Betsy Blair facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Betsy Blair
Blair in November 2007
Born	Elizabeth Winifred Boger (1923-12-11)December 11, 1923 Cliffside Park, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	March 13, 2009(2009-03-13) (aged 85) London, England
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1947–2003
Spouse(s)	Gene Kelly ​ ​ (m. 1941; div. 1957)​ Karel Reisz ​ ​ (m. 1963; died 2002)​
Children	1

Betsy Blair (born Elizabeth Winifred Boger; December 11, 1923 – March 13, 2009) was an American actress. She starred in movies and plays. Betsy lived in London for a long time.

She started performing when she was only eight years old. As a child, she danced, worked on the radio, and was a model. Later, she joined a dance show called Diamond Horseshoe in 1940. There, she met the famous dancer and actor Gene Kelly. They got married in 1941 when she was 17. They later divorced in 1957.

Betsy Blair became well-known for her role in the movie Marty (1955). For this role, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She continued acting in plays, movies, and TV shows, mostly in Europe, until the mid-1990s.

Early Life and Education

Betsy Blair was born in Cliffside Park, New Jersey. Her father, William Kidd Boger, worked in insurance. Her mother, Frederica Ammon, was a schoolteacher.

When she was eight, Betsy started dance classes. She once performed for Eleanor Roosevelt in 1933. She also won a talent contest and performed on local radio. These experiences made her want to be a dancer.

She joined a modeling agency called John Robert Powers. By age 12, she was a popular model. She went to the Professional Children's School. Her mother later sent her back to a regular school. This was so Betsy could go to college. She finished school at 15 and earned a scholarship.

Acting Career

Starting on Stage

After school, Betsy joined the chorus at the International Casino in Times Square. When that show closed, she worked in the chorus of Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe in 1940. Gene Kelly was the choreographer for this show. Betsy wrote in her book that Gene believed in her dancing skills.

Betsy and Gene Kelly's relationship grew. They got married in October 1941. They were married for 16 years. They had one daughter named Kerry Kelly Novick, born in 1942. They divorced in 1957.

Betsy left Billy Rose's show for another one called Panama Hattie. This show had many famous dancers. During this time, she became very interested in certain political ideas.

In 1941, Betsy got her first role in a play. William Saroyan, a friend of Gene Kelly, chose her. She played St. Agnes of the Mice in his play The Beautiful People. Critics praised her performance. One critic, Richard Watts, Jr., said her acting was "gracefully enchanting."

Movies and Challenges

Blair with Ernest Borgnine in the trailer for Marty, 1955

Betsy Blair appeared in movies like A Double Life (1947) and Another Part of the Forest (1948). She had strong political beliefs. In the 1950s, she faced difficulties because of these views.

She was investigated by a group called the House Un-American Activities Committee. For some time, she was put on a list called the Hollywood blacklist. This meant it was hard for her to find work in Hollywood.

She almost lost her role in the movie Marty (1955). But Gene Kelly, her husband at the time, helped her. He said he would not act in his movie It's Always Fair Weather if Betsy was not allowed to be in Marty. Because of this, she got the role back.

Her performance in Marty was highly praised. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also won awards at the Cannes Film Festival. However, her movie career in America was still affected by the blacklist. She had to find work in plays in New York and in Europe.

Blair with her husband Karel Reisz in 1966

After her divorce from Gene Kelly, Betsy moved to Europe. She continued to act in movies there. These included Calle Mayor (1956) and Il Grido (1957).

In 1963, Betsy married Czech-born British director Karel Reisz. She acted less often in later years. She worked on the film Betrayed in 1988. She also appeared in the TV mini-series Scarlett in 1994. Karel Reisz passed away in 2002.

In 1980, she was part of the jury at the 30th Berlin International Film Festival. Betsy Blair wrote her autobiography, The Memory of All That, in 2003.

Death

Betsy Blair passed away from cancer in London on March 13, 2009. She was survived by her daughter, three stepchildren, and several grandchildren.

Partial Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Betsy Blair para niños