Silver Screen Icon Kathryn Crosby Passes Away at 90

Kathryn Crosby, known for her roles in films like “The 7th Voyage of Sinbad,” “Anatomy of a Murder,” and “Operation Mad Ball,” has passed away at the age of 90. She died of natural causes on Friday night at her home in Hillsborough, Northern California, as confirmed by a family spokesperson on Saturday.

Performing under her stage name, Kathryn Grant, she starred opposite Tony Curtis in “Mister Cory” in 1957 and Victor Mature in “The Big Circus” in 1959. She was a frequent collaborator with film noir director Phil Karlson, featuring in five of his movies, including “Tight Spot” and “The Phenix City Story” in 1955.

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Her filmography also includes leading roles alongside Jack Lemmon in “Operation Mad Ball,” James Darren in “The Brothers Rico,” and James Stewart in “Anatomy of a Murder,” directed by Otto Preminger.

Born Olive Kathryn Grandstaff on November 25, 1933, in West Columbia, Texas, she earned a degree in fine arts from the University of Texas before heading to Hollywood to launch her film career in 1953. Kathryn met Bing Crosby while writing Hollywood interviews for her hometown newspaper. They married in 1957 when she was 23, and he was 54.

Kathryn scaled back her acting career post-marriage but frequently appeared alongside Bing Crosby and their three children in his Christmas television specials and Minute Maid orange juice commercials. In 1963, she became a registered nurse.

In the 1970s, Kathryn ventured into television, hosting a morning talk show on KPIX-TV in Northern California. After Bing Crosby’s death from a heart attack in 1977 while golfing in Spain, Kathryn returned to the stage, performing in productions such as “Same Time, Next Year” and “Charley’s Aunt.” She also co-starred in the 1996 Broadway revival of “State Fair” alongside John Davidson and Andrea McArdle.

For 16 years, until 2001, she hosted the Crosby National golf tournament in Bermuda Run, North Carolina.

Kathryn Crosby is survived by her children: Harry, Mary, an actor known for the TV show “Dallas,” and Nathaniel, a successful amateur golfer. She was married to Maurice Sullivan for a decade until his tragic death in a 2010 car accident, which also left Kathryn seriously injured.