. Life and career Le Roy was born John LeRoy Schotte in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Decemb ...

in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1931. In 1934, she began her film career with uncredited roles as a dancer in the ''Kentucky Kernels'' (1934) and ''The Nitwits'' (1935). Grant appeared in ''

Doubting Thomas A doubting Thomas is a skeptic who refuses to believe without direct personal experience — a reference to the Gospel of John's depiction of the Apostle Thomas, who, in John's account, refused to believe the resurrected Jesus had appeared to t ...

'' (1935) after having her first major film role in the 1935

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

film ''Thunder Mountain'' opposite George O'Brien. In the following year she appeared as the leading lady of

in ''

'' (1936) and '' Oh, Susanna!'' (1936). In the latter film, Grant sings a duet with Autry on the song "Water Wheel" with Autry accompanying them on guitar. That same year she had leading roles in ''Born to Fight'' with

Frankie Darro Frankie Darro (born Frank Johnson, Jr.; December 22, 1917 – December 25, 1976) was an American actor and later in his career a stuntman. He began his career as a child actor in silent films, progressed to lead roles and co-starring roles ...

, ''The Traitor'' with

Tim McCoy Timothy John Fitzgerald McCoy (April 10, 1891 – January 29, 1978) was an American actor, military officer, and expert on American Indian life. McCoy is most noted for his roles in B-grade Western films. As a popular cowboy film star, he ap ...

, and ''

'' opposite Bob Steele. Grant's last leading role was in '' Rich Relations'' (1937). She appeared in three additional films as a dancer uncredited. In the 1940s and 1950s, Grant worked as a dance director in films such as ''

Masquerade in Mexico ''Masquerade in Mexico'' is a 1945 comedy film directed by Mitchell Leisen. It stars Dorothy Lamour and Arturo de Córdova. Plot Ill on the flight to Mexico City, honest banker Tom Grant doesn't know that Angel O'Reilly, seated nearby, has slippe ...

'' (1945), ''Mrs. Mike'' (1949), and '' Fancy Pants'' (1950). Frances Grant died in

Lexington, Massachusetts Lexington is a suburban town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is 10 miles (16 km) from Downtown Boston. The population was 34,454 as of the 2020 census. The area was originally inhabited by Native Americans, and was firs ...

, on February 20, 1982, at the age of 73.

Filmography

* ''Kentucky Kernels'' (1934) Kentucky Belle (uncredited) * ''The Nitwits'' (1935) Hoofer (uncredited) * ''

'' (1934) Peggy Burns * '' Thunder Mountain'' (1935) Nugget * '' The Oregon Trail'' (1936) Settler Girl (uncredited) * ''Dancing Feet'' (1936) Dance Hall (uncredited) * ''

'' (1936) Mary Baxter * '' Born to Fight'' (1936) Nan Howard * '' Oh, Susanna!'' (1936) Mary Ann Lee * '' The Traitor'' (1936) Mary Allen * ''

'' (1936) Betty Lee Harvey * '' Rich Relations'' (1937) Nancy Tilton * ''

Top of the Town ''Top of the Town'' was a 1950s radio programme, broadcast on the BBC Light Programme and hosted by Terry-Thomas. The pilot episode was broadcast on 5 June 1953 on the BBC Home Service; the first series started shortly afterwards, on 1 November ...

'' (1937) Dancer (uncredited) * ''

Bride by Mistake ''Bride by Mistake'' (1944) is an American romantic comedy film directed by Richard Wallace, and starring Alan Marshal and Laraine Day. The screenplay is by Phoebe Ephron and Henry Ephron, based on a story by Norman Krasna, and is a remake of ...

'' (1944) Dancing Instructress (uncredited) * ''Gypsy Holiday (Short)'' (1948) Specialty Dancer * ''

Artists and Models ''Artists and Models'' is a 1955 American musical romantic comedy film in VistaVision directed by Frank Tashlin, marking Martin and Lewis's 14th feature together as a team. The film co-stars Shirley MacLaine and Dorothy Malone, with Eva Gabor an ...

'' (1955) Dancer (uncredited)

Notes

References

(secondary source only)

External links

* (also compiled from the "information" from Magers) (?primary source) {{DEFAULTSORT:Grant, Frances American film actresses 1909 births 1982 deaths Actresses from Boston 20th-century American actresses