Coleen Gray (born Doris 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 Stanley Kubrick (; July 26, 1928 – March 7, 1999) was an American filmmaker and photographer. Widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Stanley Kubrick filmography, his films were nearly all adaptations of novels or sho ...

's '' The Killing'' (1956).

Early years

Born to Danish parents in Staplehurst, Nebraska, Gray grew up on a farm. After graduating from Hutchinson High School as Doris Jensen, she studied art, literature, and music at

Hamline University Hamline University ( ) is a private university in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1854, Hamline is the oldest university in Minnesota, the first coeducational university in the state, and is one of five Associated Colleges of th ...

, and graduated summa cum laude with a

Bachelor of Arts A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...

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

La Jolla La Jolla ( , ) is a hilly, seaside neighborhood in San Diego, California, occupying of curving coastline along the Pacific Ocean. The population reported in the 2010 census was 46,781. The climate is mild, with an average daily temperature o ...

. After several weeks there, she moved to

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

and enrolled at

UCLA The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Its academic roots were established in 1881 as a normal school then known as the southern branch of the C ...

. 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, Swit ...

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., formerly 20th Century Fox, is an American film studio, film production and Film distributor, distribution company owned by the Walt Disney Studios (division), Walt Disney Studios, the film studios division of the ...

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 t ...

'' (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 Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne, was an American actor. Nicknamed "Duke", he became a Pop icon, popular icon through his starring roles in films which were produced during Hollywood' ...

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'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 film ...

'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 (193 ...

'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 Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, comedian, entertainer and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwi ...

in '' Riding High'', directed by

Frank Capra Frank Russell Capra (born Francesco Rosario Capra; May 18, 1897 – September 3, 1991) was an Italian-American film director, producer, and screenwriter who was the creative force behind Frank Capra filmography#Films that won Academy Award ...

. ''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 ''The Sleeping City'' is a 1950 American film noir crime film in semidocumentary style that was set in and filmed at New York's Bellevue Hospital. Directed by George Sherman, it stars Richard Conte and Coleen Gray. The film is notable for its ...

'' (1950) and appeared in ''

Kansas City Confidential ''Kansas City Confidential'' is a 1952 American independent film, independently-made film noir and crime film directed by Phil Karlson starring John Payne (actor), John Payne and Coleen Gray. The film was released in the United Kingdom as ''The S ...

'' (1952) and in the

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 Marine. A leading man for most of his career, he specialized in Westerns and film noir throughout the 1950s, in film ...

. In the 1953 Western '' The Vanquished'', she played a woman who attacks Jan 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'' (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 (Manhattan), 53rd Street between Fifth Avenue, Fifth and Sixth Avenues. MoMA's collection spans the late 19th century to the present, a ...

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'', '' Maverick'', ''

Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, airing on CBS and NBC, alternately, between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. Between 1962 ...

'', '' Perry Mason'', ''

Mr. Ed ''Mister Ed'' is an American television sitcom produced by Filmways that aired in Broadcast syndication, syndication from January 5 to July 2, 1961, and then on CBS from October 1, 1961, to February 6, 1966. The show's title character is a tal ...

'', ''

Tales of Wells Fargo ''Tales of Wells Fargo'' is an American Westerns on television, Western television series starring Dale Robertson in 201 episodes that aired from 1957 to 1962 on NBC. Produced by Revue Productions, the series aired in a half-hour format until i ...

'' 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'', ''

Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 12, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 431 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running Western, the second-longest-running Western series on ...

'', '' The Deputy'', '' Have Gun Will Travel'', '' The Dakotas'', '' Family Affair'', '' 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 comedy/drama series, '' Window on Main Street'', starring Robert Young as a widowed author in his hometown. She made four guest appearances on '' Perry Mason'', 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 ''Days of Our Lives'' (also stylized as ''Days of our Lives''; simply referred to as ''Days'' or ''DOOL'') is an American television soap opera that aired on the network NBC from November 8, 1965, to September 9, 2022; the soap has streamed n ...

''.

Personal life

Gray married Rod Amateau, 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), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...

, Prison Fellowship, founded in 1976 by Chuck Colson. Gray was a Republican and supported

Barry Goldwater Barry Morris Goldwater (January 2, 1909 – May 29, 1998) was an American politician and major general in the United States Air Force, Air Force Reserve who served as a United States senator from 1953 to 1965 and 1969 to 1987, and was the Re ...

in the

1964 United States presidential election United States presidential election, Presidential elections were held in the United States on November 3, 1964, less than a year following the assassination of John F. Kennedy, who won the previous presidential election. The Democratic Party (U ...

. That same year, along with actors Victor Jory and Susan Seaforth, she testified before the United States Congress as part of "Project Prayer", arguing in favor of a

constitutional amendment A constitutional amendment (or constitutional alteration) is a modification of the constitution of a polity, organization or other type of entity. Amendments are often interwoven into the relevant sections of an existing constitution, directly alt ...

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 Cremation is a method of Disposal of human corpses, final disposition of a corpse through Combustion, burning. Cremation may serve as a funeral or post-funeral rite and as an alternative to burial. In some countries, including India, Nepal, and ...

at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery and her ashes given to her stepson, Rick Zeiser. Her memorial service was held at the

Bel Air Presbyterian Church Bel Air Church (also known as Bel Air Presbyterian Church) is a Presbyterian Church (USA), Presbyterian church located in Los Angeles, California. Its campus is located on Mulholland Drive in the Encino, Los Angeles, California, Encino neighborh ...

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,

. 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 Scouting America is the largest scouting organization and one of the largest List of youth organizations, youth organizations in the United States, with over 1 million youth, including nearly 200,000 female participants. Founded as the Boy Sco ...

and the Girl Scouts of the United States of America.

Complete filmography

*''

'' (1945) - Girl with Pappy (uncredited) *'' Three Little Girls in Blue'' (1946) - Girl at the Beach (uncredited) *'' The Shocking Miss Pilgrim'' (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 usually defined by its grain size. Sand grains are smaller than gravel and coarser than silt. Sand can also refer to a textural ...

'' (1949) - Joan Hartley *'' Father Is a Bachelor'' (1950) - Prudence Millett *'' Riding High'' (1950) - Alice Higgins *''

'' (1950) - Ann Sebastian *'' I'll Get You for This'' (1951) - Kay Wonderly *'' Apache Drums'' (1951) - Sally *'' Models Inc.'' (1952) - Rusty Faraday *''

'' (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'' (1955) - Laura *'' The Wild Dakotas'' (1956) - Sue "Lucky" Duneen *'' Star in the Dust'' (1956) - Nellie Mason *'' The Killing'' (1956) - Fay *'' Frontier Gambler'' (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 *'' The Phantom Planet'' (1961) - Liara *''

'' (1962) (Season 7 Episode 33: "The Opportunity") - Mrs. Lois Callen *'' Town Tamer'' (1965) - Carol Rosser *'' The Virginian'' (1965) - Mrs Marsh *'' 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