Ellen Drew (born Esther Loretta Ray; November 23, 1914 – December 3, 2003) was an American film actress.

Early life

Drew, born in

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City, Missouri, abbreviated KC or KCMO, is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri by List of cities in Missouri, population and area. The city lies within Jackson County, Missouri, Jackson, Clay County, Missouri, Clay, and Pl ...

in 1914, was the daughter of an Irish-born barber. She had a younger brother, Arden. Her parents separated in 1931. She worked in multiple jobs and won a number of beauty contests before becoming an actress.Katz, Ephraim (1979). ''The Film Encyclopedia: The Most Comprehensive Encyclopedia of World Cinema in a Single Volume'', Perigee Books; , pg. 359. Moving to Hollywood in an attempt to become a star, she was discovered while working at an ice cream parlor where one of the customers, actor

William Demarest Carl William Demarest (February 27, 1892 – December 28, 1983) was an American actor, known especially for his supporting roles in screwball comedies by Preston Sturges and as Uncle Charley in the sitcom ''My Three Sons'' from 1965-72. Demares ...

, took notice of her and eventually helped her get into films.

Career

Ray's venture into the movies brought about a conflict in names when she tried starting her career with the name Terry Ray, which happened to be the name of another, male, actor. A 1937 newspaper photo showed the resolution of the conflict as "They conferred, drew lots from the hat, and masculine Terry Ray became Terry Rains, while feminine Terry Ray remained as before." She later tried the name of Erin Drew. After appearing in 25 features using her birth name, she became a fixture at

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...

officially as Ellen Drew from 1938 to 1944, where she appeared in as many as six films per year, including '' Sing You Sinners'' (1938) with

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 ...

and '' The Lady's from Kentucky'' (1939) with

George Raft George Raft (né Ranft; September 26, 1901 – November 24, 1980) was an American film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. A stylish leading man in dozens of movies, Raft is remembe ...

. She moved to RKO in 1944. Among her leading men were

Ronald Colman Ronald Charles Colman (9 February 1891 – 19 May 1958) was an English-born actor who started his career in theatre and silent film in his native country, then emigrated to the United States where he had a highly successful Cinema of the United ...

William Holden William Franklin Holden (né Beedle Jr.; April 17, 1918 – November 12, 1981) was an American actor and one of the biggest box-office draws of the 1950s. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for the film '' Stalag 17'' (1953) and the Pri ...

Basil Rathbone Philip St. John Basil Rathbone MC (13 June 1892 – 21 July 1967) was an Anglo-South African actor. He rose to prominence in the United Kingdom as a Shakespearean stage actor and went on to appear in more than 70 films, primarily costume drama ...

Dick Powell Richard Ewing Powell (November 14, 1904 – January 2, 1963) was an American actor, singer, musician, producer, director, and studio head. Though he came to stardom as a musical comedy performer, he showed versatility and successfully transform ...

, and Robert Preston (in '' The Night of January 16th'' and '' Night Plane from Chungking''). Her other films include '' Christmas in July'' (1940), ''Isle of the Dead'' (1945), '' Johnny O'Clock'' (1947), '' The Man from Colorado'' (1948), ''

The Crooked Way ''The Crooked Way'' is a 1949 American film noir starring John Payne (actor), John Payne, Sonny Tufts and Ellen Drew. Directed by Robert Florey and shot by John Alton, the film has a similar plot (a war hero loses his memory from a combat wound) ...

'' (1949), and '' The Baron of Arizona'' with

Vincent Price Vincent Leonard Price Jr. (May 27, 1911 – October 25, 1993) was an American actor. He was known for his work in the horror film genre, mostly portraying villains. He appeared on stage, television, and radio, and in more than 100 films. Price ...

(1950). In the 1950s, with her movie career on the decline, she worked as a television actress. Among her final roles was the part of Julia Webberly in the 1960 ''

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 four short stories, all of which involve a ...

'' episode, "The Case of the Larcenous Lady".

Radio

On June 23, 1943, Drew co-starred with

Agnes Moorehead Agnes Robertson Moorehead (December 6, 1900April 30, 1974) was an American actress. In a career spanning five decades, her credits included work in radio, stage, film, and television.Obituary '' Variety'', May 8, 1974, page 286. Moorehead was th ...

and Ted Reid in "Uncle Henry's Rosebush" on ''

Suspense Suspense is a state of anxiety or excitement caused by mysteriousness, uncertainty, doubt, or undecidedness. In a narrative work, suspense is the audience's excited anticipation about the plot or conflict (which may be heightened by a viol ...

