Colleen Gray obit

Coleen Gray, Star of ‘Kiss of Death’ and ‘Nightmare Alley,’ Dies at 92

The actress, a favorite of film noir fans, also appeared in 'Red River,' 'The Killing,' 'Kansas City Confidential' and 'The Leech Woman.'

She was not on the list. 

Coleen Gray, the dark-haired beauty who stood out in such film noir thrillers as Kiss of Death, Nightmare Alley and Kansas City Confidential, has died. She was 92.

Gray, who also starred opposite John Wayne in Howard Hawks’ Red River (1948) and played crook Sterling Hayden’s attractive accomplice in Stanley Kubrick’s The Killing (1956), died Monday of natural causes at her home in Bel Air, longtime friend David Schecter told The Hollywood Reporter.

“My last dame is gone. Always had the feeling she’d be the last to go,” Eddie Muller, founder and president of the Film Noir Foundation, wrote on Facebook. They collaborated on his 2001 book, Dark City Dames: The Wicked Women of Film Noir.

Gray was “introduced” to audiences in Henry Hathaway’s Kiss of Death (1947) as Nette, the girlfriend and future wife of ex-con Nick Bianco (Victor Mature), who battles psychopathic killer Tommy Udo (Richard Widmark) in a bid to go straight once and for all.

The Nebraska native then segued to a role as scheming carnival barker Tyrone Power’s aide in Nightmare Alley (1947), then appeared as Wayne’s sweetheart Fen in Red River.

In Kansas City Confidential (1952), Gray portrayed the law-school daughter of a former cop (Preston Foster) who engineers a bank heist by framing a delivery man played by John Payne. (Gray and Payne’s characters fall for each other in the movie, and they were romantically linked offscreen as well.)

Gray also starred in the Frank Capra horse picture Riding High (1950), where her scene with Bing Crosby and Clarence Muse singing “Sunshine Cake” was the favorite film moment of her career.

She played a nurse femme fatale in The Sleeping City (1950) opposite Richard Conte, was manhandled by a creature in The Vampire (1957) and discovered the secret to immortality (but not without consequences) in The Leech Woman (1960).

Gray spent much of the 1960s on television, with guest-starring roles on such shows as Rawhide, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, 77 Sunset Strip, Mister Ed, Perry Mason and Family Affair.

Later, on the NBC drama McCloud, she played the wife of police chief Peter B. Clifford (J.D. Cannon) in a few episodes.

From the 1950s, Gray guest-starred in episodes of television series such as Four Star Playhouse, Maverick, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Perry Mason, Mr. Ed, Tales of Wells Fargo in 1960 in the episode "The Journey" as Sandra Morton, Rawhide in 1962 in the episode "The Devil and the Deep Blue" as Helen Wade, 77 Sunset Strip, Bonanza, The Deputy, Have Gun Will Travel, The Dakotas, Family Affair, Ironside, Lawman, The Name of the Game, Branded, and Tales from the Darkside. On May 23, 1962, she was cast as Miss Wycliffe in the series finale, "A Job for Summer", of the CBS comedy/drama series, Window on Main Street, starring Robert Young as a widowed author in his hometown. She made four guest appearances on Perry Mason, including the title role of defendant Lorraine Kendall in the 1960 episode, "The Case of the Wandering Widow." Gray was a regular on the daytime dramas Bright Promise and Days of Our Lives.

She was born Doris Bernice Jensen on Oct. 23, 1922, in Staplehurst, Neb. At age 7, she and her family moved to Hutchinson, Minn., and she studied drama at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn.

With only $26 to her name, she took a Greyhound bus to Hollywood. She enrolled at USC and then drama school and starred in the play Brief Music. She was seen by an agent and signed with Fox, where she made her movie debut for the studio in State Fair (1945).

In 1949, Gray starred on Broadway in Leaf and Bough with Charlton Heston.

Gray was married three times, the first to screenwriter, producer and future TV director Rod Amateau and the last to biblical scholar Joseph “Fritz” Zeiser, who died in 2012 (they were together for more than 30 years). Survivors include her daughter Susan, son Bruce, stepsons Rick and Steve and several grandchildren.

