Kathryn Grant

Biography

Kathryn Crosby, originally named Olive Kathryn Grandstaff, was born on November 25, 1933, in Houston, Texas, and passed away on September 20, 2024. An accomplished actress and singer, she was also known professionally as Kathryn Grant. After earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Texas at Austin in 1955, she rose to fame shortly after when she married legendary entertainer Bing Crosby in 1957, becoming his second wife and the mother of three children: Harry, Mary Frances, and Nathaniel.

Throughout her career, Kathryn made memorable appearances, including a guest role on her husband's sitcom, The Bing Crosby Show, during its run from 1964 to 1965. She showcased her acting skills in the acclaimed courtroom drama Anatomy of a Murder and portrayed "Mama Bear" in the family-friendly production of Goldilocks, alongside Bing and their children. In the late 1950s, she starred opposite Jack Lemmon in the comedy Operation Mad Ball.

In the mid-1970s, Kathryn hosted a local talk show, The Kathryn Crosby Show, on KPIX-TV, where Bing occasionally made guest appearances. Following Bing's passing in 1977, she took on smaller roles, including a lead part in the Broadway musical State Fair in 1996. Kathryn also dedicated 16 years to hosting the Crosby National Golf Tournament in North Carolina, where a bridge is named in her honor. Tragically, in 2010, she survived a serious car accident that claimed the life of her husband, Maurice William Sullivan.