Coleen Gray (born Doris Bernice Jensen; October 23, 1922 – August 3, 2015) was an American actress. She was best known for her roles in the films '' Nightmare Alley'' (1947), '' Red River'' (1948), and Stanley Kubrick's '' The Killing'' (1956).

Early years

Born to Danish parents in Staplehurst, Nebraska, Gray moved with her family to

Hutchinson, Minnesota Hutchinson is the largest city in McLeod County, Minnesota, United States. It lies along the South Fork of the Crow River. The population was 14,599 at the 2020 census. History The Hutchinson Family Singers (John, Asa, and Judson Hutchinson) ...

when she was seven. She grew up on a farm. After graduating from Hutchinson high school in 1943 as Doris Jensen, she studied drama at Hamline University, and graduated cum laude with a

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four year ...

. She travelled to California, and worked as a waitress in a restaurant in

La Jolla La Jolla ( , ) is a hilly, seaside neighborhood within the city of San Diego, California, United States, occupying of curving coastline along the Pacific Ocean. The population reported in the 2010 census was 46,781. La Jolla is surrounded on ...

. After several weeks there, she moved to

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

and enrolled at

UCLA The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California ...

. She also worked in the school's library and at a

YWCA The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) is a nonprofit organization with a focus on empowerment, leadership, and rights of women, young women, and girls in more than 100 countries. The World office is currently based in Geneva, Swi ...

while a student.

Stage

She had leading roles in the Los Angeles stage productions ''Letters to Lucerne'' and ''Brief Music'', which won her a

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...

contract in 1944.Magers, p. 94.

Film appearances

After playing a bit part in ''

State Fair A state fair is an annual competitive and recreational gathering of a U.S. state's population, usually held in late summer or early fall. It is a larger version of a county fair, often including only exhibits or competitors that have won in th ...

'' (1945), she became pregnant and briefly stopped working, only to return a year later as the love interest of the character played by John Wayne in '' Red River'' (1948), which was shot in 1946 but held for release until 1948. Gray appeared in two 1947 films noir: in '' Kiss of Death'' as

Victor Mature Victor John Mature (January 29, 1913 – August 4, 1999) was an American stage, film, and television actor who was a leading man in Hollywood during the 1940s and 1950s. His best known film roles include ''One Million B.C.'' (1940), '' My Darlin ...

's ex-con character's wife and

Richard Widmark Richard Weedt Widmark (December 26, 1914March 24, 2008) was an American film, stage, and television actor and producer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as the villainous Tommy Udo in his debut film, ''Kiss of Death'' (1947) ...

's character's target; and in '' Nightmare Alley'' as

Tyrone Power Tyrone Edmund Power III (May 5, 1914 – November 15, 1958) was an American actor. From the 1930s to the 1950s, Power appeared in dozens of films, often in swashbuckler roles or romantic leads. His better-known films include ''Jesse James'', ' ...

's character's carnival performer wife, "Electra." In 1947, Gray used her musical abilities as she sang her part live while filming (rather than having her voice dubbed) opposite Bing Crosby in '' Riding High'', directed by Frank Capra. ''Riding High'' was not a success and Fox ended her contract in 1950. Gray worked steadily in the 1950s, but mostly in smaller movies. She played a crooked nurse in '' The Sleeping City'' (1950) and appeared in '' Kansas City Confidential'' (1952) and in the Stanley Kubrick film noir '' The Killing'' (1956), in which she plays the loyal girlfriend of criminal

Sterling Hayden Sterling Walter Hayden (born Sterling Relyea Walter; March 26, 1916 – May 23, 1986) was an American actor, author, sailor and decorated Marine Corps officer and an Office of Strategic Services' agent during World War II. A leading man for mos ...

. In the 1953 Western '' The Vanquished'', she played a woman who attacks

Jan Sterling Jan Sterling (born Jane Sterling Adriance; April 3, 1921 – March 26, 2004) was an American film, television and stage actress. At her most active in films during the 1950s (immediately prior to which she had joined the Actors Studio), Sterling ...

