Gloria DeHaven, who became a huge star for MGM in a film career that started in the 1930s and extended into television, died Saturday at age 91 while in hospice vehicle in Las Vegas.
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DeHaven, who signed an MGM contract when she was 15 years old, had a number of glamorous achievements under her belt.
DeHaven starred in “Two Girls and a Sailor” (1944) with Van Johnson, June Allyson and Jimmy Durante; “Summer Holiday” (1948) with Mickey Rooney; “Yes Sir That’s My Baby” (1949) with Donald O’Connor; “Summer Stock” (1950) with Judy Garland and Gene Kelly; and “So This Is Paris” (1955) with Tony Curtis.
DeHaven notably portrayed her mother, Flora, in the 1950 film In Three Little Words, which tells the story of Tin Pan Alley songwriters Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. She sang the 1920s tearjerker “Who’s Sorry Now?” in the film.
Her last film role was in the 1997 romantic comedy Out to Sea, starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. She played Diane in the musical version of SEVENTH HEAVEN.
“My own contemporaries are fascinated that I’ve begun this sort of second career; or should I say umpteenth career, since I’m 58 and have been in show business since I was born”.
In the Big Band era, she was a featured vocalist with the Bob Crosby and Jan Savitt dance bands and later headlined gigs in Las Vegas, New York and London nightclubs.
She later transitioned to TV work, with roles on the soap operas “As the World Turns”, “Ryan’s Hope,” and “All My Children“. She also guest starred on numerous other shows including Robert Montgomery Presents, Appointment with Adventure, Johnny Ringo, Marcus Welby, M.D.
DeHaven was married four times – including once to actor John Payne, best known for his appearance in Miracle on 34th Street.
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After that, she said, “The golden age of movie musicals had sadly ended”.
