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Catherine Craig
Catherine Craig
Catherine Craig
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Catherine Craig (born Catherine Jewel Feltus; January 18, 1915 – January 14, 2004), sometimes credited as Kay Craig,[1][2] was an American actress.

Key Information

Early years

[edit]

Catherine Jewel Feltus was born in Bloomington, Indiana, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa Society at Indiana University. She was recognized as the outstanding senior girl. She later moved to Los Angeles and became an actress under the stage name of Catherine Craig.[3]

Career

[edit]

Craig was a student at the Pasadena Playhouse,[4] and appeared in numerous bit part roles such as Las Vegas Nights (1941), West Point Widow (1941), Parachute Nurse (1942), Showboat Serenade (1944) and The Bride Wore Boots (1946). Later, she found more success in movies such as Seven Were Saved (1947) — her first leading role,[5] The Pretender (1947), and Albuquerque (1948). After 1950, she retired from acting and supported her husband's career.

Personal life

[edit]

Craig married actor Robert Preston on November 9, 1940, in Las Vegas, Nevada.[6] Preston pre-deceased her on March 21, 1987.[7]

Filmography

[edit]
Feature-length film credits of Catherine Craig
Title Year Role Notes Ref(s)
Manhattan Heartbeat 1940 Nurse 20th Century Fox [8]
Doomed to Die 1940 Cynthis Wentworth Monogram Pictures [9]
Murder Over New York 1940 Stewardess 20th Century Fox [10]
Las Vegas Nights 1941 Girl with Bill Paramount Pictures [11]
One Night in Lisbon 1941 Guest Paramount Pictures [12]
West Point Widow 1941 Hilda Paramount Pictures [13]
Nothing but the Truth 1941 Betty - Receptionist Paramount Pictures [14]
Among the Living 1941 Second Mill Girl Paramount Pictures [15]
Louisiana Purchase 1941 Saleslady Paramount [16]
Parachute Nurse 1942 Lt. Mullins Columbia Pictures [17]
You Were Never Lovelier 1942 Julia Acuña - the Bride Paramount Pictures [18]
Salute for Three 1943 Canteen Hostess Paramount Pictures [19]
Spy Train 1943 Jane Thornwall Monogram Pictures [20]
Lady in the Dark 1944 Miss Foster Paramount [21]
Showboat Serenade 1944 Girl Short
The Story of Dr. Wassell 1944 Mrs. Wayne Paramount Pictures [22]
Fun Time 1944 Secretary Short; Uncredited
And Now Tomorrow 1944 Receptionist Paramount Pictures [23]
Here Come the Waves 1944 Lt. Townsend Paramount Pictures [24]
Incendiary Blonde 1945 Louella Parsons Paramount Pictures [25]
You Hit the Spot 1945 Minerva Short
Love Letters 1945 Jeanette Campbell Hal Wallis Productions [26]
Duffy's Tavern 1945 Nurse Paramount Pictures [27]
The Stork Club 1945 Louella Parsons Uncredited
The Bride Wore Boots 1946 Mrs. Medford Paramount Pictures [28]
O.S.S. 1946 Williams' Secretary Paramount Pictures [29]
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers 1946 French Maid Hal Wallis Productions [30]
Monsieur Beaucaire 1946 Duchess Paramount Pictures [31]
Cross My Heart 1946 Reporter Paramount Pictures [32]
The Perfect Marriage 1947 Julie Camberwell Hal Wallis Productions [33]
Seven Were Saved 1947 Lt. Susan Brisoce Medallion Pictures [34]
Sweet and Low 1947 Andrew Mather, Masquerade Party Hostess Paramount Pictures [35]
The Pretender 1947 Claire Worthington Republic Pictures [36]
Variety Girl 1947 Secretary 20th Century Fox [37]
Albuquerque 1948 Celia Wallace Paramount Pictures [38]
Appointment with Murder 1948 Lorraine W. Brinckley Film Classics [39]
El Paso 1949 Mrs. Elkins Paramount Pictures [40]
No Man of Her Own 1950 Rosalie Baker Paramount Pictures [41]

