Now showing:
People we remember
Biographies are where we share about family & friends to connect with others who remember them.
Kathy Pinna:
Gloria Grahame
Actress. She is remembered for her Academy Award supporting role of Rosemary Bartlow in "The Bad and the Beautiful" (1952), but is often best remembered for her smaller role of Violet Bick in the Christmas classic movie, "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946).
Born Gloria Hallward in Los Angeles, California, she was the second and last child of Reginald Michael Bloxam Hallward (1889 - 1982), an architect, and Jeanne McDougall, a British actress who used the stage name Jean Grahame. It was from her mother's stage name that Gloria adopted her own stage name.
Gloria began her acting career under the tutelage of her mother, as a teenager on the stage and winning small roles on Broadway. There she was discovered by Louis B. Mayer and signed to a contract with MGM Studios. She made her film debut as Sally in "Blonde Fever" (1944), and it is for her third film, "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946) that she is often still remembered today. But MGM believed she was not of star potential and sold her contract to RKO Studios in 1947. RKO Studios had similar problems identifying her potential, and over the next couple of years, would often loan her out for movies by other studios, despite her Oscar nomination for her role in RKO's "Crossfire" (1947). She was married four times, first to actor Stanley Clements in 1945, divorced three years later, second to director Nicholas Ray in June 1948, and divorced in 1952; they would have a son, Timothy. She then married Cy Howard, a writer, in 1954, divorcing three years later after having a daughter, Marianna. She then married her former stepson, Anthony Ray (son of Nicholas Ray and his first wife) in May 1960; they divorced in 1974 after having two sons, Anthony Jr. and James. In 1950, she starred with Humphrey Bogart in "In a Lonely Place" (1950), another loan-out role that got her considerable praise and is often considered her best work, but still, the studio bosses didn't notice her for it, and shortly afterward, she left RKO. Gloria finally got studio attention with her Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in "The Bad and the Beautiful" (1952). "The Bad and the Beautiful" won four additional Oscars, making it the highest Oscar-winning film of 1952. She then had a series of successful roles for the next three years, but during this period, her marital problems and child-custody battles with her soon-to-be ex-spouse, Cy Howard, earned her a reputation for being a difficult actress to work with. This reputation, as well as being perceived as very difficult to cast (she was viewed as too naughty to be innocent, yet not evil enough to be really bad), and her career began to slip away with fewer film offers. Despite a successful playing of Annie Carnes in the musical "Oklahoma!" her job offers soon dropped to a minimum. She made only one movie in the 1960s, in "Ride Beyond Vengeance" (1966), and she resumed stage acting, supplemented with television guest roles, to keep employed. In the early in 1970s, she saw a resurgence of interest in her, with an additional steady series of movies in that decade. She was a skillful actress, strong-willed but imaginative, and serious to the point of having plastic surgery on her lips to enhance her appearance. In 1980, she was diagnosed with stomach cancer, but refused to have surgery. While in England in 1981, she had her stomach drained, which resulted in a perforated bowel, and she collapsed during a stage rehearsal. Despite medical treatment, she was in serious condition, and her children took her back to New York City, where she died shortly afterwards. Her last film role was that of Florinda, in "The Nesting" (1982), filmed before she went to England but released just after her death. She is buried in Oakwood Memorial Park Cemetery under the name Gloria H. Grahame.
Bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson
Inscription
Kathy Pinna:
GLORIA GRAHAME, 55, MOTION PICTURE ACTRESS, DIES
Gloria Grahame, the actress best known for her screen portrayals of sulking and occasionally wisecracking blondes, died Monday night of cancer at St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan. She was 55 years old. Miss Grahame, who had been in London rehearsing a play, died three hours after arriving here aboard a commercial flight. Miss Grahame called her children in this country to help her return to New York, where treatment had been successful. It was on the flight to New York that shock resulting from the infection set in and ''when she got to the emergency room, she was nearly dead,'' Dr. Grace said.
