Biography for
Shirley Ross (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

7 January 1913, Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Date of Death

9 March 1975, Menlo Park, California, USA (cancer)

Birth Name

Bernice Gaunt

Mini Biography

Blonde, vivacious and obviously talented, Shirley Ross had the promisings of a big musical film star but her career remained strictly second-string throughout her fairly short career. Making a mark for herself proved difficult; in fact, she is best remembered through her pairing with an entertainment legend. Shirley was afforded the opportunity of duetting with Bob Hope on the song "Thanks for the Memory" in the splashy musical The Big Broadcast of 1938 (1938). The song, of course, became Bob's beloved signature tune. Shirley was born Bernice Gaunt, the daughter of C. Burr and Maude C. Gaunt in Omaha, Nebraska in 1913 (some sources say 1909). Her family moved west and she attended Hollywood High School, later studying at UCLA. Blessed with a gorgeous musical instrument and an adept piano player as well, Shirley went on to sing with Gus Arnheim's band on the west coast, appearing at all the swanky clubs of the day, including the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, while making a decent name for herself on radio. She also appeared in a west coast production of "Anything Goes." MGM initially scooped her up, making her unbilled debut in the Jean Harlow starrer Blonde Bombshell (1933). She continued on just as obscurely in the films Hollywood Party (as herself) 34, Manhattan Melodrama (1934), The Girl from Missouri (1934), The Merry Widow (1934), and Age of Indiscretion (1935), but was finally promoted to a minor featured role in the classic earthquake epic San Francisco (1936) with Clark Gable and Jeanette MacDonald, in which Shirley sang "Happy New Year." In 1936, she found more visible work over at Paramount and spent the next few years there paired up vocally and romantically with either Bing Crosby or Bob Hope in their popular vehicles - The Big Broadcast of 1937 (1936), Waikiki Wedding (1937), Thanks for the Memory (1938), Paris Honeymoon (1939) and Some Like It Hot (1939). Though most were trifling, insignificant time fillers, she was a diverting beauty and quite serviceable in them. She was even given the chance to topline a few of her own movies such as Prison Farm (1938), Sailors on Leave (1941) and A Song for Miss Julie (1945), which was her swan song. After leaving pictures, she was little heard or seen. Married to agent Ken Dolan, she had three children - two sons and a daughter. Shirley died in Menlo Park, California of cancer in 1975. Though gone and mostly forgotten, by having had some "Hope" in her life, hopefully a flicker of "Thanks for the Memory" will be in remembrance of Shirley Ross.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net

Spouse

Ken Dolan

(? - ?) 3 children

Trivia

Also notable for singing "The Bad In Every Man" in 1934's Manhattan Melodrama. She sang this portraying a featured singer in the Cotton Club, obviously artificially ethnicized. When this song failed to become a hit, it was re-written as "Blue Moon" and became a standard.

Personal Quotes

If a girl is pretty, education is unnecessary. If she's not, it's inadequate.

[on her decision to devote herself to her children rather than nurse any lingering hopes of reviving her long-dormant career, a decision made manifest by her choice in 1950 to decline an offer by composer Frank Loesser to star in the Broadway-bound production of 'Guys and Dolls'] It's tough enough being an adult, but growing up is a stinkin' job, and kids need all the help they can get. I've never been sorry I made the decision. One of these days, I'll make a real good grandmother.