Kathryn Grayson

Birth Name:

Zelma Kathryn Elisabeth Hedrick

Birth Place:

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States

Profession

Actress, Soundtrack

Supervised the Choral and Vocal Studies Program at Idaho State University, which has since been renamed in her honor
Discovered singing on an empty stage in the St․ Louis Municipal Opera House at age 12, after which she was introduced to Chicago Civic Opera singer Frances Marshall
Quote: "(On dealing with long filming hours): "Some people would get crabby, but [co-star] José and I could always stay happy․ I guess it was the music in us․ I think music makes life a happier place to be․""
Quote: "(On eventually getting enjoyment out of movie acting): "If you don't get fun out of a particular type of work, why do it?""
Best known for lending her opera-trained soprano to the musical films "Show Boat," "Anchors Aweigh," and "Kiss Me Kate․"
After seeing her screen test for MGM, Katharine Hepburn told her she was "the greatest young actress I have ever seen․"
Although she trained for opera from a young age, it wasn't until 1960, 19 years after she signed with MGM and made her first movie, that she made her opera debut in "Madame Butterfly․"
Her sister Frances Raeburn and brother Michael Butler both had roles in the film "Seven Sweethearts," of which she was the star
Was briefly engaged to Howard Hughes in the '50s

Fast Facts