'', and on July 25, 1943, she co-starred with

Preston Foster Preston Stratton Foster (August 24, 1900 – July 14, 1970), was an American actor of stage, film, radio, and television, whose career spanned nearly four decades. He also had a career as a vocalist. Early life Born in Ocean City, New Jerse ...

in "China Bridge", a presentation of '' Silver Theater'' on

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

radio. She also appeared twice on the ''Kate Smith Hour''.

Death

Drew died on December 3, 2003, in

Palm Desert, California Palm Desert is a city in the Coachella Valley region of Riverside County, California. The city is located in the Colorado Desert arm of the Sonoran Desert, about east of Palm Springs, northeast of San Diego and east of Los Angeles. The popula ...

, of a liver ailment, aged 89. 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 ...

and her ashes scattered at sea.

Honors

For her contributions to the motion picture industry, Drew was honored with a star on the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a landmark which consists of 2,813 five-pointed terrazzo-and-brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in the Hollywood, Los Angeles, Hollywood dist ...

in 1960, located at 6901 Hollywood Blvd.

In popular culture

A highly fictionalized version of her appears in James Ellroy's novels '' Perfidia'' (2014) and '' This Storm'' (2019).

Partial filmography

* '' The Return of Sophie Lang'' (1936) as Secretary (uncredited) * '' Rhythm on the Range'' (1936) as Party Guest (uncredited) * '' Yours for the Asking'' (1936) (uncredited) * '' My American Wife'' (1936) as Party Guest (uncredited) * ''

Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood Boulevard is a major east–west street in Los Angeles, California. It runs through the Hollywood, East Hollywood, Little Armenia, Thai Town, and Los Feliz districts. Its western terminus is at Sunset Plaza Drive in the Hollyw ...

'' (1936) as Terry Ray - Casting Office Secretary (uncredited) * '' Lady Be Careful'' (1936) as Girl in Sailboat * '' Wives Never Know'' (1936) (uncredited) * '' Murder with Pictures'' (1936) as Minor Role (uncredited) * '' The Big Broadcast of 1937'' (1936) as Telephone Girl * '' Rose Bowl'' (1936) as Mary Arnold (uncredited) * ''

The Accusing Finger ''The Accusing Finger'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by James P. Hogan and written by Madeleine Ruthven, Brian Marlow, John Bright and Robert Tasker. The film stars Paul Kelly, Marsha Hunt, Kent Taylor, Robert Cummings, Harry Ca ...

'' (1936) as Wife * '' College Holiday'' (1936) as Dancer on Train (uncredited) * '' Murder Goes to College'' (1937) as Lil * '' The Crime Nobody Saw'' (1937) as Secretary (uncredited) * '' Internes Can't Take Money'' (1937) as Nurse (uncredited) * ''

Make Way for Tomorrow ''Make Way for Tomorrow'' is a 1937 American tragedy film directed by Leo McCarey. The plot concerns an elderly couple (played by Victor Moore and Beulah Bondi) who are forced to separate when they lose their house and none of their five ch ...

'' (1937) as Usherette (uncredited) * '' Turn Off the Moon'' (1937) as Minor Role (uncredited) * '' Night of Mystery'' (1937) as Secretary * '' Hotel Haywire'' (1937) as Switchboard Operator (uncredited) * '' Mountain Music'' (1937) as Helen (uncredited) * '' This Way Please'' (1937) as Chorus Girl (uncredited) * '' The Buccaneer'' (1938) (uncredited) * '' Scandal Street'' (1938) (uncredited) * '' Dangerous to Know'' (1938) as Secretary * '' Cocoanut Grove'' (1938) as Radio Station Receptionist (uncredited) * '' You and Me'' (1938) as Cashier * '' Sing, You Sinners'' (1938) as Martha Randall * ''

If I Were King ''If I Were King'' is a 1938 American biographical and historical film starring Ronald Colman as medieval poet François Villon, and featuring Basil Rathbone and Frances Dee. It is based on the 1901 play and novel, both of the same name, by ...

'' (1938) as Huguette * '' The Lady's from Kentucky'' (1939) as Penelope 'Penny' Hollis * '' The Gracie Allen Murder Case'' (1939) as Ann Wilson * '' The Escape'' (1939) as Reporter (uncredited) * ''

Geronimo Gerónimo (, ; June 16, 1829 – February 17, 1909) was a military leader and medicine man from the Bedonkohe band of the Ndendahe Apache people. From 1850 to 1886, Geronimo joined with members of three other Central Apache bands the Tchihen ...

