Betsy Drake
An actress and writer who traded Hollywood glamour for a profound second act as a dedicated psychotherapist.
1923–2015 (age 92)·American actress, writer, and psychotherapist·Birthday: September 11·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Betsy Drake brought a wry, intellectual warmth to the screen, but her most compelling role was the one she wrote for herself off of it. Discovered by a talent scout while working as a model in New York, she signed with RKO and made her film debut opposite Cary Grant, whom she would later marry. Her screen presence was natural and appealing, seen in films like 'Every Girl Should Be Married' and 'Dancing in the Dark.' Dissatisfied with the Hollywood system, she turned to writing, authoring a novel and studying psychology. Her marriage to Grant, which lasted 13 years, was deeply influenced by their mutual interest in LSD psychotherapy and self-exploration. After their divorce and a retreat from acting, she earned a master's degree and built a decades-long career as a psychotherapist in London, working primarily with children. She lived a notably private life, finding deeper fulfillment in helping others than in the glare of the spotlight.
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
2015Died at 92
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
Key Achievements
- Wrote the screenplay for the film 'The Second Woman,' which was based on her own novel.
- Earned a Master's degree in Human Development from Harvard University and practiced as a licensed psychotherapist.
- Starred in over a dozen films during the 1940s and 1950s, often playing clever, independent women.
Did You Know?
She survived the 1956 sinking of the Italian ocean liner SS Andrea Doria.
She introduced Cary Grant to LSD therapy under psychiatric supervision, which he credited with helping him emotionally.
She refused to play the role of Sister Margaretta in 'The Sound of Music,' a part that later went to Anna Lee.
“I never really wanted to be an actress. I fell into it.”