Gray married Rod Amateau, a screenwriter, on August 10, 1945; they divorced on February 11, 1949, and had one daughter, Susan. Gray's second husband was William Clymer Bidlack, an aviation executive. They were married from July 14, 1953, until his death in 1978. The union produced a son, Bruce Robin Bidlack.

In 1979, Gray married widowed Biblical scholar Joseph Fritz Zeiser; they remained together until his death in March 2012. They worked together in Presbyterian causes and the non-profit organization, Prison Fellowship, founded in 1976 by Chuck Colson.

Gray was a Republican and supported Barry Goldwater in the 1964 United States presidential election. That same year, along with actors Victor Jory and Susan Seaforth, she testified before the United States Congress as part of "Project Prayer", arguing in favor of a constitutional amendment allowing school prayer.

Gray, at age 92, died of natural causes in her Bel Air home in Los Angeles on August 3, 2015.

Actress

Tales from the Darkside (1983)

Tales from the Darkside

7.4

TV Series

Cecilia Matthews

1986

1 episode

 

Cry from the Mountain (1985)

Cry from the Mountain

6.8

Marian Rissman

1985

 

Andrea Elson and Matthew Labyorteaux in Whiz Kids (1983)

Whiz Kids

6.8

TV Series

Judge

1984

1 episode

 

The Best Place to Be (1979)

The Best Place to Be

7.3

TV Movie

Dottie Parker

1979

 

Coleen Gray, Patsy Ruth Miller, and Dallas Hill in Mother (1978)

Mother

6.5

Angela Harding

1978

 

Dennis Weaver in McCloud (1970)

McCloud

6.9

TV Series

Mrs. Clifford

Muriel Clifford

1974–1977

4 episodes

 

Emergency! (1972)

Emergency!

7.9

TV Series

Clair Brightweiser

Mrs. Thompson

1972–1976

2 episodes

 

Raymond Burr and Barbara Sigel in Ironside (1967)

Ironside

6.9

TV Series

Mrs. Glenville

Ann Kingsley

1968–1975

2 episodes

 

The Sixth Sense (1972)

The Sixth Sense

7.1

TV Series

Joyce

1972

1 episode

 

Mike Connors in Mannix (1967)

Mannix

7.4

TV Series

Liz Holt

1971

1 episode

 

Skye Aubrey, Peter Lawford, Harry Morgan, and Stefanie Powers in Ellery Queen: Don't Look Behind You (1971)

Ellery Queen: Don't Look Behind You

5.3

TV Movie

Mrs. Cazalis

1971

 

The Late Liz (1971)

The Late Liz

6.6

Sue Webb

1971

 

The F.B.I. (1965)

The F.B.I.

7.4

TV Series

Mrs. Barth

1971

1 episode

 

The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (1969)

The Bold Ones: The New Doctors

6.9

TV Series

Mary Lynch

1971

1 episode

 

Kent McCord and Martin Milner in Adam-12 (1968)

Adam-12

7.7

TV Series

Mrs. O'Neill

1970

1 episode

 

Bright Promise (1969)

Bright Promise

7.5

TV Series

Dean Ann Boyd Jones

1969–1970

23 episodes

 

The Name of the Game (1968)

The Name of the Game

7.6

TV Series

Sylvia Trager

1969

1 episode

 

Carl Betz and Stephen Young in Judd for the Defense (1967)

Judd for the Defense

7.7

TV Series

Beth Maddox

1968

1 episode

 

Brian Keith, Sebastian Cabot, Kathy Garver, Anissa Jones, and Johnny Whitaker in Family Affair (1966)

Family Affair

7.0

TV Series

Margaret Williams

1968

1 episode

 

Bonanza (1959)

Bonanza

7.3

TV Series

Marcy

1968

1 episode

 

Days of Our Lives (1965)

Days of Our Lives

5.2

TV Series

Diane Hunter

1966–1967

86 episodes

 

George Peppard, Raymond Burr, and Gayle Hunnicutt in P.J. (1967)

P.J.

