Actress. A native of Rock Island, Illinois, she was touted as being the next Betty Grable during the 1940s. The widow of actor Fred MacMurray, she began her career at the age of 6 appearing in numerous stage shows and winning several musical contests. In 1936 she began to perform on local radio and in 1942 she was picked by Darryl F. Zanuck to join his Fox Studio crew as a fringe actress. By 1943 she was appearing in the film, “The Gangs All Here,” and then “Home In Indiana” in 1945. Her other films include, “Irish Eyes Are Smiling,” “Where Do We Go From Here?,” Three Little Girls In Blue,” “The Dolly Sisters,” “Wake Up And Dream,” “I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now,” Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!,” “Look Fo The Silver Lining,” “Oh, You Beautiful Doll,” “The Daughter Of Rosie O’Grady,” “I’ll Get By,” “Love Nest,” and her last film, “The Girl Next Door,” in 1953. On television she appeared in “What’s My line?” and “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” as herself in 1958. In 1947 she married Jimmy Zito but they divorced in 1948. In 1952 she became engaged to John Duzik, but the happiness was shortlived. He died less then a year later. In 1953 after her last film role and because of John’s death she entered a convent in Xavier, Kansas, but she had to leave less then a year later due to an illness she was suffering. That same year she returned to California and became engaged to actor Fred MacMurray. The couple wed on June 28, 1954, and were together until Fred’s death on November 5, 1991, at the age of 83. After his death, she continued to live between their home in Brentwood, California, and her hometown of Rock Island, Illinois, until her death at the age of 79, from a respiratory illness. She was also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, an organization she joined at age 75.  Family links:  Spouse:  Fred MacMurray (1908 – 1991)* *Calculated relationship