Kathryn Crosby, actor and widow of famed singer and Oscar-winning actor Bing Crosby, dies at 90
Kathryn met legendary singer and Oscar-winning actor Bing Crosby during interviews for a column she wrote about Hollywood. They married in 1957 when she was 23 and he was 54.
Kathryn Crosby, known for her roles in classic films such as The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, Anatomy of a Murder, and Operation Mad Ball, has passed away at the age of 90. She died of natural causes on Friday night at her home in Hillsborough, California, as confirmed by a family spokesperson.
Born Olive Kathryn Grandstaff on November 25, 1933, in West Columbia, Texas, she graduated from the University of Texas with a fine arts degree and began her acting career in Hollywood in 1953.
Under the stage name Kathryn Grant, she starred alongside notable actors including Tony Curtis in Mister Cory and Jack Lemmon in Operation Mad Ball. She worked frequently with film noir director Phil Karlson in films like Tight Spot and The Phenix City Story.
Kathryn met legendary singer and Oscar-winning actor Bing Crosby during interviews for a column she wrote about Hollywood. They married in 1957 when she was 23 and he was 54.
After their marriage, she reduced her acting appearances but frequently appeared with Crosby and their three children in Christmas specials and commercials.
In addition to her film work, Kathryn became a registered nurse in 1963 and later hosted a morning talk show on KPIX-TV in Northern California.
Following Bing Crosby's death in 1977, she returned to the stage, performing in productions like Same Time, Next Year and the Broadway revival of State Fair in 1996.
Kathryn is survived by her children: Harry, Mary—known for her role in the TV show Dallas—and Nathaniel, a successful amateur golfer. She was previously married to Maurice Sullivan, who tragically died in a car accident in 2010.