6.5

Betty Orbison

1967

 

Ben Gazzara in Run for Your Life (1965)

Run for Your Life

7.6

TV Series

Sally Holt

1967

1 episode

 

My Three Sons (1960)

My Three Sons

7.1

TV Series

Natalie Hendricks

Miss Lovett

1965–1967

2 episodes

 

James Drury, Doug McClure, and John McIntire in The Virginian (1962)

The Virginian

7.6

TV Series

Mrs. Marsh

Pearl

1966–1967

2 episodes

 

Raymond Burr in Perry Mason (1957)

Perry Mason

8.3

TV Series

Martha Erskine

Linda Sutton

Olga Jordan ...

1960–1966

4 episodes

 

Chuck Connors in Branded (1965)

Branded

7.4

TV Series

Leslie Gregg

1965

1 episode

 

Dana Andrews and Terry Moore in Town Tamer (1965)

Town Tamer

5.7

Carol Rosser

1965

 

Kraft Suspense Theatre (1963)

Kraft Suspense Theatre

7.7

TV Series

Dorothy Nehf

1964

1 episode

 

Jack Elam, Chad Everett, Michael Greene, and Larry Ward in The Dakotas (1962)

The Dakotas

7.6

TV Series

Jenny Wyman

1963

1 episode

 

Harriet Nelson, David Nelson, Ozzie Nelson, and Ricky Nelson in The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952)

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet

7.4

TV Series

Mrs. Kelley

1963

1 episode

 

Allan Lane, Alan Young, and Mister Ed in Mister Ed (1961)

Mister Ed

6.9

TV Series

Betty Gordon

Ann

1961–1962

2 episodes

 

Edd Byrnes, Roger Smith, and Efrem Zimbalist Jr. in 77 Sunset Strip (1958)

77 Sunset Strip

7.7

TV Series

Justine Mellon

Helen Conley

1961–1962

2 episodes

 

Wide Country (1962)

Wide Country

8.0

TV Series

Gypsy Laveau

1962

1 episode

 

Nick Adams in Saints and Sinners (1962)

Saints and Sinners

5.7

TV Series

Alice Cooper

1962

1 episode

 

Robert Young in Window on Main Street (1961)

Window on Main Street

7.5

TV Series

Miss Wycliffe

1962

1 episode

 

Alfred Hitchcock in Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955)

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

8.5

TV Series

Mrs. Lois Callen

1962

1 episode

 

Clint Eastwood, Paul Brinegar, and Sheb Wooley in Rawhide (1959)

Rawhide

7.9

TV Series

Helen Wade

1962

1 episode

 

Joan Freeman, Marilyn Maxwell, and Rhodes Reason in Bus Stop (1961)

Bus Stop

7.2

TV Series

Karen Howard

Mary Ann

1961

2 episodes

 

The Phantom Planet (1961)

The Phantom Planet

3.8

Liara

1961

 

Have Gun - Will Travel (1957)

Have Gun - Will Travel

8.4

TV Series

Lucy

1961

1 episode

 

Clu Gulager and Barry Sullivan in The Tall Man (1960)

The Tall Man

7.3

TV Series

Edna Henry

1961

1 episode

 

Coronado 9 (1960)

Coronado 9

7.8

TV Series

Ruth Evans

1961

1 episode

 

James Garner and Jack Kelly in Maverick (1957)

Maverick

8.0

TV Series

Greta Blauvelt

1961

1 episode

 

Lawman (1958)

Lawman

8.1

TV Series

Rena Kennedy

1961

1 episode

 

Rod Taylor in Hong Kong (1960)

Hong Kong

8.1

TV Series

Iris Leslie #1

1961

1 episode

 

Shotgun Slade (1959)

Shotgun Slade

6.8

TV Series

Ruby Devers

1960

1 episode

 

Ronald Reagan in General Electric Theater (1953)

General Electric Theater

6.8

TV Series

Jo Parkes

1960

1 episode

 

Insight (1960)

Insight

7.5

TV Series

Jackie

1960

1 episode

 

The Leech Woman (1960)

The Leech Woman

4.8

June Talbot

1960

 

Henry Fonda in The Deputy (1959)

The Deputy

6.9

TV Series

Lucy Willis

1960

1 episode

 

The Magical World of Disney (1954)

The Magical World of Disney

8.4

TV Series

Peggy Minters

1960

1 episode

 

Dale Robertson in Tales of Wells Fargo (1957)