's character with a pair of scissors in a crazed attempt to exonerate the man she loves ( John Payne). Other films included '' Father Is a Bachelor'' (1950), '' The Leech Woman'' (1960), ''

The Phantom Planet ''The Phantom Planet'' is a 1961 independently made American black-and-white science fiction film, produced by Fred Gebhardt, directed by William Marshall, that stars Dean Fredericks, Coleen Gray, Anthony Dexter, and Francis X. Bushman. The fi ...

'' (1961), and '' P.J.'' (1968). Gray appeared in ''The Late Liz'' (1971), and acted in the films ''Forgotten Lady'' (1977), and ''Mother'' (1978) with Patsy Ruth Miller. ''Mother'' had a premiere at the

Museum of Modern Art The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is an art museum located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, on 53rd Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It plays a major role in developing and collecting modern art, and is often identified as one of ...

in New York City. Both ''Mother'' and ''Forgotten Lady'' were written for Gray by Brian Pinette, who also served as director and producer. She appeared in the religious film ''Cry From the Mountain'' (1986, in the USA), directed by James F. Collier.

Television

From the 1950s, Gray guest-starred in episodes of television series such as ''

Four Star Playhouse ''Four Star Playhouse'' is an American anthology series that ran from 1952 to 1956. Four Star Playhouse was owned by Four Star International. Its episodes ranged anywhere from surreal mysteries, such as "The Man on the Train", to light comedie ...

'', '' Maverick'', '' Alfred Hitchcock Presents'', ''

Perry Mason Perry Mason is a fictional character, an American criminal defense lawyer who is the main character in works of detective fiction written by Erle Stanley Gardner. Perry Mason features in 82 novels and 4 short stories, all of which involve a c ...

'', '' Mr. Ed'', '' Tales of Wells Fargo'' in 1960 in the episode "The Journey" as Sandra Morton, '' Rawhide'' in 1962 in the episode "The Devil and the Deep Blue" as Helen Wade, ''

77 Sunset Strip ''77 Sunset Strip'' is an American television private detective drama series created by Roy Huggins and starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Roger Smith, Richard Long (from 1960 to 1961) and Edd Byrnes (billed as Edward Byrnes). Each episode was o ...

'', '' Bonanza'', ''

The Deputy ''The Deputy, a Christian tragedy'' (German: ''Der Stellvertreter. Ein christliches Trauerspiel''), also published in English as ''The Representative '', is a controversial 1963 play by Rolf Hochhuth which portrayed Pope Pius XII as having failed ...

'', '' Have Gun Will Travel'', ''

The Dakotas The Dakotas is a collective term for the U.S. states of North Dakota and South Dakota. It has been used historically to describe the Dakota Territory, and is still used for the collective heritage, culture, geography, fauna, sociology, econo ...

'', ''

Family Affair ''Family Affair'' is an American sitcom starring Brian Keith and Sebastian Cabot that aired on CBS from September 12, 1966, to March 4, 1971. The series explored the trials of well-to-do engineer and bachelor Bill Davis (Keith) as he attempte ...

'', '' Ironside'', '' Lawman'', '' The Name of the Game'', '' Branded'', and '' Tales from the Darkside''. On May 23, 1962, she was cast as Miss Wycliffe in the series finale, "A Job for Summer", of the

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...

comedy/drama series, '' Window on Main Street'', starring Robert Young as a widowed author in his hometown. She made four guest appearances on ''

'', including the title role of defendant Lorraine Kendall in the 1960 episode, "The Case of the Wandering Widow." Gray was a regular on the daytime dramas '' Bright Promise'' and '' Days of Our Lives''.

Personal life

Gray married

Rod Amateau Rodney Amateau (December 20, 1923 – June 29, 2003) was an American film and television screenwriter, director, and producer. Career Among the programs that he directed were '' The Dennis Day Show'', ''The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show'', ...