References

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Catherine Craig

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Catherine Craig (born Catherine Jewel Feltus; January 18, 1915 – January 14, 2004) was an American actress best known for her supporting roles in B-movies during Hollywood's Golden Age. Born in Bloomington, Indiana, to Roswell Mason Feltus, a circus proprietor and cinema owner, Craig developed an early interest in performance and studied at the Pasadena Playhouse before signing a seven-year contract with Paramount Pictures in 1940. Her film debut came that year in Doomed to Die, followed by appearances in over 20 features, including The Pretender (1947), and No Man of Her Own (1950), often portraying elegant or romantic leads in low-budget productions. In 1940, during a screen test, she met and married fellow actor Robert Preston, with whom she remained until his death in 1987; the couple had no children and later resided in Montecito, California. Craig retired from film in the early 1950s to support Preston's transition to Broadway, where he earned acclaim in musicals like ; she occasionally joined him on stage in productions such as Girl of the Golden West and . After Preston's passing from , she honored him at the 1987 alongside and . Craig spent her later years in , passing away there at age 88 from undisclosed causes.

Early Life

Family Background and Childhood

Catherine Jewel Feltus was born on January 18, 1915, in . She was the daughter of Roswell Mason "Roy" Feltus (1876–1954), a local businessman known for his involvement in the circus and ownership of theaters in , and Mary Olive Leffler Feltus (1882–1927). Craig spent her early childhood in Bloomington, growing up in a middle-class Midwestern family environment that reflected the town's academic and community-oriented character, influenced by her father's entertainment ventures. She experienced a stable upbringing until the age of 12. In her youth, she adopted the nickname "Kay," which she later used professionally as an . Tragedy struck the family in 1927 when her mother, Mary Olive Feltus, died at the age of 45, leaving Catherine and her father to navigate life without her. Roy Feltus continued his business pursuits in Bloomington until his own death in 1954. These formative years in Indiana shaped Craig's roots before her later move to pursue opportunities elsewhere.

Education and Path to Acting

Catherine Feltus, born and raised in , enrolled at , where she pursued her studies with distinction. She graduated in 1936, having been elected to the prestigious for her academic excellence. During her university years, Feltus developed a strong interest in theater, participating in student productions and local stage performances that honed her dramatic skills. Following her graduation, Feltus briefly worked as an assistant to a speech instructor at while continuing to appear in regional theater roles in , which further solidified her passion for . Influenced by these experiences and her family's background in —her father owned a cinema that exposed her to films early on—she decided to pursue a professional career in . In the late , she relocated to to seek opportunities in Hollywood, joining the for advanced training. Upon establishing herself in California, Feltus adopted the stage name Catherine Craig, marking her formal entry into the film industry. This transition from academic and local theater pursuits to the competitive world of Hollywood set the foundation for her subsequent career.

Career

Training and Debut

Catherine Craig enrolled at the in the late 1930s, where she received professional training in dramatic arts and stage techniques, honing her skills through performances in various plays. As a student there, she focused on building a foundation in , participating in productions that emphasized character development and theatrical presentation. After her training, she signed a seven-year contract with in 1940. Her entry into the film industry came shortly after, with her first screen appearance in the 1940 mystery Doomed to Die, a low-budget entry in the Mr. Wong detective series produced by , where she played the bit role of Cynthia Wentworth. This uncredited or minor part marked her debut as a actress, transitioning from stage work to Hollywood's competitive environment. In the following years, Craig continued to take on small roles in B-movies, including appearances in Las Vegas Nights (1941), a musical film, and West Point Widow (1941), which helped establish her as an extra and supporting player in the studio system. These early assignments, often without prominent billing, reflected the typical path for newcomers navigating in minor parts. As a newcomer from the Midwest—having graduated from in 1936—Craig faced the difficulties of breaking into Hollywood, where opportunities for bit players were limited and roles frequently confined to secondary or background capacities. Despite these hurdles, her persistence in the late 1930s and early 1940s laid the groundwork for her subsequent career in supporting cinema.