Tales of Wells Fargo

7.9

TV Series

Sandra Morton

1960

1 episode

 

Mike Hammer (1958)

Mike Hammer

8.0

TV Series

Thelma Dutton

1959

1 episode

 

Captain David Grief (1957)

Captain David Grief

6.4

TV Series

Marjorie

1959

1 episode

 

Ray Milland in Markham (1959)

Markham

8.3

TV Series

Louise Ariargua

1959

1 episode

 

Richard Eyer, Coleen Gray, and Stephen McNally in Johnny Rocco (1958)

Johnny Rocco

6.3

Lois Mayfield, Teacher

1958

 

Vic Morrow in Hell's Five Hours (1958)

Hell's Five Hours

5.8

Nancy Brand

1958

 

Playhouse 90 (1956)

Playhouse 90

8.3

TV Series

Carol Dennison

1958

1 episode

 

Coleen Gray and Jeff Morrow in Copper Sky (1957)

Copper Sky

5.4

Nora Hayes

1957

 

John Beal and Coleen Gray in The Vampire (1957)

The Vampire

5.8

Carol Butler

1957

 

Destination 60, 000 (1957)

Destination 60, 000

6.8

Mary Ellen

1957

 

Matinee Theatre (1955)

Matinee Theatre

6.8

TV Series

Clementine Churchill

1957

1 episode

 

Angie Dickinson, Coleen Gray, Hugh Marlowe, and Paul Richards in The Black Whip (1956)

The Black Whip

5.2

Jeannie

1956

 

Yvonne De Carlo, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Nancy Gates, and Coleen Gray in Death of a Scoundrel (1956)

Death of a Scoundrel

6.9

Mrs. Edith Van Renasslear

1956

 

John Bromfield, Jim Davis, Margia Dean, Coleen Gray, and Kent Taylor in Frontier Gambler (1956)

Frontier Gambler

6.0

Sylvia 'The Princess' Melbourne

1956

 

Crusader (1955)

Crusader

7.7

TV Series

Helen Kelway

1956

1 episode

 

Crossroads (1955)

Crossroads

7.6

TV Series

1956

1 episode

 

Sterling Hayden and Marie Windsor in The Killing (1956)

The Killing

7.9

Fay

1956

 

John Agar, Richard Boone, and Mamie Van Doren in Star in the Dust (1956)

Star in the Dust

6.0

Nellie Mason

1956

 

Coleen Gray and Bill Williams in The Wild Dakotas (1956)

The Wild Dakotas

5.9

Sue 'Lucky' Duneen

1956

 

Dan Duryea in Climax! (1954)

Climax!

6.6

TV Series

Amanda Shepard

1956

1 episode

 

Frontier (1955)

Frontier

7.2

TV Series

Ruth

1956

1 episode

 

John Bromfield and Maxie Rosenbloom in Damon Runyon Theater (1955)

Damon Runyon Theater

7.9

TV Series

Linda

1955

1 episode

 

Mickey Rooney in The Twinkle in God's Eye (1955)

The Twinkle in God's Eye

5.9

Laura

1955

 

Ronald Reagan, Rhonda Fleming, Coleen Gray, and John Payne in Tennessee's Partner (1955)

Tennessee's Partner

6.4

Goldie Slater

1955

 

Coleen Gray and Dennis O'Keefe in Las Vegas Shakedown (1955)

Las Vegas Shakedown

5.8

Julian L. 'Julie Rae' Rae

1955

 

Frank McHugh and Marvin Miller in The Millionaire (1955)

The Millionaire

7.8

TV Series

Jean Smith Fortune

1955

1 episode

 

Four Star Playhouse (1952)

Four Star Playhouse

7.6

TV Series

Lisa

1955

1 episode

 

Marcia Henderson and Peter Lawford in Dear Phoebe (1954)

Dear Phoebe

7.0

TV Series

Louise Claremont

1955

1 episode

 

Sterling Hayden and Coleen Gray in Arrow in the Dust (1954)

Arrow in the Dust

5.6

Christella Burke

1954

 

The Ford Television Theatre (1952)

The Ford Television Theatre

7.4

TV Series

Sally

1953

1 episode

 

