Trivia

Suffered from "demophobia" (fear of crowds) and was a somnambulist (sleepwalker).

In the late 1940s, 20th Century-Fox insured her legs with Lloyds of London for $250,000.

In 1946-47, the Treasury Department noted that she was the highest-paid woman in America, receiving $300,000 a year.

Was one of the 20 original The Goldwyn Girls, among whom were Lucille Ball, Virginia Bruce, Ann Dvorak and Paulette Goddard.

Voted Best Figure of 1941. In her famous pin-up picture, she was wearing an ankle bracelet given to her by her then-suitor, George Raft.

Her stepson, Tim James, was an attorney working with the then Attorney General of Texas and became responsible for enticing television personality Marvin Zindler of Houston to investigate the famous Chicken Ranch brothel in La Grange, Texas, eventually closing it down. The story became the basis of the Broadway and movie musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982).

Samuel Goldwyn considered her seriously for Guys and Dolls (1955), but when her dog broke its leg, Grable canceled an appointment with him. A miffed Goldwyn then gave the original Adelaide, former 20th Century-Fox co-worker Vivian Blaine, the role.

Made her film debut at age 13 in a 20th Century-Fox quickie, Let's Go Places (1930), She lied about her age, stating she was 15.

Had done Playtex 18-hour Shortie commercials in the 1960s using her famous pin-up pose -- purportedly because she needed the money after her husband had spent her savings.

Very early in her career, she sang with the Ted Fio Rito Orchestra. Having appeared on Broadway in "DuBarry Was a Lady" and "Hello, Dolly!", Grable would later state jokingly "The only trouble was I couldn't sing.".

She and Harry James had two daughters: Victoria Elizabeth James (b. 3/3/44) and Jessica James (b. 5/20/49, d. 3/20/2016). She delivered her daughters via Caesarean section and hoped to have more children, but doctors advised against a third operation.

She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6525 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 8, 1960.

At one point during the 1940s, she reportedly earned $300,000 a year, making her one of the world's highest-paid women. Her films earned over $15 million for 20th Century-Fox.

In How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), her character makes a pointed reference to Harry James while listening to the radio at the lodge (Grable was married to him at the time). The song playing on the radio is "You'll Never Know", from Hello Frisco, Hello (1943), and was sung in the film by Alice Faye. It won the Academy Award as Best Song in 1943 (Source: AMPAS).

She appeared with former 20th Century-Fox co-star Dick Haymes as presenters at the 1972 Academy Award ceremony.

Played by Jayne Mansfield in the biography The George Raft Story (1961). However, at the time she was not in the public domain so the character's name was changed to Lisa.

Singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka's song "Betty Grable" was dedicated to her memory.

Ex-husband Harry James died on what would have been their 40th anniversary.

While attending Hollywood Professional School, she developed a musical act with a friend, Emylyn Pique (born Juanita Emylyn Pique), who later took the name Mitzi Mayfair.

Had appeared with John Payne in five films: College Swing (1938), Tin Pan Alley (1940), Footlight Serenade (1942), Springtime in the Rockies (1942) and The Dolly Sisters (1945).

Was offered the Anne Baxter role in The Razor's Edge (1946) which she turned down. Baxter ultimately won an Academy Award as Sophie MacDonald.

She was posthumously awarded a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame at 6350 Delmar Boulevard in St. Louis, Missouri on May 20, 1990.

When Shelley Winters bowed out of Pickup on South Street (1953), a pregnant Grable turned down the offer of starring in the film noir, and the role went to Jean Peters.

In 1935, she had a pet white cat named "Whitey" who could go limp in her arms and "play dead". RKO Radio Pictures shot some publicity photos of her with Whitey.

Was a lifelong Republican and conservative.

Had played the only two straight roles of her career in 1941: A Yank in the RAF (1941) and I Wake Up Screaming (1941).

Following her death, she was interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.

Posthumously inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians (2009).

Mentioned in the McHale's Navy sitcom episode Have Kimono, Will Travel (1963).

Landed the lead role in the musical Down Argentine Way (1940) after Alice Faye had to drop out because of appendicitis.

In Italy, her films were often dubbed by Rosetta Calavetta and Dhia Cristiani. She was occasionally dubbed by Lydia Simoneschi and Clelia Bernacchi.

Mentioned in rock singer Elkie Brooks' 1977 song "Pearl's a Singer".

Her image appears on the cover of the music CD "Electric Swing Fever".