'' (1939) as Alice Hamilton * ''

French Without Tears ''French Without Tears'' is a comic play written by a 25-year-old Terence Rattigan in 1936. Setting It takes place in a cram school for adults needing to acquire French for business reasons. Scattered throughout are Franglais phrases and sc ...

'' (1940) as Diana Lake * '' Women Without Names'' (1940) as Joyce King * '' Buck Benny Rides Again'' (1940) as Joan Cameron * '' Christmas in July'' (1940) as Betty Casey * ''

Texas Rangers Ride Again ''Texas Rangers Ride Again'' is a 1940 American Western film directed by James P. Hogan, written by William R. Lipman and Horace McCoy, and starring Ellen Drew, John Howard, Akim Tamiroff, May Robson, Broderick Crawford, Charley Grapewin, and ...

'' (1940) as Ellen 'Slats' Dangerfield * '' The Mad Doctor'' (1941) as Linda Boothe * ''

The Monster and the Girl ''The Monster and the Girl'' is a 1941 American black-and-white horror film directed by Stuart Heisler and released by Paramount Pictures. Plot The film revolves around a small-town church organist named Scott Webster ( Philip Terry) attemptin ...

'' (1941) as Susan Webster * '' Reaching for the Sun'' (1941) as Rita * '' The Parson of Panamint'' (1941) as Mary Malloy * '' Our Wife'' (1941) as Babe Marvin * '' The Night of January 16th'' (1941) as Kit Lane * ''

The Remarkable Andrew ''The Remarkable Andrew'' is a 1942 film directed by Stuart Heisler and written by Dalton Trumbo based on his 1941 novel of the same name. It stars Brian Donlevy and William Holden. Plot Young bookkeeper Andrew Long is an avid student of Ame ...

'' (1942) as Peggy Tobin * '' My Favorite Spy'' (1942) as Teresa 'Terry' Kyser * ''

Star Spangled Rhythm ''Star Spangled Rhythm'' is a 1942 American all-star cast musical film made by Paramount Pictures during World War II as a morale booster. Many of the Hollywood studios produced such films during the war, with the intent of entertaining the troo ...

'' (1942) as herself (uncredited) * '' Ice-Capades Revue'' (1942) as Ann Porter * '' Night Plane from Chungking'' (1943) as Ann Richards * '' The Impostor'' (1944) as Yvonne * '' And the Angels Sing'' (1944) (uncredited) * '' That's My Baby!'' (1944) as Betty Moody * '' Dark Mountain'' (1944) as Kay Downey * '' China Sky'' (1945) as Louise Thompson * '' Isle of the Dead'' (1945) as Thea * '' Man Alive'' (1945) as Connie McBride * '' Sing While You Dance'' (1946) as Susan Kent * '' Crime Doctor's Manhunt'' (1946) as Irene Cotter * '' Johnny O'Clock'' (1947) as Nelle Marchettis * '' The Swordsman'' (1948) as Barbara Glowan * '' The Man from Colorado'' (1948) as Caroline Emmet * ''

'' (1949) as Nina Martin * '' Davy Crockett, Indian Scout'' (1950) as Frances Oatman * '' The Baron of Arizona'' (1950) as Sofia de Peralta – Reavis 'The Baroness' * '' Stars in My Crown'' (1950) as Harriet Gray * '' Cargo to Capetown'' (1950) as Kitty Mellar * ''

The Great Missouri Raid ''The Great Missouri Raid'' is a 1951 American Western released by Paramount Pictures starring Wendell Corey, Macdonald Carey, and Ward Bond, with Ellen Drew, Bruce Bennett, Bill Williams and Anne Revere in support. It was directed by Gord ...

'' (1951) as Bee Moore * '' Man in the Saddle'' (1951) as Nan Melotte * '' Outlaw's Son'' (1957) as Ruth Sewall * ''

The Millionaire (TV series) ''The Millionaire'' is an American anthology television series, anthology series that aired on CBS from 1955 to 1960. It was originally sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive. The series, produced by Don Fedderson and Fred Henry, explored the ways that ...

'' episode "The Julia Conrad Story" (1959) as Julia Conrad, with co-star

Robert Alda Robert Alda (born Alfonso Giuseppe Giovanni Roberto D'Abruzzo; February 26, 1914 – May 3, 1986) was an American theatrical and film actor. He was the father of actors Alan and Antony Alda. Alda was featured in a number of Broadway productio ...

References

External links

*
Photographs and literature
{{DEFAULTSORT:Drew, Ellen 1914 births 2003 deaths Actresses from Kansas City, Missouri American people of Irish descent People from Palm Desert, California American film actresses American television actresses Paramount Pictures contract players 20th-century American actresses