Ella Raines facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ella Raines
Circa 1940
Born	Ella Wallace Raines (1920-08-06)August 6, 1920 Snoqualmie Falls, Washington, U.S.
Died	May 30, 1988(1988-05-30) (aged 67) Sherman Oaks, California, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Washington
Years active	1943–57, 1984
Spouse(s)	Kenneth Trout ​ ​ (m. 1942; div. 1945)​ Robin Olds ​ ​ (m. 1947; div. 1976)​
Children	2

Ella Wallace Raines (born August 6, 1920 – died May 30, 1988) was an American actress. She starred in movies and television shows from the early 1940s to the mid-1950s. People often described her as charming and talented. She had green eyes and appeared in many different types of films, including crime movies, film noir (a style of dark and moody crime film), dramas, comedies, and Westerns.

Ella Raines worked with many famous actors like John Wayne, Charles Laughton, and Burt Lancaster. When she had fewer movie roles, she started acting on television. She was married to Robin Olds, a famous fighter pilot from World War II who later became a general.

Ella Raines was also a popular pin-up girl. Her pictures appeared in Yank magazine in 1944. She was on the cover of Life magazine twice. The first time was in 1944 for her movie Phantom Lady, and again in 1947 for Brute Force.

Early life and career beginnings

Ella Wallace Raines was born on August 6, 1920, in Snoqualmie Falls, Washington. She studied acting at the University of Washington. While performing in a play there, she was discovered by a director named Howard Hawks.

In 1943, Howard Hawks and actor Charles Boyer started a new movie company called B-H Productions. Ella Raines became their only contract star, which means she was the main actress they hired. She quickly became famous in Hollywood. Her first movie was Corvette K-225 (1943), which Howard Hawks produced.

Acting career highlights

Film roles

Raines on the cover of Life magazine (February 28, 1944)

After her first movie, Corvette K-225, Ella Raines starred in Cry "Havoc" (1943), a war film with an all-female cast. In 1944, she had a very busy year. She starred in the crime film Phantom Lady and the comedy Hail the Conquering Hero. She also appeared in the John Wayne Western movie Tall in the Saddle.

Later in 1944, she acted in The Suspect with Charles Laughton. She then starred in other exciting films. These included the romantic suspense movie The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry (1945) and the thriller The Web (1947). She also appeared in the prison drama Brute Force (1947) with Burt Lancaster. Many people consider some of these movies to be part of the film noir style.

In 1947, she also starred in the comedy The Senator Was Indiscreet with William Powell. After these successful films, her movie career started to slow down. Her last film role was in a British thriller called The Man in the Road in 1956. She mostly stopped acting after that, except for one television appearance later in life.

Television appearances

In 1954 and 1955, Ella Raines starred in a television series called Janet Dean, Registered Nurse. She also appeared in other TV shows. These included Robert Montgomery Presents, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Presents, and Lights Out.

After almost 30 years away from acting, Ella Raines made her final appearance. She had a guest role in the crime drama series Matt Houston in 1984.

Personal life

Pin-up photo of Raines for the Aug. 17, 1945 issue of Yank, the Army Weekly

On August 11, 1942, Ella Raines married her high school boyfriend, Kenneth William Trout. He was a Major in the United States Army Air Forces. They divorced on December 18, 1945.

On February 6, 1947, Raines married Robin Olds. He was a famous fighter pilot from World War II. He later became a general in the United States Air Force. He also served as the leader of the United States Air Force Academy from 1967 to 1971. Ella and Robin had two daughters, Christina and Susan. They separated in 1975 and divorced in 1976.

Ella Raines was known for valuing her family and home life. She once said that even though Hollywood offered great rewards, she wanted to make sure they never changed the important things in her life, like her love for her husband, family, and home.

She admired actor John Wayne and was married to a war hero. She was a Republican and supported presidents like Dwight Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan.

Ella Raines passed away from throat cancer in Sherman Oaks, California in 1988. She was 67 years old.

Legacy

Ella Raines has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. One is for her work in movies, located at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard. The other is for her contributions to television, at 6600 Hollywood Boulevard.

Filmography

Raines and Alan Curtis in Phantom Lady (1944)

Raines and Charles Laughton in The Suspect (1944)

Raines and Brian Donlevy in Impact (1949)

See also

In Spanish: Ella Raines para niños