Blair, Betsy (1923–)

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Blair, Betsy (1923–)

American actress who won an Oscar for her role in Marty. Born Betsy Boger on December 11, 1923, in New York City; married Gene Kelly, 1947 (divorced, 1957); married Karel Reisz, in 1963 (divorced 1969); married a third time to a physician.

Filmography:

The Guilt of Janet Ames (1947); A Double Life (1948); Another Part of the Forest (1948); The Snake Pit (1948); Mystery Street (1950); Kind Lady (1951); Marty (1955); Calle Mayor/ The Lovemaker (Sp., 1956) Il Grido/ The Outcry (It., 1957); The Halliday Brand (1957); I Delfini/ The Dauphins (It., 1960); Senilita (It., 1961); All Night Long (UK, 1962); Mazel Tov ou le Mariage/ Marry Me! Marry Me! (Fr., 1968); A Delicate Balance (1973); Descente Aux Enfers (1986); Betrayed (1988).

Following a stage career, Betsy Blair made her first film in 1947 and subsequently went on to win acclaim for playing drab and unhappy women. Although she was usually a supporting player, her lead role in the 1955 film Marty won an Oscar and the Cannes Festival Award, both for Best Actress. Her later work was done in Europe, notably Bardem's The Lovemaker and Antonioni's The Outcry. Blair made few appearances during her marriage to director Karel Reisz in 1963. After their divorce, she married a third time and settled in London.

Barbara Morgan , Melrose, Massachusetts

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