Bonita Granville's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) Target Alice Ward

Main Movie Roles 1981 - The Legend of the Lone Ranger 1947 - The Guilty 1946 - Suspense 1946 - Love Laughs at Andy Hardy 1942 - Now, Voyager 1942 - The Glass Key 1940 - The Mortal Storm 1939 - Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase 1934 - Anne of Green Gables 1933 - Little Women

BIOGRAPHY:

Daughter of 'Bernard 'Bunny Granville, Bonita Granville was born into an acting family. It's not surprising that she herself became a child actor, first on the stage and, at the age of 9, debuting in movies in Westward Passage (1932). She was regularly cast as a naughty little girl, as in These Three (1936) where she played Mary, an obnoxious girl spreading lies about her teachers. Her performance left an impression on the audience, and she was nominated for a best supporting actress award. In 1938-39 came the movies she is now best remembered for -- playing the bright and feisty detective/reporter Nancy Drew in the Nancy Drew series. She also appeared with Mickey Rooney (I) in a few Andy Hardy movies. She never really had a movie breakthrough, and after marrying oil millionaire & later producer Jack Wrather, she retired from acting in the middle of the 1950s, although she went on to produce the "Lassie" (1954) TV series.


TRIVIA:

• Daughter of 'Bernard 'Bunny' Granville' (qv).
• Long married to oil millionaire / producer 'Jack Wrather' (qv) who produced a few of her young adult films, including _The Guilty (1947)_ (qv), _Strike It Rich (1948)_ (qv), _Guilty of Treason (1950)_ (qv) and _The Lone Ranger (1956)_ (qv). Together they went on to produce the _"Lassie" (1954)_ (qv) TV series. They had four children: daughters Molly and Linda, and sons Jack and Christopher.
• Through a special agreement with 'Walt Disney' (qv), she and her husband, 'Jack Wrather' (qv) were able to use the Disneyland name on the hotel they built across the street from the theme park in Anaheim, California.