, a screenwriter, on August 10, 1945; they divorced on February 11, 1949, and had one daughter, Susan. Gray's second husband was William Clymer Bidlack, an aviation executive. They were married from July 14, 1953, until his death in 1978. The union produced a son, Bruce Robin Bidlack. In 1979, Gray married widowed Biblical scholar Joseph Fritz Zeiser; they remained together until his death in March 2012. They worked together in Presbyterian causes and the

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

Prison Fellowship Prison Fellowship is the world's largest Christian nonprofit organization for prisoners, former prisoners, and their families, and a leading advocate for justice reform.Mark Oppenheimer ''New York Times'' (April 27, 2012). History Prison Fell ...

, founded in 1976 by

Chuck Colson Chuck is a masculine given name or a nickname for Charles or Charlie. It may refer to: People Arts and entertainment * Chuck Alaimo, American saxophonist, leader of the Chuck Alaimo Quartet * Chuck Barris (1929–2017), American TV producer * C ...

. Gray was a Republican and supported Barry Goldwater in the

1964 United States presidential election The 1964 United States presidential election was the 45th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on Tuesday, November 3, 1964. Incumbent Democratic United States President Lyndon B. Johnson defeated Barry Goldwater, the Republican nomi ...

. That same year, along with actors

Victor Jory Victor Jory (November 23, 1902 – February 12, 1982) was a Canadian-American actor of stage, film, and television. He initially played romantic leads, but later was mostly cast in villainous or sinister roles, such as Oberon in ''A Midsummer N ...

and Susan Seaforth, she testified before the United States Congress as part of "Project Prayer", arguing in favor of a constitutional amendment allowing school prayer. Gray, at age 92, died of natural causes in her Bel Air home in Los Angeles on August 3, 2015. She was cremated at

Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park & Mortuary is a cemetery and mortuary located in the Westwood Village area of Los Angeles. It is located at 1218 Glendon Avenue in Westwood, with an entrance from Glendon Avenue. The cemetery was ...

and her ashes given to her stepson, Rick Zeiser. Her memorial service was held at the Bel Air Presbyterian Church where she, and her third husband, Joseph Fritz Zeiser, had been active members.

Public service

Gray was a member of the board of directors at her alma mater, Hamline University. She was also active within the following organizations: WAIF, the child adoption organization as President, The March of Dimes, American Cancer Society, American Red Cross, American Mental Health Association, Los Angeles Epilepsy Society, Junior Blind, The Bel-Air Republican Women's Group, and the

Boy Scouts of America The Boy Scouts of America (BSA, colloquially the Boy Scouts) is one of the largest scouting organizations and one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with about 1.2 million youth participants. The BSA was founded ...

and the

Girl Scouts of the United States of America Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA), commonly referred to as simply Girl Scouts, is a youth organization for girls in the United States and American girls living abroad. Founded by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912, it was organized a ...

Complete filmography

*''

'' (1945) - Girl with Pappy (uncredited) *''

Three Little Girls in Blue ''Three Little Girls in Blue'' is a 1946 Technicolor musical film directed by H. Bruce Humberstone and starring June Haver along with George Montgomery, Vivian Blaine, Celeste Holm, and Vera-Ellen. The 20th Century-Fox film was adapted from S ...

'' (1946) - Girl at the Beach (uncredited) *''

The Shocking Miss Pilgrim ''The Shocking Miss Pilgrim'' is a 1947 American musical comedy film in Technicolor written and directed by George Seaton and starring Betty Grable and Dick Haymes. The screenplay, based on a story by Ernest Maas and Frederica Maas, focuses on ...

'' (1947) (scenes cut) *'' Kiss of Death'' (1947) - Nettie *'' Nightmare Alley'' (1947) - Molly *'' Fury at Furnace Creek'' (1948) - Molly Baxter *'' Red River'' (1948) - Fen *''

Sand Sand is a granular material composed of finely divided mineral particles. Sand has various compositions but is defined by its grain size. Sand grains are smaller than gravel and coarser than silt. Sand can also refer to a textural class o ...

