Betsy Blair
An actress of quiet conviction, she won a Cannes award for her poignant performance and stood by Gene Kelly against Hollywood blacklist pressure.
1923–2009 (age 86)·American actress·Birthday: December 11·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Betsy Blair's life was a narrative of artistic integrity and personal courage. Born in New Jersey, she began as a dancer before catching the eye of MGM. Her early film roles were small, but her life changed when she married star dancer Gene Kelly. Her career, however, was nearly derailed by her leftist political views during the McCarthy era. Studio pressure forced Kelly to choose between his wife and his contract; he refused to leave her, and they moved to Europe. There, Blair's talent finally found its perfect vehicle in 'Marty' (1955). Her tender, unaffected performance as Clara, the lonely schoolteacher, earned her the Best Actress award at Cannes and an Oscar nomination. Though her Hollywood career never fully recovered from the blacklist, she built a respected life on the stage in London and New York, her work always marked by a profound naturalism and emotional honesty.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Betsy was born in 1923, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Betsy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1923
#1 Movie
The Covered Wagon
Betsy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1923Born
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1928Started school
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1936Became a teenager
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1939Could drive
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1941Could vote
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1944Turned 21
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1953Turned 30
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1963Turned 40
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1973Turned 50
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 60
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 70
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 80
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2009Died at 86
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
Key Achievements
- Won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for her role as Clara in 'Marty' (1955).
- Received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for 'Marty'.
- Maintained a successful stage career in London's West End and on Broadway after being blacklisted in Hollywood.
- Appeared in notable European films such as 'Il Bidone' (Federico Fellini's 'The Swindle').
Did You Know?
She married Gene Kelly in 1941 when she was 18 and he was 28; they divorced in 1957.
Blair was blacklisted in Hollywood due to her political affiliations and support for left-wing causes.
She lived in London for over 30 years, becoming a fixture in the British theatre scene.
Her autobiography, 'The Memory of All That', details her life with Gene Kelly and her experiences with the Hollywood blacklist.
“I was blacklisted because I was a member of the Communist Party. I have no regrets about that.”
