Vivian Austin

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
Spouse(s)Glenn Austin
Kenneth A. Grow

Early years

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

Career

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

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

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.

Death

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.

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1938The Goldwyn Follies'Gorgeous' Goldwyn GirlUncredited
1938Love, Honor and BehaveParty GuestUncredited
1938Men Are Such FoolsNancy Sinclair
1940Adventures of Red RyderBeth AndrewsSerial
1940Manhattan HeartbeatYoung GirlUncredited
1942Yankee Doodle DandyPianistUncredited
1943Fired WifeDivorceeUncredited
1943Moonlight in VermontBrenda Allenby
1944Sing a JingleAnn
1944Ladies CourageousUncredited
1944Hi, Good Lookin'!Phyllis
1944Moon Over Las VegasGrace Towers
1944Cobra WomanHandmaidenUncredited
1944Boss of BoomtownDale Starr
1944Twilight on the PrairieSally Barton
1944Trigger TrailAnn Cattlet
1944The Singing SheriffShowgirlUncredited
1944DestinyPhyllis Prager
1944Night Club GirlPhyllis Prager
1945Night Club GirlEleanor Kendall
1945She Gets Her ManMaybelle Clark
1945Honeymoon AheadRosita
1945Men in Her DiaryLinda
1947Born to SpeedToni Bradley
1947Philo Vance's GambleLaurian March
1947Philo Vance ReturnsLorena Blendon Simms
1947StepchildMillie Lynne
1947T-MenGenevieveUncredited, (final film role)

References
  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. "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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