Laraine Day

Born: 1920-10-13

Laraine Day, born La Raine Johnson, was a major movie star of the 1940s and '50s. Raised in Utah as part of a prominent Mormon family, she came to Hollywood as a young woman, and made her film debut with an uncredited role in Stella Dallas. Before she was famous she also played the birth-mother of Tarzan and Jane's adopted son "Boy" in Tarzan Finds a Son. Her break came in 1939, with the wildly popular "Dr Kildare" sequels. Day played Kildare's nurse and love interest in the third through ninth Kildare movies, until her character married the doctor in Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day. As Mrs Kildare, she was written out of the next, and last, Kildare feature. In 1942, she starred with Ayres again in the underrated axe murder melodrama Fingers at the Window. Over subsequent decades, her memorable films included the flashback-within-flashback-within-flashback drama The Locket, the gangster comedy Mr Lucky, and the campy paranoia piece I Married A Communist. She was among the all-star passengers in the overwrought airliner-in-peril drama The High and the Mighty, and in Hitchcock's Foreign Correspondent it was Day who encouraged Joel McCrea to give his stirring report of the air raid at the film's climax Hitchcock's thinly-veiled plea for America to enter World War II. When television became a viable income source, Day found the small screen more inviting and less time-consuming than making movies, and she became primarily a TV actress. She had a 15-minute series of uplifting vignettes called Daydreaming with Laraine, and another 15-minute daily celebrity chat show called The Laraine Day Show. Married to New York Giants manager Leo Durocher, Day became one of TV's first female sports reporters when she hosted Day with the Giants, an early 1950s baseball talk show with Giants' players that aired on New York City's Channel 11. Her last film was a low-budget thriller, The Third Voice, in 1960, but she continued taking occasional guest roles on TV series Love Boat, Fantasy Island, Murder, She Wrote, etc. through the mid-1980s. Following her retierment she spent the remainder of her life active in the Mormon church, Republican politics, and various charity related work. Upon the death of her third husband Michael Grilikhes in March 2007 she moved back to her native Utah where she died that November at age 87. She is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, CA.​


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The Glass Key

as Nurse (uncredited)
Released: 1942-09-08

A crooked politician finds himself being accused of murder by a gangster from whom he refused...

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The High and the Mighty

as Lydia Rice
Released: 1954-07-03

Dan Roman is a veteran pilot haunted by a tragic past. Now relegated to second-in-command...

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Stella Dallas

as Girl at Soda Shop / Train Passenger (uncredited)
Released: 1937-08-06

After divorcing a society man, a small-town woman tries to build a better life for their daughter.

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Foreign Correspondent

as Carol Fisher
Released: 1940-08-16

American crime reporter John Jones is reassigned to Europe as a foreign correspondent to cover...

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The Locket

as Nancy
Released: 1946-12-20

A dark personal secret drives a young woman to use every man she encounters.

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Tarzan Finds a Son!

as Mrs. Richard Lancing
Released: 1939-06-16

A young couple die in a plane crash in the jungle. Their son is found by Tarzan and Jane who...

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Mr. Lucky

as Dorothy Bryant
Released: 1943-07-01

A conman poses as a war relief fundraiser, but when he falls for a charity worker, his...

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The Story of Dr. Wassell

as Madeleine
Released: 1944-07-04

As the Japanese sweep through the East Indies during World War II, Dr. Wassell is determined to...

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Without Honor

as Jane Bandle
Released: 1949-10-26

Jane, a housewife, is confronted during her daily chores by Dennis, her married lover with whom...

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Tycoon

as Maura Alexander Munroe
Released: 1947-12-27

Engineer Johnny Munroe is enlisted to build a railroad tunnel through a mountain to reach mines....

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My Dear Secretary

as Stephanie 'Steve' Gaylord
Released: 1948-11-05

A budding young writer thinks it's her lucky day when she is chosen to be the new secretary for...

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Murder on Flight 502

as Claire Garwood
Released: 1975-11-21

On a flight to London, a note is found stating that there will be murders taking place on the...

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The Secret of Dr. Kildare

as Nurse Mary Lamont
Released: 1939-11-24

Intern Kildare heals a millionaire's daughter and tricks Dr. Gillespie into taking a vacation.

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The Woman on Pier 13

as Nan Lowry Collins
Released: 1950-06-15

Communists blackmail a shipping executive into spying for them.

