Betsy Blair (December 11, 1923 – March 13, 2009) was an American actress of film and stage, long based in London.
Born as Elizabeth Winifred Boger, 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 17 years old; they divorced 16 years later in 1957.
Death of Batsy Blair
Batsy Blair died in London after a bout with cancer. Batsh Blair was 85 years old at the time of her death. She is survived by a daughter, three stepchildren and several grandchildren.
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.
Batsy Blair as Clara – "Marty" with Ernest Borgnine
(Ernest Borgnine is still alive)