Biography

Betsy Blair -December 11, 1923 – March 13, 2009) was an American actress of film and stage, long based in London. Blair pursued a career in entertainment from the age of eight, and as a child worked as an amateur dancer, performed on radio, and worked as a model, before joining the chorus of Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe in 1940. There she met Gene Kelly. They were married the following year, when she was seventeen years old. The couple divorced sixteen years later, in 1957. After work in the theatre, Blair began her film career playing supporting roles in films such as A Double Life (1947) and Another Part of the Forest (1948). Her interest in Marxism led to an investigation by the House Un-American Activities Committee and Blair was blacklisted for some time, but resumed her career with a critically acclaimed performance in Marty (1955), winning a BAFTA Award and a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She continued her career with regular theatre, film and television work until the mid 1990s.

Photos

Filmography

View Great Performances
Great Performances

Great Performances

1971Series
5.8
View BBC Play of the Month
BBC Play of the Month

BBC Play of the Month

1965Series
5.0
View Tales of the Unexpected
Tales of the Unexpected

Tales of the Unexpected

1979Series
6.7
View The Philco Television Playhouse
The Philco Television Playhouse

The Philco Television Playhouse

1948Series
6.3
View thirtysomething
thirtysomething

thirtysomething

1987Series
6.3
View Scarlett
Scarlett

Scarlett

1994Series
6.6
View Marty
Marty

Marty

1955Film
7.4
View No Way Out
No Way Out

No Way Out

1950Film
6.9
View A Double Life
A Double Life

A Double Life

1947Film
6.3
View The Snake Pit
The Snake Pit

The Snake Pit

1948Film
7.1
View Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There

Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There

2003Film
7.0
View Betrayed
Betrayed

Betrayed

1988Film
6.1