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Dr. Kildare's Strange Case

as Nurse Mary Lamont
Released: 1940-04-12

Kildare tries brain surgery, advised by Dr. Gillespie, and faces a rival for nurse Lamont.

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Bride by Mistake

as Norah Hunter
Released: 1944-07-26

The staggeringly wealthy Norah Hunter, a shipyard owner, too often finds herself the romantic...

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I Take This Woman

as Linda Rodgers
Released: 1940-02-02

On return from Europe Dr. Decker foils glamour girl Georgi from jumping overboard. At Decker's...

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A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound

as Self
Released: 1940-10-24

This short documentary, presented and directed by MGM sound engineer Douglas Shearer, goes...

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And One Was Beautiful

as Kate Lattimer
Released: 1940-04-05

A teenager falls hard for an irresponsible playboy.

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The 3rd Voice

as Marian Forbes
Released: 1960-03-05

Marian Forbes has been having an affair with her boss and when he drops her for another woman....

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The People Vs. Dr. Kildare

as Nurse Mary Lamont
Released: 1941-05-02

An ice skater sues Kildare (Lew Ayres) for malpractice after his roadside first aid leaves her...

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Calling Dr. Kildare

as Nurse Mary Lamont
Released: 1939-04-28

Following an argument with his young protege, the curmudgeonly Dr. Gillespie dumps Jimmy Kildare...

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Sergeant Madden

as Eileen Daly
Released: 1939-03-24

A dedicated police officer is torn between family and duty when his son turns to a life of crime.

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Unholy Partners

as Miss 'Croney' Cronin
Released: 1941-11-01

A crusading newsman starts up a tabloid with a gangster as his 50-50 partner.

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Journey for Margaret

as Nora Davis
Released: 1942-12-17

An American newspaperman and his wife, end up in London after several retreats in the opening...

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A Yank on the Burma Road

as Mrs. Gail Farwood
Released: 1942-01-29

A celebrated New York cabbie is pressed into service for a perilous journey through World War II...

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My Son, My Son!

as Maeve O’Riordan
Released: 1940-03-21

A self-made success is determined to give his son the lavish upbringing he himself was denied....

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Dr. Kildare Goes Home

as Nurse Mary Lamont
Released: 1940-09-06

A young doctor gives up big-city success to help his father set up a small-town clinic.

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Keep Your Powder Dry

as Leigh Rand
Released: 1945-04-01

A debutante, a serviceman's bride and a girl from a military family join the Women's Army Corps.

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Return to Fantasy Island

as Mrs. Grant
Released: 1978-01-20

A second feature-length pilot film for the wish-fulfillment series sees six lucky people having...

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Dr. Kildare's Wedding Day

as Nurse Mary Lamont
Released: 1941-08-22

A variety of predicaments arise to distract Dr. Kildare from his wedding to Nurse Mary Lamont.

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The Bad Man

as Lucia Pell
Released: 1941-03-28

Lopez is a bandit who has stolen the herd at Gil's ranch, so Hardy is about to foreclose. But...

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Painted Desert

as Carol Banning
Released: 1938-08-12

A cowboy and a bandit face off over possession of a valuable mine.

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Twenty Years After

as (archive footage)
Released: 1944-01-01

This short celebrates the 20th anniversary of MGM. Segments are shown from several early hits,...

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Dr. Kildare's Crisis

as Nurse Mary Lamont
Released: 1940-11-29

Jimmy Kildare's impending nuptials are jeopardized by a diagnosis of possible epilepsy in his...

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Scandal Street

as Peg Smith (as Laraine Johnson)
Released: 1938-02-11

Joe McKnight temporarily leaves his fiancée, Nora Langdon, for an expedition in a South American...

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Those Endearing Young Charms

as Helen Brandt
Released: 1945-06-19

A soldier loses his girlfriend to his best buddy.

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Think First

as Marjorie (Margie) Smith
Released: 1939-09-08

Episode 24 of the Crime Does Not Pay series. Margie Smith (Laraine Day) works as a waitress at a...

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Border G-Man

as Betty Holden (as Laraine Johnson)
Released: 1938-06-24

A federal agent goes undercover in order to capture a gang that's been smuggling munitions and...

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Mr. Gardenia Jones

as Joanne
Released: 1942-05-29

Documentary short film depicting the work of the United Service Organizations (USO) in providing...

