Laraine Day facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Laraine Day
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Day in the 1940s
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| Born |
La Raine Johnson
October 13, 1920 Roosevelt, Utah, U.S.
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| Died | November 10, 2007 (aged 87) Ivins, Utah, U.S.
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| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park |
| Other names | Laraine Johnson |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1937–1986 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) |
Ray Hendricks
(m. 1942; div. 1947)Michael Grilikhes
(m. 1961; died 2007) |
| Children | 2 |
Laraine Day (born La Raine Johnson, October 13, 1920 – November 10, 2007) was an American actress. She was a popular star who worked for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) studios. She acted alongside famous movie stars like Robert Mitchum, Cary Grant, and John Wayne.
Laraine Day also hosted radio and television shows. She wrote two books as well. Because she was married to baseball manager Leo Durocher, she was often called the "First Lady of Baseball." Some of her most famous films include Foreign Correspondent, Mr. Lucky, and the Dr. Kildare movie series.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Laraine Day was born La Raine Johnson in Roosevelt, Utah, on October 13, 1920. She was one of eight children in her family. Her family was part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her father, Clarence Irwin Johnson, was a grain dealer. He also worked as an interpreter for the Ute Indian tribes. Laraine had a twin brother named Lamar.
Later, her family moved to California. There, she started her acting journey with the Long Beach Players. Her friend and future co-star Robert Mitchum was also part of this group. She went to George Washington Junior High School. In 1938, she graduated from Polytechnic High School in Long Beach, California.
Acting Career Highlights
Laraine Day was discovered by a talent scout while performing with the Long Beach Players. She first signed a contract with Goldwyn studios. Her first movie role was a small part in Stella Dallas in 1937. However, her contract was soon canceled because they thought she "lacked talent."
But Laraine didn't give up! Soon after, she got lead roles in several Western movies at RKO Pictures. In these films, she was known as Laraine Johnson. In 1938, she changed her name to "Laraine Day." This was to honor Elias Day, her playhouse manager, who had taught her a lot. She also helped create a playhouse in Los Angeles for Mormon actors.
Becoming Nurse Mary Lamont
In 1939, Laraine Day signed with MGM studios. She became very popular as Nurse Mary Lamont. This was the main character's love interest in a series of seven Dr. Kildare movies. The first movie was Calling Dr. Kildare (1939), where she starred with Lew Ayres.
Laraine also took on exciting roles for other studios. She had a big supporting part in the Irish movie My Son, My Son! (1940). She also starred in the thrilling movie Foreign Correspondent (1940) with Joel McCrea. Another notable film was the mystery The Locket (1946) with Robert Mitchum.
In 1941, she was named the number one "star of tomorrow" in Hollywood. That same year, she was Ronald Reagan's co-star in the Western comedy The Bad Man. She also made her stage debut in the play Angel Street with Gregory Peck.
Radio and Television Work
Laraine Day left MGM in May 1946. She then signed a contract with RKO. This contract meant she would make one movie a year for five years. She would earn $100,000 for each film. Throughout her career, she acted with many major stars, including Lana Turner, Cary Grant, and John Wayne. In the 1940s, she appeared on radio shows like Lux Radio Theatre.
In May 1951, she started hosting her own television show. It was called Daydreaming with Laraine or The Laraine Day Show. In 1952, she hosted an interview series on New York radio station WMGM. These interviews covered topics like politics, entertainment, and sports. She also performed on stage in plays like Lost Horizon.
Personal Life and Family
Laraine Day's first marriage was to James Ray Hendricks in 1942. He was a singer who became an airport executive. They adopted three children: Christopher, Angela, and Michelle. Laraine and James divorced in 1947.
On January 21, 1947, Laraine married baseball manager Leo Durocher. There was a legal issue with their first marriage date. So, they remarried on February 16, 1948, in Santa Monica, California. After they moved to New York, Laraine read many books about baseball. She wanted to understand the game better.
In 1951, she was the first woman honored by the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers Association. During her marriage to Durocher, she was often called the "First Lady of Baseball." She wrote a book called Day With the Giants (1952). She also hosted a TV show called Day With the Giants before New York Giants home games. Laraine and Leo divorced in June 1960.
On March 7, 1961, Laraine Day married television producer Michael Grilikhes. They had two daughters, Dana Laraine (born 1962) and Gigi (born 1964).
Faith and Beliefs
Laraine Day was a member of the LDS Church. She lived by her faith throughout her life. She never swore, smoked, or drank coffee or tea. She kept her Mormon faith until she passed away in 2007. She said her faith brought her "comfort in a confusing world." In 1961, she appeared with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in a special program called Let Freedom Ring.
Political Views
Laraine Day was a strong supporter of the Republican Party. She openly supported Richard Nixon. She met him at the 1968 Republican National Convention. She also supported Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1952. Her longtime friend and former co-star Ronald Reagan was also someone she supported. She backed him in the 1980 and 1984 presidential elections. She admired the Reagans, saying Ronald Reagan made her "proud to be an American."
Later Years and Passing
In October 1960, Laraine Day took part in a campaign event for Nixon in Los Angeles. Other stars like Ginger Rogers and Mary Pickford were also there. In the 1970s, she became a spokesperson for the Make America Better campaign. She traveled across the country to share her ideas on environmental issues. In 1971, she wrote a book called The America We Love.
Laraine Day moved back to her home state of Utah in March 2007. This was after her third husband passed away. She died at her daughter Gigi Bell's home in Ivins, Utah, on November 10, 2007. She was 87 years old. Her body was taken back to California. A memorial service was held for her at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills.
Legacy and Recognition
During World War II, the Royal Canadian Air Force 427 Lion Squadron was "adopted" by MGM. Many of their planes had names or art honoring MGM's stars. A bomber plane, "Yehudi" DK226 ZL Y, carried Laraine Day's name into battle over Germany. For her contributions to the movie industry, Laraine Day has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. You can find it at 6676 Hollywood Blvd.
Images for kids
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Laraine Day in the 1940s
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Laraine Day in Foreign Correspondent (1940)
See also
In Spanish: Laraine Day para niños
