Gloria Grahame

Gloria Grahame Hallward (November 28, 1923 – October 5, 1981) was an American actress. She began her acting career in theater, and in 1944 made her first film for MGM.

Despite a featured role in ''It's a Wonderful Life'' (1946), MGM did not believe she had the potential for major success, and sold her contract to RKO. Often cast in film noir projects, Grahame was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for ''Crossfire'' (1947), and later won the award for her work in ''The Bad and the Beautiful'' (1952). After starring opposite Humphrey Bogart in ''In a Lonely Place'' (1950), she achieved her highest profile with ''Sudden Fear'' (1952), ''The Big Heat'' (1953), ''Human Desire'' (1954), and ''Oklahoma!'' (1955), but her film career began to wane soon afterwards.

Grahame returned to work on the stage, but continued to appear in films and television productions, usually in supporting roles.

In 1974, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. It went into remission less than a year later and Grahame returned to work. In 1980, the cancer returned, but Grahame refused to accept the diagnosis or seek treatment. Choosing instead to continue working, she traveled to the United Kingdom to appear in a play. Her health, however, declined rapidly. She returned to New York City, where she died in October 1981, aged 57. Provided by Wikipedia