Vivian Austin

Vivian Austin (born Irene Vivian Coe, February 23, 1920 – August 1, 2004) was an American actress who appeared in a number of films in the late 1930s and early 1940s, although most were B movies.

Vivian Austin
Pin-up photo of Vivian Austin for Yank, the Army Weekly
Born
Irene Vivian Coe

February 23, 1920
Hollywood, California
DiedAugust 1, 2004 (aged 84)
Los Angeles, California
NationalityAmerican
Other namesTerry Austin
OccupationActress
Spouses
Glenn Austin
​
​
(m. 1937; died 1967)​
    Kenneth A. Grow
    ​
    (died 1993)​

    Early years

    Austin was born Irene Vivian Coe in Hollywood, California, and attended Hollywood High School. She was named Miss Hollywood in 1939.[1]

    Career

    Austin played a variety of bit parts (as well as extra and stunt work) in movies before being cast as the female romantic lead in The Adventures of Red Ryder (1940).[2] She was signed to a stock contract in 1943 by Universal and as Vivian Austin (for Universal) or Terry Austin (under contract to Eagle-Lion Films) appeared in movies such as Destiny (1944), Trigger Trail (1944), Born To Speed (1947) and Philo Vance Returns (1947). Her career was cut short in the late 1940s by kidney failure and resultant blindness.[3]

    Later years

    After her retirement, Austin helped Jane Russell to found the World Adoption International Fund (WAIF) and herself founded the Braille Auxiliary of the Desert, an organisation to support the charitable activities of the Braille Institute. In 1996 she lived in Palm Springs, California.[4]

    Personal life

    Austin married millionaire auto dealer Glenn Austin (d. 1967) when she was 17.[5] She later wed ophthalmic surgeon Kenneth A. Grow (d. 1993), who had operated on her and helped to improve her sight.

    Death

    On August 1, 2004, Austin died from natural causes in a hospital in Los Angeles, California.[3] Because Grow had served in the United States Army, she and he are interred at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California.

    Filmography
    Year Title Role Notes
    1938The Goldwyn Follies'Gorgeous' Goldwyn GirlUncredited
    1938Love, Honor and BehaveParty GuestUncredited
    1938Men Are Such FoolsNancy Sinclair
    1940Adventures of Red RyderBeth AndrewsSerial
    1940Manhattan HeartbeatYoung GirlUncredited
    1942Yankee Doodle DandyPianistUncredited
    1943Fired WifeDivorceeUncredited
    1943Moonlight in VermontBrenda Allenby
    1944Sing a JingleAnn
    1944Ladies CourageousUncredited
    1944Hi, Good Lookin'!Phyllis
    1944Moon Over Las VegasGrace Towers
    1944Cobra WomanHandmaidenUncredited
    1944Boss of BoomtownDale Starr
    1944Twilight on the PrairieSally Barton
    1944Trigger TrailAnn Cattlet
    1944The Singing SheriffShowgirlUncredited
    1944DestinyPhyllis Prager
    1944Night Club GirlPhyllis Prager
    1945Night Club GirlEleanor Kendall
    1945She Gets Her ManMaybelle Clark
    1945Honeymoon AheadRosita
    1945Men in Her DiaryLinda
    1947Born to SpeedToni Bradley
    1947Philo Vance's GambleLaurian March
    1947Philo Vance ReturnsLorena Blendon Simms
    1947StepchildMillie Lynne
    1947T-MenGenevieveUncredited, (final film role)

    References
    1. "Miss Hollywood". The Bakersfield Californian. California, Bakersfield. United Press. September 21, 1939. p. 4. Retrieved February 1, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
    2. "An Interview with Vivian Austin". Western Clippings. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
    3. "Vivian Grow, 84; Pageant Winner Was B-Movie Actress". Los Angeles Times. 12 August 2004. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
    4. Meeks, Eric G. (2012). Palm Springs Celebrity Homes: Little Tuscany, Racquet Club, Racquet Club Estates and Desert Park Estates Neighborhoods (Kindle). Horatio Limburger Oglethorpe. p. location number 318. ASIN B00A2PXD1G.
    5. Magers, Boyd; Fitzgerald, Michael G. (2004). Westerns Women: Interviews with 50 Leading Ladies of Movie and Television Westerns from the 1930s to the 1960s. McFarland. pp. 24–27. ISBN 9780786420285. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
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