Jane Greer | |
|---|---|
 Publicity photo of Greer forOut of the Past | |
| Born | Bettejane Greer (1924-09-09)September 9, 1924 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Died | August 24, 2001(2001-08-24) (aged 76) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Westwood Memorial Park |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1945–1996 |
| Spouses | |
| Partner | Frank London (1965–2001; his death) |
| Children | 3, includingLawrence Lasker |
Jane Greer (bornBettejane Greer; September 9, 1924 – August 24, 2001) was an American film and television actress best known for her role asfemme fatale Kathie Moffat in the 1947film noirOut of the Past. In 2009,The Guardian named her one of the best actors never to have received anAcademy Award nomination.[1]
Greer was born inWashington, D.C., the daughter of Charles Durell McClellan Greer Jr. and his wife, Bettie.[2] She had a twin brother Donn, who became an actor and director starting in 1951, after getting out of the service when World War II ended. In 1940, at age 15, Greer suffered from afacial palsy, which paralyzed the left side of her face. She recovered, but the condition may have contributed to her "patented look" and "a calm, quizzical gaze and an enigmatic expression that would later lead RKO to promote her as 'The Woman with the Mona Lisa Smile'."[3] She claimed that the facial exercises used to overcome the paralysis taught her the importance of facial expression in conveyinghuman emotion.[4]
On December 4, 1945, Greer had her name legally changed to Jane Greer by a court in Los Angeles. She said of her previous name: "Mine is a sissy name. It's too bo-peepish, ingenueish, for the type of role I've been playing. It's like Mary Lou or Mary Ann."[5]
A beauty-contest winner and professional model from her teens, Greer began her show-business career as a big-band singer. She sang in Washington, D.C., with the orchestra ofEnric Madriguera.[6] She "sang phonetically in Spanish" with the group.[7]
Howard Hughes spotted Greer modeling in the June 8, 1942, issue ofLife, and sent her to Hollywood to become an actress. Hughes lent her toRKO to star in many films (another source says Greer's husband,Rudy Vallee, "helped her get out of her contract with Hughes and secure another pact with RKO Studios"[7]) includingDick Tracy (1945),Out of the Past (1947),They Won't Believe Me (1947), and the comedy/suspense filmThe Big Steal (1949), withOut of the Past co-starRobert Mitchum. Hughes refused to let her work for a time; when she finally resumed film acting, she appeared inYou're in the Navy Now (1951),The Prisoner of Zenda (1952),Run for the Sun (1956), andMan of a Thousand Faces (1957). In 1984, she was cast inAgainst All Odds, a remake ofOut of the Past, as the mother of the character she had played in 1947. In 1952, Greer obtained a release from her contract withMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios. She said, "When there is a good role at MGM, the producers wantLana orAva. There is no chance for another actress to develop into important stardom at the studio."[8]
Greer's noteworthy roles in television included guest appearances on episodes of numerous shows over the decades, such asAlfred Hitchcock Presents,Bonanza,Quincy, M.E.,Murder, She Wrote, and a 1975 role withPeter Falk andRobert Vaughn in an episode ofColumbo titledTroubled Waters. She even got to make fun ofOut of the Past in a parody with Robert Mitchum on TV'sSaturday Night Live in 1987. Greer joined the casts ofFalcon Crest in 1984 andTwin Peaks in 1990 in recurring roles until her retirement in 1996.
Greer was honored with a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame at 1634 Vine Street for her contributions to the motion picture industry. The star was dedicated on February 8, 1960.[9]
Greer marriedRudy Vallée on December 2, 1943, in Hollywood, but they separated after three months and divorced on July 27, 1944.[10][11][12] On August 20, 1947, Greer marriedEdward Lasker, a Los Angeles lawyer and businessman, with whom she had three sons: Alex, a screenwriter and author,[13]Lawrence, a movie producer (WarGames,Sneakers),[14] and Steven, a two timeGrammy Award winner.[15] Greer and Lasker divorced in 1963.[16] Frank London (an actor and dialogue coach) was Greer's domestic partner from 1965 until his death in 2001, six months before Greer died.[16] Greer wasCatholic.[17]
Greer died of cancer on August 24, 2001, at the age of 76, inBel Air, Los Angeles.[18]
