Frances Grant

Frances Grant (born Stella Theophane Fortier, February 15, 1909 – February 20, 1982) was an American movie actress and dancer. She appeared as the leading lady of Gene Autry in Red River Valley (1936) and Oh, Susanna! (1936) and other B-films such as Thunder Mountain (1935). and Cavalry (1936).

Frances Grant
Frances Grant, 1937
Born
Stella Theophane Fortier

(1909-02-15)February 15, 1909
Roxbury, Massachusetts, USA
DiedFebruary 20, 1982(1982-02-20) (aged 73)
Lexington, Massachusetts, US
Occupation(s)Actress, dancer

Biography

Frances Grant was born Stella Theophane Fortier, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred H. Fortier. She graduated from Somerville High School.[1]

She acted in stock theater after high school.[2] In the early 1930s, she became the dancing partner of Hal Le Roy in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1931.[3] In 1934, she began her film career with uncredited roles as a dancer in the Kentucky Kernels (1934) and The Nitwits (1935).[3] Grant appeared in Doubting Thomas[2] (1935) after having her first major film role in the 1935 Western film Thunder Mountain opposite George O'Brien. In the following year she appeared as the leading lady of Gene Autry in Red River Valley (1936) and Oh, Susanna! (1936).[3] In the latter film, Grant sings a duet with Autry on the song "Water Wheel" with Autry accompanying them on guitar. That same year she had leading roles in Born to Fight with Frankie Darro, The Traitor with Tim McCoy, and Cavalry opposite Bob Steele.

Grant's last leading role was in Rich Relations (1937). She appeared in three additional films as a dancer uncredited. In the 1940s and 1950s, Grant worked as a dance director in films such as Masquerade in Mexico (1945), Mrs. Mike (1949), and Fancy Pants (1950).[3]

Frances Grant died in Lexington, Massachusetts, on February 20, 1982, at the age of 73.[3]

Filmography

Notes

    References
    1. "Somerville Girl in Ingenue Lead". The Boston Globe. February 20, 1935. p. 19. Retrieved June 2, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
    2. Coons, Robbin (June 4, 1935). "Dancer's Life Not So Easy". The Gettysburg Times. Pennsylvania, Gettysburg. p. 5. Retrieved June 20, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
    3. Magers, Boyd (2007). Gene Autry Westerns. Madison, NC: Empire Publishing, Inc. p. 63. ISBN 978-0944019498.

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