Ralston, Vera Hruba (1921–2003)

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Ralston, Vera Hruba (1921–2003)

Czech-born actress and figure skater. Name variations: Vera Hruba. Born Vera Hruba, June 12, 1921, in Prague, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic); died Feb 9, 2003, in Santa Barbara, CA; m. Herbert J. Yates (head of Republic Pictures), 1952 (died 1966); m. Charles de Alva, 1973.

At 10, took up figure skating, eventually winning local championships, then competed against Sonja Henie in Olympics (1936); brought to US by Herbert Yates, head of Republic Pictures, was featured in Ice Capades (1941), then Ice Capades Revue (1942); other Republic films include The Lady and the Monster, Lake Placid Serenade, Storm over Lisbon, I Jane Doe, Dakota, The Fighting Kentuckian, The Plainsman and the Lady and Fair Wind to Java; retired from the screen at the demise of Republic (1958).