Notable Roles and Peak Years

Catherine Craig achieved prominence as a B-level during the mid-to-late 1940s, earning recognition for her versatile performances in low-budget dramas, thrillers, and Westerns produced by studios such as and . Her career peaked with a series of leading and supporting roles that showcased her dramatic range, transitioning from early bit parts to more substantial characters in genre films. Over the decade from 1940 to 1950, she amassed approximately 35 film credits, primarily in economical productions that highlighted her as a promising talent rather than merely an actor's spouse. A breakthrough came in 1947 with her leading role as Lt. Susan Briscoe in Seven Were Saved, a post-World War II disaster drama directed by William H. Pine, where she portrayed a military nurse aboard a crashing transport plane alongside and . The film, produced on a modest budget, emphasized survival and tension, allowing Craig to demonstrate her ability to convey resilience and emotional depth in high-stakes scenarios. That same year, she delivered a star turn as Claire Worthington in The Pretender, a thriller directed by W. Lee Wilder, playing the wealthy client victimized by a corrupt banker () in a tale of and . Her performance solidified her reputation in suspenseful narratives, contributing to the film's atmospheric intrigue shot by cinematographer . In 1948, Craig marked a high point in genre cinema with her role as Celia Wallace in Albuquerque, a Western directed by Ray Enright and starring as Cole Armin, a freight line operator entangled in territorial rivalries. As the sister of a key character, her portrayal added layers of loyalty and vulnerability to the film's action-oriented plot, which involved robberies and family betrayals, further establishing her as a reliable lead in B-Westerns. By 1950, she appeared in a supporting capacity as Rosalie Baker in No Man of Her Own, a drama directed by , sharing the screen with in a story of mistaken identity and deception following a train wreck. This role, though smaller, underscored her continued presence in notable ensemble casts during her career's zenith.

Retirement and Transition

Catherine Craig retired from acting in 1950 at the age of 35, following a minor role in the film No Man of Her Own. This decision marked the end of her on-screen career, as she had increasingly taken smaller parts in the late amid a shift toward supporting her family life. Her retirement was driven by a desire to prioritize domestic responsibilities and bolster her husband Robert Preston's rising career in theater and film. Craig transitioned to a role, deliberately avoiding public attention to support Preston's professional growth, including his acclaimed performance in the 1962 musical . This choice reflected her commitment to not drawing focus away from his successes during a period when he revitalized his stardom on Broadway and in Hollywood. Post-retirement, Craig made only limited appearances, primarily in theater productions such as and Inherit the Wind, with no further credited film roles. These sparse engagements underscored her intentional withdrawal from the entertainment industry in favor of a private, family-centered existence. Her departure aligned with broader transformations in Hollywood, where the traditional B-movie market—her primary domain—declined sharply due to the rise of television, the end of double features following the 1948 Paramount Decree, and shifting audience preferences. These industry changes, coupled with her personal priorities, facilitated a seamless exit from acting at a relatively young age.

Personal Life

Marriage and Partnership

Catherine Craig met actor Robert Preston, born Robert Preston Meservey, in the late 1930s while both were studying at the , an influential training ground for aspiring performers in Hollywood's industry circles. Their professional connection quickly blossomed into romance, leading to an ; the couple married on November 9, 1940, in , , marking the beginning of a steadfast union. The marriage remained childless and endured for 47 years until Preston's death from on March 21, 1987, exemplifying a devoted partnership built on mutual respect and privacy amid the glamour of Hollywood. Craig and Preston prioritized a stable family life, avoiding the spotlight's excesses and focusing on their bond rather than expanding their family. They shared homes initially in , including a residence on North Avenue, then in , before relocating to the affluent Montecito suburb of , where they cultivated a serene, low-profile existence. Throughout their years together, Craig and Preston provided unwavering support for each other's careers, with Craig retiring from acting after 1950 to allow Preston to concentrate on his burgeoning stage and film opportunities without the demands of dual Hollywood schedules. This decision underscored their collaborative approach, as she stepped back from the limelight to manage their home life and accompany him on professional endeavors, fostering a partnership that balanced personal fulfillment with professional growth.

Later Years and Death

Following the death of her husband, actor Robert Preston, from on March 21, 1987, Catherine Craig continued to live in the area, where the couple had resided in the nearby suburb of Montecito. She paid tribute to him at the 1987 alongside and , after which she lived quietly as a for the next 17 years, maintaining a low profile and not returning to acting. Craig died on January 14, 2004, at the age of 88 in Santa Barbara. The cause of her death was not publicly disclosed. She was cremated, and her ashes were scattered.