'' (1949) - Joan Hartley *'' Father Is a Bachelor'' (1950) - Prudence Millett *'' Riding High'' (1950) - Alice Higgins *'' The Sleeping City'' (1950) - Ann Sebastian *'' I'll Get You for This'' (1951) - Kay Wonderly *''

Apache Drums ''Apache Drums'' is a 1951 American Western film directed by Hugo Fregonese and produced by Val Lewton. The drama features Stephen McNally, Coleen Gray, and Willard Parker. The film was based on an original story: ''Stand at Spanish Boot'', by ...

'' (1951) - Sally *'' Models Inc.'' (1952) - Rusty Faraday *'' Kansas City Confidential'' (1952) - Helen Foster *'' The Vanquished'' (1953) - Jane Colfax *'' Sabre Jet'' (1953) - Mrs. Gil Manton, aka Jane Carter *'' The Fake'' (1953) - Mary Mason *'' Arrow In the Dust'' (1954) - Christella Burke *'' Las Vegas Shakedown'' (1955) - Julie Rae *'' Tennessee's Partner'' (1955) - Goldie Slater, w/Ronald Reagan *''

The Twinkle in God's Eye ''The Twinkle in God's Eye'' is a 1955 American Western film directed by George Blair and written by P.J. Wolfson. The film stars Mickey Rooney, Coleen Gray, Hugh O'Brian, Joey Forman, Don "Red" Barry and Mike Connors. The film was released o ...

'' (1955) - Laura *''

The Wild Dakotas ''The Wild Dakotas'' is a 1956 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Tom W. Blackburn. The film stars Bill Williams, Coleen Gray, Jim Davis, John Litel, Dick Jones, John Miljan and Lisa Montell. The film was released ...

'' (1956) - Sue "Lucky" Duneen *'' Star in the Dust'' (1956) - Nellie Mason *'' The Killing'' (1956) - Fay *''

Frontier Gambler ''Frontier Gambler'' is a 1956 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Orville H. Hampton. The film stars John Bromfield, Coleen Gray, Kent Taylor, Jim Davis, Margia Dean and Veda Ann Borg. The film was released on July ...

'' (1956) - Sylvia "The Princess" Melbourne *'' Death of a Scoundrel'' (1956) - Mrs. Edith Van Renasslear *'' The Black Whip'' (1956) - Jeannie *'' Destination 60,000'' (1957) - Mary Ellen *'' The Vampire'' (1957) - Carol Butler *'' Copper Sky'' (1957) - Nora Hayes *'' Hell's Five Hours'' (1958) - Nancy Brand *'' Johnny Rocco'' (1958) - Lois Mayfield *'' The Leech Woman'' (1960) - June Talbot *''

'' (1961) - Liara *'' Town Tamer'' (1965) - Carol Rosser *'' P.J.'' (1968) - Betty Orbison *'' The Late Liz'' (1971) - Sue Webb *'' Ellery Queen: Don't Look Behind You'' (1971, TV Movie) - Mrs. Cazalis *''Mother'' (1978) - Angela Harding *'' The Best Place to Be'' (1979, TV Movie) - Dottie Parker *''Cry From the Mountain'' (1985) - Marian Rissman

Radio appearances

References

External links

* * * *
Yahoo biography

Photograph of Coleen Gray

Coleen Gray
(Aveleyman) {{DEFAULTSORT:Gray, Coleen American film actresses American television actresses 1922 births 2015 deaths Actresses from Nebraska Hamline University alumni People from Seward County, Nebraska 20th-century American actresses 20th Century Studios contract players Actresses from Los Angeles American people of Danish descent California Republicans American Presbyterians New Right (United States) University of California, Los Angeles alumni