Coleen Gray

Coleen Gray (originally Doris Jensen) was born on October 23, 1922, and passed away on August 3, 2015. She was best known for her roles in Nightmare Alley (1947), Red River (1948), and Stanley Kubrick's The Killing (1956). Born to Danish parents in Staplehurst, Nebraska, Gray grew up on a farm and subsequently graduated as Doris Jensen from Hutchinson High School. At Hamline University, she studied art, literature, and music, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts. After moving to California, Gray used her theatrical abilities to land leading roles in Los Angeles stage productions. Her performance in Letters to Lucerne and Brief Music won her a 20th Century Fox contract in 1944. Gray worked steadily through the 1950s and made significant contributions to smaller movies and television series. She used her voice and performed live musical numbers while filming. Gray married thrice, produced two children, and was a Republican who supported Barry Goldwater in the 1964 United States presidential elections.