Vivian Austin (born Irene Vivian Coe, February 23, 1920 – August 1, 2004) was an American actress who appeared in a number of films in the late 1930s and early 1940s, although most were B movies.

Vivian Austin
Pin-up photo of Vivian Austin for Yank, the Army Weekly
Born
Irene Vivian Coe

February 23, 1920
Hollywood, California
DiedAugust 1, 2004 (aged 84)
Los Angeles, California
NationalityAmerican
Other namesTerry Austin
OccupationActress
Spouses
Glenn Austin
(m. 1937; died 1967)
Kenneth A. Grow
(died 1993)

Early years

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Austin was born Irene Vivian Coe in Hollywood, California, and attended Hollywood High School. She was named Miss Hollywood in 1939.[1]

Career

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Austin played a variety of bit parts (as well as extra and stunt work) in movies before being cast as the female romantic lead in The Adventures of Red Ryder (1940).[2] She was signed to a stock contract in 1943 by Universal and as Vivian Austin (for Universal) or Terry Austin (under contract to Eagle-Lion Films) appeared in movies such as Destiny (1944), Trigger Trail (1944), Born To Speed (1947) and Philo Vance Returns (1947). Her career was cut short in the late 1940s by kidney failure and resultant blindness.[3]

Later years

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After her retirement, Austin helped Jane Russell to found the World Adoption International Fund (WAIF) and herself founded the Braille Auxiliary of the Desert, an organisation to support the charitable activities of the Braille Institute. In 1996 she lived in Palm Springs, California.[4]

Personal life

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Austin married millionaire auto dealer Glenn Austin (d. 1967) when she was 17.[5] She later wed ophthalmic surgeon Kenneth A. Grow (d. 1993), who had operated on her and helped to improve her sight.[citation needed]

Death

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On August 1, 2004, Austin died from natural causes in a hospital in Los Angeles, California.[3] Because Grow had served in the United States Army, she and he are interred at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California.[citation needed]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1938 The Goldwyn Follies 'Gorgeous' Goldwyn Girl Uncredited
1938 Love, Honor and Behave Party Guest Uncredited
1938 Men Are Such Fools Nancy Sinclair
1940 Adventures of Red Ryder Beth Andrews Serial
1940 Manhattan Heartbeat Young Girl Uncredited
1942 Yankee Doodle Dandy Pianist Uncredited
1943 Fired Wife Divorcee Uncredited
1943 Moonlight in Vermont Brenda Allenby
1944 Sing a Jingle Ann
1944 Ladies Courageous Uncredited
1944 Hi, Good Lookin'! Phyllis
1944 Moon Over Las Vegas Grace Towers
1944 Cobra Woman Handmaiden Uncredited
1944 Boss of Boomtown Dale Starr
1944 Twilight on the Prairie Sally Barton
1944 Trigger Trail Ann Cattlet
1944 The Singing Sheriff Showgirl Uncredited
1944 Destiny Phyllis Prager
1944 Night Club Girl Phyllis Prager
1945 Night Club Girl Eleanor Kendall
1945 She Gets Her Man Maybelle Clark
1945 Honeymoon Ahead Rosita
1945 Men in Her Diary Linda
1947 Born to Speed Toni Bradley
1947 Philo Vance's Gamble Laurian March
1947 Philo Vance Returns Lorena Blendon Simms
1947 Stepchild Millie Lynne
1947 T-Men Genevieve Uncredited, (final film role)

References

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  1. ^ "Miss Hollywood". The Bakersfield Californian. California, Bakersfield. United Press. September 21, 1939. p. 4. Retrieved February 1, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.  
  2. ^ "An Interview with Vivian Austin". Western Clippings. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Vivian Grow, 84; Pageant Winner Was B-Movie Actress". Los Angeles Times. 12 August 2004. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  4. ^ Meeks, Eric G. (2012). Palm Springs Celebrity Homes: Little Tuscany, Racquet Club, Racquet Club Estates and Desert Park Estates Neighborhoods (Kindle). Horatio Limburger Oglethorpe. p. location number 318. ASIN B00A2PXD1G.
  5. ^ Magers, Boyd; Fitzgerald, Michael G. (2004). Westerns Women: Interviews with 50 Leading Ladies of Movie and Television Westerns from the 1930s to the 1960s. McFarland. pp. 24–27. ISBN 9780786420285. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
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