Coleen Gray

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Coleen Gray (October 23, 1922) is an American movie and television actress born in Staplehurst, Nebraska. Known for her films Nightmare Alley (1947), the frontispiece of Red River (1948), in which she played John Wayne's character's fiancee, and Kiss of Death (1947).

1 Before stardom
2 Hollywood stardom
3 Television
4 Personal life
5 Quotes
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Before stardom

Born 'Doris Jensen,' Coleen Gray was a genuine farmer's daughter from the cornfields of Nebraska. After graduating from high school, Coleen studied dramatics at Hamline University graduating with a bachelor of arts degree. Coleen then decided to see America and traveled to California, stopping at La Jolla, where she worked as a waitress. After several weeks there, she moved to L.A. and enrolled in a drama school. She had several leading roles in L.A. stage productions Letters to Lucerne and Brief Music, which won her a 20th Century-Fox contract in 1944. At first, though, she was relegated to bits in such films as State Fair (1945), Margie (1946) and The Shocking Miss Pilgrim (1947), while attending the studio's "starlet school".

[edit] Hollywood stardom

Finally, Gray made good impressions in two 1947 films noirs: Kiss of Death, as ex-con Victor Mature's wife and Richard Widmark's target and Nightmare Alley, as "Electra", Tyrone Power's wife and carnival performer. In 1948, she appeared as John Wayne's love interest in the memorable opening sequences of Red River, but she was lost in the male tide of Howard Hawks' western and from there her career slid downhill quickly with Fox ending her contract in 1950.

The 1950s continued to be good to Gray. She played a memorably crooked nurse in The Sleeping City. She also provided solid performances in Kansas City Confidential (1952), an under-rated film (and an early prelude to Reservoir Dogs), and The Killing (1956), in which she plays a lonely woman desperate for love in noir city.

Among Gray's other films were Father is a Bachelor (1950), Models, Inc. (1952), Sabre Jet (1953), the enjoyable cult horror film The Leech Woman (1960), The Phantom Planet (1961) and P.J. (1968). She made only two films in the 70s, The Late Liz (1971)and in 1978 she co-starred with Patsy Ruth Miller (her last film) in the indie MOTHER filmed in Houston. It was written, produced and directed by Brian Pinette. It had a world premiere screening at NYC Museum of Modern Art with Patsy and Brian in attendance. She also appeared in one in the 80s, the religious flick Cry from the Mountain, produced by Billy Graham in 1986.

In 1964, along with actors Victor Jory and Susan Seaforth, testified before the United States Congress as part of "Project Prayer", arguing in favor of Constitutional amendment allowing school prayer.

[edit] Television

As the 1950s moved into the 1960s and 1970s, she appeared as leading lady on single episodes of television series such as Maverick, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Mr. Ed, 77 Sunset Strip, Rawhide, Bonanza, and The Deputy, Have Gun - Will Travel, Perry Mason, Family Affair, and The Name of the Game, among dozens of others.

[edit] Personal life

Rodney Amateau, a screenwriter, whom she Married on August 10, 1945; divorced on February 11, 1949. In 1955, she sued ex-husband Rodney Amateau for child support. They had two daughters together. Jerrilou Hollis, born c. 1945 and Susan Amateau, born on June 10, 1946 in Los Angeles.

William Clymer Bidlack, an aviation executive, whom she married on July 14, 1953 until his death in 1978. They have one child a son named Bruce Robin Bidlack, born on June 1, 1954.

Fritz Zeiser, whom she married in 1979 and is still married to him today. She and Fritz Zeiser are dutifully involved with the non-profit volunteer organization Prison Fellowship, founded in 1976 by Chuck Colson (a former prisoner himself for his involvement in the Watergate scandal), which assists the Church in providing ministry to prisoners and their families, as well as their victims.

[edit] Quotes

"When I attended the University, I daydreamed about being a movie star. I would do my dressing room in Early American and give lovely presents to my make-up man and hairdresser for making me loook so lovely, and so on. When I got my contract at 20th I was in seventh heaven, but I found out that a movie career is mostly hard work laced with disappointments".--Coleen Gray, quoted in The Boston Sunday Post, November 9, 1947