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Fingers at the Window

as Edwina 'Eddie' Brown
Released: 1942-04-22

In Chicago, an unemployed actor aims to solve the mystery concerning a string of ax murders,...

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Arizona Legion

as Letty Meade (as Laraine Johnson)
Released: 1939-01-20

A federal agent infiltrates an outlaw band that's taken over a western town.

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Three for Jamie Dawn

as Sue Lorenz
Released: 1956-07-08

Three jurors are ripe for bribery by the lawyer of a playgirl up for murder.

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The Trial of Mary Dugan

as Mary Dugan
Released: 1941-02-14

Mary Dugan is a young woman accused of murdering her billionaire lover. In the process, his...

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Toy Tiger

as Gwendolyn Taylor
Released: 1956-06-29

Advertising executive Gwen Taylor sends her art director Rick Todd on a mission to bring an...

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Too Old for Dolls

as Marge Ramsay
Released: 1955-02-24

Parents are concerned that their teen-aged daughter doesn't have a date for her school's formal...

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Kathleen

as Martha Kent
Released: 1941-12-18

Kathleen is a twelve-year-old who lives in a big house with a nanny, a butler, maids, no mother...

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Climax!

as Ellen Parker
First aired: 1954-10-07

Climax! is an American anthology series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. The series was...

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The Love Boat

as Vera Simpson
First aired: 1977-09-24

Passengers who search for romantic nights aboard a beautiful ship travelling to tropical or...

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Hotel

as Mrs. Kupchak
First aired: 1982-08-21

Hotel is an American prime time drama series which aired on ABC from September 21, 1983 to May...

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Murder, She Wrote

as Constance Fletcher
First aired: 1984-09-30

An unassuming mystery writer turned sleuth uses her professional insight to help solve real-life...

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What's My Line?

as Self - Panelist
First aired: 1950-02-02

Four panelists must determine guests' occupations - and, in the case of famous guests, while...

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What's My Line?

as Self - Mystery Guest
First aired: 1950-02-02

Four panelists must determine guests' occupations - and, in the case of famous guests, while...

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Airwolf

as Amelia Davenport
First aired: 1984-01-22

As part of a deal with an intelligence agency to look for his missing brother, a renegade pilot...

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Burke's Law

as Lisa Cole
First aired: 1963-09-20

Burke's Law is an American detective series that ran on ABC from 1963 to 1965 and was revived on...

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Medical Center

as uncredited
First aired: 1969-09-24

Medical Center is a medical drama series which aired on CBS from 1969 to 1976. It was produced...

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The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

as Ruth
First aired: 1962-09-20

A continuation of the anthology series “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”, hosted by the master of...

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The F.B.I.

as Helen York
First aired: 1965-09-19

The F.B.I. is an American television series that was broadcast on ABC from 1965 to 1974. It was...

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The Name of the Game

as Grace Jellicoe
First aired: 1968-09-20

The Name of the Game is an American television series starring Tony Franciosa, Gene Barry, and...

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Checkmate

as Amnesiac Woman
First aired: 1960-09-17

Checkmate is an American detective television series starring Anthony George, Sebastian Cabot,...

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Your Show of Shows

as uncredited
First aired: 1950-02-25

Your Show of Shows was a live 90-minute variety show that was broadcast weekly in the United...

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Screen Director's Playhouse

as Laraine Day
First aired: 1955-10-05

Presented by Eastman Kodak, this show was a series of original scripts directed by acclaimed...

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The New Breed

as Vivian Cowley
First aired: 1961-10-03

The New Breed is an American crime drama series that aired on ABC from October 3, 1961 to June...

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The Sixth Sense

as uncredited
First aired: 1972-01-15

The Sixth Sense is an American paranormal thriller television

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Letter to Loretta

as Carol Potter
First aired: 1953-09-20

Letter to Loretta is an American anthology drama series telecast on NBC from September 1953 to...

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Letter to Loretta

as Karen McCall
First aired: 1953-09-20

Letter to Loretta is an American anthology drama series telecast on NBC from September 1953 to...

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Letter to Loretta

as Sara Lewis
First aired: 1953-09-20

Letter to Loretta is an American anthology drama series telecast on NBC from September 1953 to...

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Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

as Mrs. Lorenz
First aired: 1951-10-05

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars is an anthology series that was telecast from 1951 until 1959 on CBS....

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General Electric Theater

as uncredited
First aired: 1953-02-01

General Electric Theater is an American anthology series hosted by Ronald Reagan that was...

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