Jane Greer was born Bettejane Greer (the name she was billed under in her 1945 films). A stunning brunette with a low voice and large, impressive eyes, she was born to an ambitious stage mother. As a child she frequently participated in beauty and talent contests, and at age 12 she began modeling professionally. In high school Greer performed in student plays before dropping out in her senior year to work as a vocalist with a nightclub band. In her late teens Greer posed in a WAC uniform for a World
War II recruiting poster, bringing her to the attention of Howard Hughes, who signed her to a film contract; this led to an introduction to crooner Rudy Vallee, whom she married soon thereafter. Within a year both the contract and marriage ended in failure. Eventually signed by RKO, she debuted onscreen in 1945, playing a number of leads until 1953, when (having re-married) she retired from the screen to raise a family. Later Greer returned occasionally to films, and in the '80s she was a semi-regular on the TV series Falcon Crest.
