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In Remembrance: Sally Gray
Born Constance Vera Stevens on February 14, 1916 in London, Gray appeared on the London stage before making her film debut in a bit part in 1930’s adaptation of Richard Sheridan’s 18th century stage comedy School For Scandal. Her film career began in earnest with an appearance in 1935’s Radio Pirates. She joined the British & Dominions Film Company for her next film Cross Currents (1935) and stayed with them for a year, playing supporting roles in a handful of features.
By 1936, Gray was playing lead roles in such films as the musicals Cheer Up and Saturday Night Revue (1937), dramas such as Café Colette (1937) and comedies such as Lightening Conductor (1938). She made three pictures for the American RKO studios – two installments in the studio’s The Saint series, The Saint In London (1939) and The Saint’s Vacation (1941) where she played different characters and Dangerous Moonlight (1941) - and the studio actively pursued her to come to America, but she refused.
Gray temporarily retired in 1942 due to health reasons, but returned to the screen in a series of headlining roles in such films as Green For Danger (1946), The Mark Of Cain, They Made Me A Fugitive (both 1947), Silent Dust (1948) and director Edward Dmytryk’s classic thriller Obsession (1949).
Gray’s last role was opposite tough guy George Raft in the crime drama Escape Route (1952), after which she retired from acting to marry Dominick Browne, becoming the third wife of the fourth Lord Oranmore and Browne. |
Sally Gray, the voluptuous British film actress who gave up a
successful career to marry Dominick Browne, the Lord Oranmore and
Browne, has passed away on September 24, 2006 in London, England.
She was 90.