Hutton, Betty (1921–)

American actress and singer. Born Betty June Thornburg, Feb 26, 1921, in Battle Creek, Michigan; sister of singer Marion Hutton (b. 1919); m. Theodore Briskin (camera manufacturer), Sept 2, 1945 (div. 1950); m. Charles O'Curran (choreographer), 1952 (div. 1955); m. Alan W. Livingston (Capital Records executive), 1955 (div. 1960); m. Peter Candoli (musician), Dec 24, 1960 (div. 1971); children: (1st m.) Lindsay Diane Briskin (b. 1946) and Candice Briskin; (4th m.) Carolyn Candoli.

At one time Paramount's most valuable star, possessed true comedic talent; at 13, won a contest to sing with Vincent Lopez band; stayed with band for several years, perfecting her "whoop-and-holler" style; made Broadway debut in revue Two for the Show, followed by Panama Hattie (both 1940); made film debut in The Fleet's In (1942), in which her mile-a-minute rendition of "Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing in a Hurry" brought her immediate visibility; had 1st non-singing role in comedy The Miracle of Morgan's Creek; portrayed Texas Guinan in Incendiary Blonde (1945), introducing 2 songs, "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" and "It Had To Be You"; portrayed serial star Pearl White in The Perils of Pauline (1947); signed with Capitol Records (1943) and made numerous hit recordings; during WWII, traveled with a USO in Pacific (1945); appeared as Annie Oakley in blockbuster film of Annie Get Your Gun (1949); followed that with The Greatest Show on Earth (1952); walked out on Paramount contract and career came to a halt; starred in ill-fated tv series "Goldie" (1959); addicted to pills and alcohol, filed for bankruptcy (1967); took a job as housekeeper for a priest in Portsmouth, RI (1974); returned to Broadway for a successful 3-week replacement stint as Miss Hartigan in Annie (1980); joined faculty at Salve Regina College in Newport, teaching film and tv; other films include And the Angels Sing (1944), Here Come the Waves (1944) and Spring Reunion (1957).

See also Women in World History.