Filmography

Early Appearances (1940–1943)

Catherine Craig began her film career in 1940 with a series of small, often uncredited or apprentice-level roles in low-budget productions, primarily serving as an entry point into Hollywood after her training at the Pasadena Playhouse. These early appearances were mostly in B-movies from studios like Monogram Pictures and 20th Century Fox, where she played minor supporting characters in genres such as mystery and drama, gradually building experience before transitioning to larger studios like Paramount. Her debut came in Doomed to Die, a mystery directed by William Nigh, where she portrayed Cynthia Wentworth, the daughter of a shipping , in a supporting role alongside as detective James Lee Wong. This film, part of the Mr. Wong series, marked her first credited appearance and highlighted her initial foray into suspenseful narratives typical of poverty-row studio output. Later that year, she had small uncredited roles as a stewardess in the 20th Century Fox mystery Murder Over New York, involving espionage, and as a nurse in the romantic drama Manhattan Heartbeat, about a young couple's adjustment to city life, both emphasizing her apprenticeship status with brief on-screen time. In 1941, Craig secured a contract with , leading to several bit parts that showcased her versatility in musicals and comedies while still maintaining minor billing. She appeared as a saleslady in the Bob Hope musical comedy , a satirical take on , contributing to ensemble scenes without a major arc. Other Paramount credits included a decorative role as a girl with Bill in the musical revue Las Vegas Nights, featuring Frank Sinatra's film debut, and the uncredited role of Hilda in the comedy West Point Widow, a lighthearted story of romantic entanglements at a . Additionally, she had uncredited roles as Betty, the office receptionist, in the Nothing But the Truth, and as a second mill girl in the horror-tinged drama , directed by Stuart Heisler, both underscoring her progression from extra work to slightly more defined supporting positions. A guest role in ' romantic comedy One Night in Lisbon further diversified her early portfolio. By 1942, her roles began to expand slightly in scope, reflecting growing confidence and studio investment. In Columbia's wartime drama Parachute Nurse, she played Lt. Mullins, a nurse in a story of military training and romance, marking one of her first named supporting characters. She also appeared uncredited as Julia Acuña, one of the sisters in the ensemble, in the Fred Astaire-Rita Hayworth musical , a sophisticated comedy set in that provided brief but memorable amid the stars. Craig's early phase culminated in 1943 with bit parts in Salute for Three, a Paramount comedy/ where she played a canteen hostess, and Spy Train, a Paramount thriller where she took on the supporting role of Jane Thornwall, a passenger entangled in a plot aboard a train, demonstrating her ability to handle tension in a more prominent capacity compared to her debut year. Over this period, she accumulated thirteen credits, transitioning from uncredited extras to credited supporting parts, laying the groundwork for her mid-career roles.
YearFilm TitleRoleGenreStudioNotes
1940Doomed to DieCynthia WentworthMysterySupporting; first credited role
1940Murder Over New YorkStewardess (uncredited)Mystery20th Century FoxSmall apprentice role
1940Manhattan HeartbeatNurse (uncredited)Drama/Romance20th Century FoxSmall apprentice role
1941SalesladyComedy/MusicalBit part
1941Nothing But the TruthBetty, Office Receptionist (uncredited)ComedyMinor
1941Second Mill Girl (uncredited)Drama/HorrorUncredited bit
1941 NightsGirl with Bill (uncredited)MusicalDecorative bit
1941West Point WidowHilda (uncredited)ComedyBit role
1941One Night in Guest (uncredited)Romance/ComedyWarner Bros.Minor
1942Parachute NurseLt. MullinsDrama/WarSupporting
1942You Were Never LovelierJulia Acuña (uncredited)Musical ComedySupporting ensemble
1943Salute for ThreeCanteen HostessComedy/WarBit part
1943Spy TrainJane ThornwallThrillerSupporting

Later Film Roles (1944–1950)

