Granville, Bonita (1923–1988)

American actress and producer. Name variations: Bonita Granville Wrather; (nickname) Bunny. Born on February 2, 1923, in New York City; died of cancer on October 11, 1988; buried in Holy Cross Cemetery; married Jack Wrather, in 1947 (died 1984); children: Molly Wrather ; Linda Wrather ; Jack Wrather; Christopher Wrather.

Filmography:

Westward Passage (1932); Silver Dollar (1932); Cavalcade (1933); Ah, Wilderness (1935); Maid of Salem (1936); Plough and the Stars (1936); Garden of Allah (1936); These Three (1936); Quality Street (1937); Call It a Day (1937); It's Love I'm After (1937); Merrily We Live (1938); My Bill (1938); Beloved Brat (1938); White Banners (1938); Nancy Drew, Detective (1938); Nancy Drew, Troubleshooter (1939); Nancy Drew, Reporter (1939); Angels Wash Their Faces (1939); Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (1939); Forty Little Mothers (1940); Third Finger, Left Hand (1940); The Mortal Storm (1940); Those Were the Days (1940); Escape (1940); Gallant Sons (1940); Down in San Diego (1941); The People vs. Dr. Kildare (1941); H.M. Pulham, Esq. (1941); Syncopation (1941); The Glass Key (1941); Now Voyager (1942); Andy Hardy's Double Life (1942); Seven Miles from Alcatraz (1942); Hitler's Children (1943); Song of the Open Road (1944); Youth Runs Wild (1944); Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble (1944); The Beautiful Cheat (1945); Suspense (1946); The Truth about Murder (1946); Breakfast in Hollywood (1946); Love Laughs at Andy Hardy (1946); The Guilty (1947); Strike It Rich (1948); Guilty of Treason (1950); The Lone Ranger (1956).

As producer:

"Lassie" (TV-series on CBS, 1954–71, syndicated 1971–74) and The Magic of Lassie (feature film starring James Stewart and Alice Faye, 1978).

Bonita Granville was born in New York City on February 2, 1923, into an acting family. By age nine, she made her film debut in Westward Passage. In 1936, at age thirteen, she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her work as the spiteful schoolgirl in These Three, starring Miriam Hopkins and Merle Oberon , and based on the play by Lillian Hellman . It was the first time an Academy Award was given in this category and the Oscar went to Gale Sondergaard for her performance in Anthony Adverse. But Granville is best remembered for her portrayal of Nancy Drew, based on the series about the feisty girl detective (See entries onHarriet Stratemeyer AdamsandMildred Benson).

In 1947, Granville married Texas oil millionaire Jack Wrather. When she retired from acting in the 1950s, she became an executive in her husband's business empire, the Wrather Corporation. His holdings included oil wells, hotels and entertainment enterprises. It was Wrather's company that produced the "Lassie" television series for which Granville was associate producer, then producer. After her husband died in 1984, Granville succeeded him as chair of the board. She was involved in many cultural affairs and for a time chaired the American Film Institute and was a trustee of the John F. Kennedy Center.

Deborah Jones , Studio City, California