Leon Ames, Richard Arlen, Julie Bishop, Coleen Gray, and Robert Stack in Sabre Jet (1953)

Sabre Jet

5.3

Mrs. Gil Manton aka Jane Carter

1953

 

Coleen Gray and Dennis O'Keefe in The Fake (1953)

The Fake

6.1

Mary Mason

1953

 

Jan Sterling, Lyle Bettger, Coleen Gray, and John Payne in The Vanquished (1953)

The Vanquished

5.6

Jane Colfax

1953

 

Hal Baylor, Hans Conried, and Chuck Hicks in Schlitz Playhouse (1951)

Schlitz Playhouse

7.6

TV Series

Isabel Ford

Maria Tasnady

1951–1952

2 episodes

 

Coleen Gray and John Payne in Kansas City Confidential (1952)

Kansas City Confidential

7.3

Helen Foster

1952

 

The Unexpected

7.8

TV Series

1952

1 episode

 

Howard Duff and Coleen Gray in Models Inc. (1952)

Models Inc.

6.2

Rusty Faraday

1952

 

Celanese Theatre (1951)

Celanese Theatre

6.9

TV Series

Rose Maurrant

1952

1 episode

 

Faith Baldwin Romance Theatre

TV Series

1951

1 episode

 

Armstrong Circle Theatre (1950)

Armstrong Circle Theatre

7.7

TV Series

1951

1 episode

 

Lux Video Theatre (1950)

Lux Video Theatre

7.5

TV Series

Blanche

1951

1 episode

 

Coleen Gray and Stephen McNally in Apache Drums (1951)

Apache Drums

6.5

Sally

1951

 

Danger (1950)

Danger

7.5

TV Series

1951

1 episode

 

Starlight Theatre (1950)

Starlight Theatre

6.9

TV Series

1951

1 episode

 

Lucky Nick Cain (1951)

Lucky Nick Cain

5.9

Kay Wonderly

1951

 

Pulitzer Prize Playhouse (1950)

Pulitzer Prize Playhouse

7.1

TV Series

1950

1 episode

 

Richard Conte and Coleen Gray in The Sleeping City (1950)

The Sleeping City

6.7

Ann Sebastian

1950

 

Bing Crosby and Coleen Gray in Riding High (1950)

Riding High

6.2

Alice Higgins

1950

 

William Holden, Coleen Gray, and Mary Jane Saunders in Father Is a Bachelor (1950)

Father Is a Bachelor

6.7

Prudence Millett

1950

 

Rory Calhoun, Coleen Gray, and Mark Stevens in Sand (1949)

Sand

5.6

Joan Hartley

1949

 

John Wayne, Montgomery Clift, and Joanne Dru in Red River (1948)

Red River

7.8

Fen (as Colleen Gray)

1948

 

Victor Mature in Fury at Furnace Creek (1948)

Fury at Furnace Creek

6.8

Molly Baxter

1948

 

Tyrone Power, Joan Blondell, Coleen Gray, and Helen Walker in Nightmare Alley (1947)

Nightmare Alley

7.7

Molly

1947

 

Kiss of Death (1947)

Kiss of Death

7.4

Nettie Cavallo

1947

 

Betty Grable and Dick Haymes in The Shocking Miss Pilgrim (1947)

The Shocking Miss Pilgrim

6.4

Minor Role (scenes deleted)

1947

 

Celeste Holm, Vivian Blaine, and June Haver in Three Little Girls in Blue (1946)

Three Little Girls in Blue

6.4

Girl at the Beach (uncredited)

1946

 

Dana Andrews, Jeanne Crain, Fay Bainter, Vivian Blaine, Dick Haymes, and Charles Winninger in State Fair (1945)

State Fair

7.0

Pappy's Girlfriend (uncredited)

1945

 

Soundtrack

Jack Elam, Chad Everett, Michael Greene, and Larry Ward in The Dakotas (1962)

The Dakotas

7.6

TV Series

performer: "Beautiful Dreamer" (uncredited)

1963

1 episode

 

Bing Crosby and Coleen Gray in Riding High (1950)

Riding High

6.2

performer: "Sunshine Cake" (1950), "De Camptown Races" (1850) (uncredited)

1950