Bonita Granville facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bonita Granville
Granville around 1946
Born	Bonita Gloria Granville (1923-02-02)February 2, 1923 New York City, U.S.
Died	October 11, 1988(1988-10-11) (aged 65) Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Resting place	Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California
Other names	Bonita Granville Wrather
Occupation	Actress producer
Years active	1926–1981
Known for	These Three Nancy Drew... Reporter Nancy Drew... Detective Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase Now, Voyager
Spouse(s)	Jack Wrather ​ ​ (m. 1947; died 1984)​
Children	2

Bonita Gloria Granville Wrather (born February 2, 1923 – died October 11, 1988) was an American actress and producer. She started her career very young, acting on stage at age three.

Bonita made her first film in 1932. She became well-known for her role in the movie These Three (1936). For this film, she was nominated for an Academy Award when she was only fourteen years old. She also became famous for playing the girl detective Nancy Drew in a series of movies. Other important films she starred in include Now, Voyager (1942) and Hitler's Children (1943).

After marrying Jack Wrather in 1947, Bonita started working as a producer with her husband. They produced popular TV shows like Lassie. She was also a successful businesswoman. With her husband, she owned and managed the Disneyland Hotel and the Queen Mary in Long Beach. She was also involved in helping the arts.

Bonita Granville received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 for her work in movies. She and her husband were later honored as Disney Legends in 2011.

Early Life and Family

Bonita Granville was born on February 2, 1923, in Manhattan, New York City. Her parents, Rosina and Bernard Granville, were both performers on stage. She grew up in a Roman Catholic family.

Becoming a Star: Her Acting Career

Early Roles as a Child Actress (1932–1941)

Bonita made her first movie at age nine. It was called Westward Passage (1932). She also had a small role in Cavalcade (1933), which won an Academy Award for Best Picture. She appeared in other films like Little Women (1933) and Anne of Green Gables (1934).

In 1936, she played Mary Tilford in the movie These Three. In this film, her character was a mean child who told lies. Her acting was so good that she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. At the time, she was the youngest person ever to get an Oscar nomination.

In 1938, Bonita was chosen by Warner Bros. to play the famous girl detective Nancy Drew. She starred in four Nancy Drew movies: Nancy Drew... Detective (1938), Nancy Drew... Reporter (1939), Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter (1939), and Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (1939). These movies were very popular. She also appeared in the comedy Merrily We Live (1938) and The Beloved Brat (1938). In 1939, she acted alongside Ronald Reagan in Angels Wash Their Faces. They became lifelong friends.

Later, Bonita signed a contract with MGM. She continued to get supporting roles in films like The Mortal Storm (1940) and H. M. Pulham, Esq. (1941).

Reaching Stardom (1942–1947)

In 1941, Bonita joined RKO Pictures. She quickly found more important roles. She starred in The Glass Key (1942) and Now, Voyager (1942).

A big role for her was in Hitler's Children (1943). This movie was about fighting against the Nazis during World War II. It was a huge success and one of RKO's most popular films that year. Bonita said it was her favorite movie she ever made. She also appeared in other films like the Andy Hardy movies with Mickey Rooney. After 1947, she mostly stopped acting in films, though she made a few more appearances.

Later Career and Producing (1948–1988)

On February 5, 1947, Bonita married Jack Wrather. She had met him when he produced one of her movies. Jack Wrather started a company that bought the rights to famous characters like The Lone Ranger and Lassie. Bonita became a producer for many films and TV shows based on these characters. This included the popular TV series Lassie, which she produced from 1959 to 1973.

Bonita also appeared in the 1956 film The Lone Ranger. Her very last movie role was a small appearance in The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1981). Bonita and Jack Wrather had two children, Molly and Linda. Jack also had two sons, Jack and Christopher, from a previous marriage. Their marriage lasted until Jack's death in 1984.

Her Legacy

Bonita Granville has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6607 Hollywood Boulevard. This star honors her important contributions to movies.

She was also honored at the Disneyland Hotel. She and her husband owned this hotel for many years. After Bonita's death, their company was sold to the Walt Disney Company. The "Bonita Tower" and "Granville's Steak House" at the hotel were named in her honor. In 2011, Disney honored both Bonita and Jack Wrather by making them Disney Legends.

In 1942, Bonita's image was used for a book called Bonita Granville and the Mystery of Star Island. The story was written for young teenagers and was similar to the Nancy Drew adventures.

Filmography

Features

As Producer

Television

As Producer

Radio Appearances

Awards and Nominations

Images for kids

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  Bonita Granville's grave, next to her husband Jack Wrather's, at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California