Bonita Granville
Known for Acting · 65 credits
- Born
- 1923-02-02
- Died
- 1988-10-11
- Place of birth
- New York City, New York, USA
- Also known as
- Bonita Granville Wrather · Bonita Gloria Granville Wrather
Biography
Daughter of Bernard 'Bunny' Granville and Rosina Timponi, Bonita Granville was born into an acting family on 2 Febuary 1923, in New York, New York. 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 in a few Andy Hardy movies. She never really had a movie breakthrough, and after marrying oil millionaire and 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.
After her marriage to oil millionaire Jack Wrather in 1947, she appeared in only three more movies. She became an executive in the Wrather Corp., and first associate producer, then executive producer of the Lassie (1954) TV series. After Wrather's death in 1984, she took over as chairman of the board. She was also involved in many civic and cultural groups, and she was chair of American Film Institute, trustee of John F. Kennedy Center, as well as other well known organizations and charities.
Walt Disney personally convinced the Wrathers to build the Disneyland Hotel when Disney could not raise the money to do so -- his credit was all tied up in building the theme park itself. After the phenomenal success of Disneyland, Disney attempted to buy the hotel; but the Wrathers steadfastly refused to sell. Long after Jack and Bonita Wrather's and Walt Disney's deaths, the Disney Company bought the Wrather Corporation. The Disney Company thus acquired the Disneyland Hotel, the Queen Mary and Spruce Goose attractions in Long Beach, California, the rights to The Lone Ranger (1949) TV series, as well as other properties.
Bonita Granville Rather died of cancer on 11 October 1988, in Santa Monica, California. She and Wrather had four children (two from Wrather's first marriage).
Known For
TV Shows (7)
Movies (58)
Now, Voyager
1942
as June Vale
Cavalcade
1933
as Young Fanny
Quality Street
1937
as Isabella
Song of the Open Road
1944
as Bonnie
Silver Dollar
1932
as Liddy (uncredited)
The Glass Key
1942
as Opal 'Snip' Madvig
Merrily We Live
1938
as Marian Kilbourne
The Legend of the Lone Ranger
1981
as Woman (uncredited)
The Lone Ranger
1956
as Welcome Kilgore
Hollywood’s Children
1982
as Self
Ah, Wilderness!
1935
as Mildred Miller
Soaring Stars
1942
as Passenger
It's Love I'm After
1937
as Gracie Kane
The Mortal Storm
1940
as Elsa
Nancy Drew... Reporter
1939
as Nancy Drew
The Garden of Allah
1936
as Convent Girl (uncredited)
Escape
1940
as Ursula
Suspense
1946
as Ronnie
These Three
1936
as Mary Tilford
The Truth About Murder
1946
as Christine Allen
Maid of Salem
1937
as Ann
Breakdowns of 1938
1938
as Nancy Drew (archive footage) (uncredited)
Syncopation
1942
as Kit Latimer
Third Finger, Left Hand
1940
as Vicky Sherwood
Nancy Drew… Detective
1938
as Nancy Drew
The Guilty
1947
as Estelle Mitchell / Linda Mitchell
My Bill
1938
as Gwen Colbrook
The Wild Man of Borneo
1941
as Francine 'Frankie' Diamond
Forty Little Mothers
1940
as Doris
Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase
1939
as Nancy Drew
Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble
1944
as Kay Wilson
The Plough and the Stars
1936
as Mollser Gogan
Love Laughs at Andy Hardy
1946
as Kay Wilson
Senorita from the West
1945
as Jeannie Blake
The Beloved Brat
1938
as Roberta Morgan
The Velvet Alley
1959
as Mrs. Kirkley
Those Were the Days!
1940
as Martha Scroggs
Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1
1941
as Self
Hitler's Children
1943
as Anna Miller
Gallant Sons
1940
as Kate Pendleton
H.M. Pulham, Esq.
1941
as Mary Pulham
Song of the Saddle
1936
as Jen as a Child
The Life of Vergie Winters
1934
as Joan Shadwell as a Child (uncredited)
Seven Miles from Alcatraz
1942
as Anne Porter
Youth Runs Wild
1944
as Toddy Jones
Nancy Drew... Trouble Shooter
1939
as Nancy Drew
Angels Wash Their Faces
1939
as Peggy Finnegan
Down in San Diego
1941
as Betty Haines
Westward Passage
1932
as Little Olivia Allen (age 9)
Hard to Get
1938
as Connie Richards
Guilty of Treason
1950
as Stephanie Varna
The Beautiful Cheat
1945
as Alice
Breakfast in Hollywood
1946
as Dorothy Larson
Call It a Day
1937
as Ann Hilton
Cradle Song
1933
as Carmen (uncredited)
White Banners
1938
as Sally Ward
Strike It Rich
1948
as Julie Ann Brady
The People Vs. Dr. Kildare
1941
as Frances Marlowe
About Bonita Granville
Daughter of Bernard 'Bunny' Granville and Rosina Timponi, Bonita Granville was born into an acting family on 2 Febuary 1923, in New York, New York. 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… With 65 credits spanning from 1932 to 1982, Bonita Granville has appeared in 58 films and 7 TV shows.
Fans searching for Bonita Granville movies, Bonita Granville filmography, or the latest projects starring Bonita Granville can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Bonita Granville Movies
- Now, Voyager (1942) — as June Vale
- Cavalcade (1933) — as Young Fanny
- Quality Street (1937) — as Isabella
- Song of the Open Road (1944) — as Bonnie
- Silver Dollar (1932) — as Liddy (uncredited)
Where to Watch Bonita Granville Films
Most Bonita Granville movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Bonita Granville, check our movies catalogue and browse page.