Compton, Betty (1907–1944)
Compton, Betty (1907–1944)
English-born musical-comedy actress. Born Violet Halling Compton, 1907, on the Isle of Wight, England; died July 12, 1944, in New York, NY; raised in Canada; m. James J. Walker (mayor of NY, div. 1941); m. Theodore Knappen (consulting engineer); children: (adopted) Mary Ann Walker, James J. Walker.
Made professional debut in Abie's Irish Rose; as one of NY's most popular musical-comedy stars, appeared in Americana, Oh Kay, Hold Everything, Funny Face, partnering Fred Astaire, and Fifty Million Frenchman, among others; probably best known for her romance with Jimmy Walker, the popular married mayor of NY; followed him when he moved to England because of a tax scandal, where she filmed The Richest Girl in the World (1935); was portrayed by Anita Gillette in the stage musical Jimmy (1969).