Greer, Jane (1924–2001)

views updated

Greer, Jane (1924–2001)

American actress and singer. Name variations: Bettejane Greer. Born Bettejane Greer, Sept 9, 1924, in Washington DC; died Aug 24, 2001, in Los Angeles, California; m. Rudy Vallee (crooner), 1943 (div. 1944); m. Edward Lasker, 1947 (div, 1963); children: 3 sons, including Alex (writer) and Lawrence Lasker (producer).

Began career singing with big bands, most notably Enric Madriguera's orchestra in the Latin Club Del Rio in Washington, DC; sang on radio; made film debut as Bettejane Greer in Two O'Clock Courage (1945), then as Jane Greer in Howard Hughes's Dick Tracy (1945); other films include the film noir classic Out of the Past, as well as The Falcon's Alibi, The Big Steal, They Won't Believe Me, The Prisoner of Zenda, The Clown, Run for the Sun, The Man of a Thousand Faces and Against All Odds.

More From encyclopedia.com