Appeared in 30 Films
During her long Hollywood career, Miss Grahame appeared in more than 30 films, usually in a supporting role. She won an Academy Award in 1952 for her supporting role in ''The Bad and the Beautiful,'' the story of a Hollywood producer who turns out to be a heel.
She was also noted for her role in ''It's a Wonderful Life,'' a 1947 film directed by Frank Capra, and ''The Big Heat,'' a 1953 police melodrama in which Lee Marvin, playing a cretin-faced gangster, flings scalding coffee into her eyes and pouting face.
Miss Grahame was born in Pasadena, Calif., on Nov. 28, 1925, as Gloria Hallward. She was the daughter of a British actress, Jean Hallward, who had played Shakespearean and other classical roles on the British stage. Miss Grahame made her debut as an actress in Chicago soon after her graduation from high school.
She soon went to Broadway, where she was hired as an understudy in Thornton Wilder's ''The Skin of Our Teeth,'' and began getting substantial roles in other plays. In 1944 she went to Hollywood, where she made her debut in ''Blond Fever'' (1944).
Nominated for 'Crossfire' Role
She was nominated for an Academy Award for supporting actress in 1947 for ''Crossfire,'' and during the next eight years had prominent roles in a series of films, including ''The Greatest Show on Earth'' (1952) and ''Oklahoma!'' (1955).
During the late 1950's her roles declined, as she devoted herself to raising her children. In the 1970's she made occasional appearances in films. She also played parts on television and the stage, including a role in ''The Man Who Came to Dinner'' at the New Darien Dinner Theater in 1977. She later played a neurotic mother in ''Head Over Heels'' (1979), and a comic character in ''Melvin and Howard'' (1980).
Miss Graham was married four times.
- October 8, 1981, The New York Times Archives - By JOSH BARBANEL OCT. 8, 1981.
Kathy Pinna:
On September 21, 2000, Adam M. Spriggs, an 18-year-old football player, was tragically murdered by Antonio A. Garcia. The incident took place in Guadalupe County, where Adam was stabbed to death over a 1990 Mazda Miata.
Garcia, who was arrested and subsequently imprisoned, was identified as the perpetrator. The news of Adam's murder made headlines, and he has been incarcerated since 2000, serving an 18-year sentence.
At the time of his death, Adam was 18 years old. The incident occurred between 6:30 and 8:30 pm on a Wednesday, and Adam's body was discovered in the trunk of his Miata. As of July 15, 2018, at 5:54 am, this information remains current.
Tom Perry:
Mark was the youngest of my sister's and brother. At the time I thought he was perhaps one of the best looking babies I had ever seen back then, I was 13 years old when he came along. He was pretty quiet and reserved his whole life, careful not to make any disturbance or scene. He enjoyed driving around, listening to music, he never liked school and dropped out. He never heard the call of the world beckoning him to leave the nest as me and my siblings had. He stayed home and helped Mom and Dad out around the house. When he fell sick he tried to keep things to him self until the pain was unbearable. I think of you alot Mark. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you. I can only hope the pain has subsided and that you rest in peace. When it's time I hope to see you again.
Margaret Garrison:
Lois Rebecca Laughlin died on February 19, 2010 at Tucson, AZ at 55 years of age. Her cause of death is listed as: becky was one of my younger sisters. We became estranged after our mother died. While she remained in Tucson, I was offered a position as Children's Director at a church in Sacramento. I tried reaching out to her over the years, but we never really connected. I have so many sweet memories of our family growing up in Tucson AZ. As the oldest in a family of four kids, I was often responsible for helping out with my younger siblings. I will always remember Becky as a happy, go-lucky child. I envied her outgoing personality and her singing and acting talents. I was devastated to hear she had died of cancer. I know she loved Jesus and we will eventually meet again in heaven where all will be forgiven. I love you so much, Becky, and miss you!
Jon Wilson:
Nextdoor neighbor - He was a good man I wish I was a better neighbor to his family, and helped him with his yard work .
