From Wikipedia
Kathryn Marlowe (May
25, 1914 – January 2, 2010) was an American film actress in the 1930s, most
notably in Dodsworth, which starred Walter Huston, Mary Astor and Ruth
Chatterton. Other films included Bridal Grief, Artists and Models and China
Passage.
Before making films she worked in Chicago and New York City
hotels, musical stage, and radio. She got the lead role in a new musical revue,
Two for the Show, in which she introduced a song written to showcase her vocal
style, "How High the Moon", which became a pop standard. According to
her son, she had worked in Iowa with Ronald Reagan on radio and print advertising.
After she left New York and relocated to California, originally invited to be
Fred Astaire's dance partner in movies, Reagan moved there and asked to be
introduced around, especially to a good agent. Rea obliged. After Reagan was
signed for his first film, the contact ended. Rea was signed with Samuel
Goldwyn and appeared in films with several studios under different names, such
as Kay Marlowe, Katharine Marlowe, Kay Kimber, Kay Rea, Kea Rea, Kay Rhea,
Kathryn Marlow, before landing on Kathryn Marlowe. She quipped that it was
"because no one can understand how to pronounce 'Rea'". After leaving
Hollywood, she had leads in several stage musicals in NYC and London, and roles
in Television dramas. She pioneered a daily women's TV program in Ottumwa, Iowa
in the early 1950s.
Marlowe died at the age of 96 in Tampa, Florida after a long
period of ill health.
