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Ellen Drew

Ellen Drew

Birthday: 1915-11-23 | Place of Birth: Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.

Talented Missourian Ellen Drew. born as Esther Loretta Ray, was the daughter of an Irish barber. She worked various jobs (accountant, salesgirl) to support her family until her fresh-faced good looks and high-wattage smile earned her a couple of beauty pageant trophies. Encouraged to try her luck in Hollywood, she was discovered in somewhat typical Lana Turner fashion. While working at an ice cream parlor, customer William Demarest took notice of her and was instrumental in having her put under contract at Paramount Studios in 1936. Initially billed as Terry Ray, she was groomed in starlet bits for two years until finally given a role she could sink her teeth into in the Bing Crosby musical Sing, You Sinners (1938). Her hair was changed from brunette to auburn (sometimes blonde) and her moniker changed from Terry Ray to Ellen Drew. Brighter roles came her way with If I Were King (1938), which clinched her celebrity, Women Without Names (1940) and Buck Benny Rides Again (1940). Ellen seemed destined for top-flight stardom, but somehow it didn't happen. She never managed to distinguish herself among the bevy of Hollywood beauties on display and so remained on the outer fringes for most her career. Despite fine roles in fine movies, notably the Preston Sturges classic Christmas in July (1940) and the Dick Powell starrer Johnny O'Clock (1947), Ellen's film career went on a steep decline. In the 1950s she transferred her talents to TV before retiring the following decade. Married four times, including writer/producer Sy Bartlett, she left one son and several grandchildren when she passed away in 2003 at age 88 in Palm Desert, California.

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Known For

Acting

Year
Title

Role

1951
Man in the Saddle

as    Nan Melotte

1950
Davy Crockett, Indian Scout

as    Frances Oatman

1950
Stars in My Crown

as    Harriet Gray

1950
The Baron of Arizona

as    Sofia de Peralta-Reavis

1949
The Crooked Way

as    Nina Martin

1948
The Man from Colorado

as    Caroline Emmet

1947
Johnny O'Clock

as    Nelle Marchettis

1946
Crime Doctor's Man Hunt

as    Irene Cotter / Natalie Cotter

1945
China Sky

as    Louise Thompson

1945
Isle of the Dead

as    Thea

1944
That's My Baby!

as    Betty Moody

1944
The Impostor

as    Yvonne

1943
Night Plane from Chungking

as    Ann Richards

1942
Ice Capades Revue

as    Ann Porter

1942
The Remarkable Andrew

as    Peggy Tobin

1942
My Favorite Spy

as    Teresa 'Terry' Kyser

1941
The Night of January 16th

as    Katherine "Kit" Lane

1941
The Mad Doctor

as    Linda Booth

1941
The Monster and the Girl

as    Susan Webster

1940
Christmas in July

as    Betsy Casey

1940
The Texas Rangers Ride Again

as    Ellen 'Slats' Dangerfield

1939
Geronimo

as    Alice Hamilton

1939
The Gracie Allen Murder Case

as    Ann Wilson

1938
If I Were King

as    Huguette

1937
Night of Mystery

as    Secretary