Trivia

Her ex-husband, Joe Kirkwood Jr., had been out of touch with Cathy for years when he found out she was in dire financial circumstances. He was drawing up a trust fund for her in 1976 when he learned that she had died.

Ex-daughter-in-law of Joe Kirkwood Sr..

At age two, Downs was seriously mauled by a neighbor's German Shepherd while at home in Port Jefferson in Long Island. She was eating a jam sandwich in her front yard when the dog was attracted to the food. Downs instinctively pulled back the sandwich and the dog attacked her. Physicians feared for her life at first. She had 29 stitches put in her face and scalp, as well as a small steel plate put in her skull. She was speechless and blind for nearly eight months and was left with a small scar on her right cheek and near her hairline. Recounting this story in 1946, she told an Associated Press reporter, "I love dogs.".

Selected by the California Outdoor Stylists' Association as California's Outdoor Girl of 1945.

Graduated from Ohio State University.

For Christmas 1945, her aunt gave her a Bible signed by its one time owner, Downs' ancestor Captain John Smith.

In June 1945, newspapers reported that she was seen with producers Howard Hughes and William Girard.