Karolyn Grimes

Actress

At age 6, Karolyn Grimes played the role of Zuzu Bailey in the holiday film It's a Wonderful Life (1946). Her childhood film career spanned 16 movies, but she is best remembered for playing the daughter of George and Mary Bailey (James Stewart and Donna Reed). The petals from her rose symbolize the values of family, friends and life itself in the 1946 classic, and it is Zuzu who speaks the movie's most memorable line, "Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings." In recent years, Karolyn has carried on the spirit of It's a Wonderful Life (1946), serving as the film's most active and appealing ambassador.

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James Stewart, Donna Reed, Carol Coombs, Karolyn Grimes, Jimmy Hawkins, and Larry Simms in It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

James Stewart, Donna Reed, Carol Coombs, Karolyn Grimes, and Jimmy Hawkins in It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

James Stewart and Karolyn Grimes in It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Bing Crosby and Karolyn Grimes in Blue Skies (1946)

Karolyn Grimes, Sister Kenny, and Rosalind Russell in Sister Kenny (1946)

James Stewart, Lionel Barrymore, Ward Bond, Frank Capra, Donna Reed, Stanley Andrews, Frank Albertson, Ernie Adams, Beulah Bondi, Lane Chandler, Tom Chatterton, Jack Cheatham, Harry Cheshire, Dick Elliott, Tom Fadden, Karolyn Grimes, Frank Hagney, Charles Halton, Samuel S. Hinds, Harry Holman, Todd Karns, Edward Keane, Thomas Mitchell, Virginia Patton, Henry Travers, Mary Treen, Ray Walker, Charles C. Wilson, and Frank Fenton in It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

James Stewart and Karolyn Grimes at an event for It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Known for:

It's a Wonderful Life

8.6

The Bailey Child - Zuzu

1946

The Bishop's Wife

7.6

Debby Brougham

1947

It's a Wonderful Life: The Rest of the Story

Zuzu Bailey

Pardon My Past

6.7

Stephanie Pemberton

1945

Credits

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Actress

Canaan Land
- Talk Show Guest
- 2020
Cassandra's Castle
- Sister Bernadice
- TV Series
- 2016
The Ford Television Theatre
- TV Series
- 1954
Fireside Theatre
- TV Series
- 1953
Hans Christian Andersen
- Copenhagen Match Girl (uncredited)
- 1952
Honeychile
- Effie
- 1951
Rio Grande
- Margaret Mary
- 1950
Lust for Gold
- Young Martha (uncredited)
- 1949
Albuquerque
- Myrtle Walton
- 1948
The Bishop's Wife
- Debby Brougham
- 1947
Unconquered
- Little Girl (uncredited)
- 1947
Mother Wore Tights
- Iris - Age 6 (uncredited)
- 1947
The Private Affairs of Bel Ami
- Laurine de Marelle
- 1947
Philo Vance's Gamble
- Pat Roberts
- 1947
Sweet and Low
- Tammie
- Short
- 1947

Personal details

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Official site
- The Zuzu News Web Site
Height
- 5′ 5¾″ (1.67 m)
Born
- July 4, 1940
- Hollywood, California, USA
Spouses
Parents
- La Van Grimes
Other works
TV commercial for Kellogg's Sugar Smacks cereal. Script is dated July 10, 1952. Commercial was filmed July 24-25, 1952. Stars: George Reeves (TV's "Superman") and children Jimmy Bates and 12-year-old Karolyn Grimes. Unknown when it aired.
Publicity listings