I found out after his passing he was a WW2 vet I bet he could tell me about life back then
The only thing I can do for him now is to visit his and his wifes grave put an American flag and flowers on there head stone and say a prayer for them and how much I miss there presence as neighbors.
I love them both very much
Jon Phillip Wilson
821 Brower St
Marc Giezen:
To My Beloved Mom
I’ve always heard people say that no love is quite like a mother’s, and now, I understand that truth more than ever. You were my guiding star, the quiet strength in every moment, and the warmth that made everything feel okay—even when it wasn’t.
It’s hard to put into words how much you meant to me, how deeply I miss you, and how much of you still lives on in everything I do. You taught me what love is without saying a word, and now I carry that with me every day, in every choice I make, in every memory I hold close.
I still feel you in the little things: the way the sun feels on my face, the sound of the wind through the trees, or the quiet moments when everything feels still. You are still with me, Mom, in ways I can’t fully explain but will forever believe.
Thank you for being my mother, my protector, my biggest fan, and my best friend. I’ll hold you in my heart for as long as I live.
With all my love,
Marc
Donald Bohne:
My aunt - She was my dad’s sister. We visited her shortly before her death in Oxnard. She had a daughter named, Jane, who died from polio. Aunt Ermeda was much fun, our girls,Paige and Linda really loved her. She gave me a diary that tells about the Yankees coming into New Orleans and demanding a surrender of the town. She also gave me a civil war belt, confederate, with the name of, Theodore Hamm, on it. My dad’s family were from Germany and so was T. Hamm. I often wonder if he was the one who founded Hamm’s beer. If you have any information on T. Hamm, please email me @ [contact link]. Thanks. Donald H. Bohne,DDS
Suma Fiame:
My name Suma Fiame. My oldest sister Sina was married to Pono and their son Wallace Kahuhu. I moved in with them when i was in Elementary from American Samoa. We were living in Waianae at Pokai Bay apartments 4th floor facing the beach side. I attended Waianae intermediate school and graduated there. Pono played a special role in my life as a father. He was a great father, hard working and loves to get together with his siblings and Ohana. He loves my sister Sina so much and their baby son Wallace. Pono worked at Parks and recreation. After work he would love to take us at the beach and hangout and play his ukulele, holoholo with friends too. Pono's Mom & Dad were still alive at the time. They live right next to Waianae elementary school. We would also go by and see Grandma & Grandpa and sometimes meet with Auntie's and cousins there. We later moved to Nanakuli after a horrible Hurricane Eva with Auntie D.D for a short time. Auntie D.D worked at Paradise Cove were they film Magnum P.I. We later moved to Makaha in the back of Cornetts shopping center across from Makaha Beach. We raised a pig named Suka and a dog named Rocky. Every time we go to town either we take my sisters Old skool Cadillac or Pop's 4 door flatbed six wheeler with rails and hydraulic liftgate we would always take our Suka and Rocky with us. They love sitting next to the windows. We visited my Unko Pili and family down town and Auntie Surita & Unko Peter Bartley and cousins in Kalihi Valley. I later moved to Kalihi and attended Dole intermediate for a short time and back to Waianae.. Aunty Surita & family decided to move with us to Waianae. We left Makaha to Waianae Valley at Pop's family land with our Bartley family and raised our Pets... Rabbits and bigs there.
Jamielee Boulger:
Nana. - Rachel was my great grandmother… I don’t really remember much about her only a vivid memory of her giving me and my brothers some homemade rum cake.. she was a lovely lady, her and my nunu (her husband)… I really would love to get to know more about my family’s history so I am just here checking out what I can 😊
Kelli Sommer:
Grandma - Most amazing lady ever….happy, creative,free spirit…. Took karate in Her90s...taught people in their 50s how to read....went to nudest beaches in her 90s... Was very much into health.... most amazing, happy lady you would ever meet and she would kiss you right on the lips...... She will be in my heart forever and always missed......!!!!!
Allen Bowers:
tagged Oscar K Borders in this photo.