Catherine Craig's film roles during 1944–1950 included a mix of supporting and minor parts in both major studio productions and low-budget B-movies from studios like Paramount and , where she often portrayed elegant women in genres ranging from musicals and dramas to Westerns and thrillers. These appearances built on her early work, with some co-leading roles in B-features contributing to her reputation in economical Hollywood fare. In 1944, she had supporting roles in several Paramount features, including Lt. Townsend in the musical comedy Here Come the Waves starring and , a girl in the wartime drama with , and Miss Foster in the psychological drama with . She also appeared uncredited in the musical Showboat Serenade. The following year, in 1945, Craig played Dilly in the romantic drama Love Letters, a Paramount production directed by William Dieterle starring Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten. In 1946, she appeared as Mrs. Medford (uncredited) in the comedy The Bride Wore Boots with Barbara Stanwyck and Robert Cummings. In 1947, she had a small uncredited role as a secretary in the ensemble comedy Variety Girl, followed by prominent roles in B-movies. She co-starred as Lt. Susan Briscoe in Seven Were Saved, an adventure drama helmed by Henry Levin for Paramount, portraying a resilient nurse among plane crash survivors adrift in a lifeboat, opposite Richard Denning; the survival tale emphasized themes of heroism and tension. That year, she also led as Claire Worthington in The Pretender, a film noir directed by W. Lee Wilder and released by United Artists, playing the fiancée of embezzler Albert Dekker in a tense thriller of murder and deception. Craig continued with prominent billing in 1948's Albuquerque, a Western directed by and released by Paramount. As Celia Wallace, the determined sister of a corrupt freighter (George Hayes), she navigates rivalries and romance alongside Randolph Scott in a tale of 1880s New Mexico freight wars. Also in 1948, she led as Lorraine W. Brinckley in the mystery thriller Appointment with Murder, directed by Jack Shindel for Screen Guild Productions, entangled in a magician's plot of blackmail and staged killings. By 1949, Craig took a supporting role as Mrs. Elkins in El Paso, a Western directed by Lewis R. Foster for Paramount, supporting John Payne in a story of . Her final screen credit came in 1950 with a minor role as Rosalie Baker in No Man of Her Own, a Columbia drama starring and John Lund. Over this period, Craig appeared in thirteen credits, with key roles in B-movies defining her later film work before retirement from features.
YearFilm TitleRoleGenreStudioNotes
1944Here Come the WavesLt. TownsendMusical/ComedyParamount PicturesSupporting
1944The Story of Dr. WassellMissionary GirlDrama/WarParamount PicturesSupporting
1944Showboat SerenadeUnspecified (uncredited)MusicalRepublic PicturesBit part
1944Lady in the DarkMiss FosterDrama/MusicalParamount PicturesSupporting
1945Love LettersDillyDrama/RomanceParamount PicturesSupporting
1946The Bride Wore BootsMrs. Medford (uncredited)ComedyParamount PicturesMinor
1947Variety GirlSecretary (uncredited)ComedyParamount PicturesBit part
1947Seven Were SavedLt. Susan BriscoeAdventure/DramaParamount PicturesCo-lead
1947The PretenderClaire WorthingtonFilm NoirUnited ArtistsLead
1948AlbuquerqueCelia WallaceWesternParamount PicturesSupporting
1948Appointment with MurderLorraine W. BrinckleyMystery/ThrillerScreen GuildLead
1949El PasoMrs. ElkinsWesternParamount PicturesSupporting
1950No Man of Her OwnRosalie BakerDramaColumbia PicturesMinor

References

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  4. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-03-22-mn-15054-story.html
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  6. https://www.geni.com/people/Catherine-Craig/6000000015792261109
  7. http://genealogy.fulco.lib.in.us/Tombaugh/Obituaries/Obituaries_1931.htm
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  12. https://wiki.kkg.org/images/d/de/THE_KEY_VOL_53_NO_1_FEB_1936.pdf
  13. https://time.com/archive/6806257/theater-pied-piper-of-broadway/
  14. http://genealogy.fulco.lib.in.us/Tombaugh/Handbook_F-G.htm
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  19. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039730/
  20. https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/66969/albuquerque
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  22. https://www.timenote.info/en/Catherine-Craig-18.01.1915
  23. https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_film.cfm?mediatypeid=1&eraid=16&psid=2963
  24. https://stuffnobodycaresabout.com/2022/08/18/classic-hollywood-132-robert-preston-dorothy-lamour/
  25. https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/03/21/Tony-Award-winning-actor-Robert-Preston-who-rose-to-fame/2535543301200/
  26. https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/40554%7C28392/Catherine-Craig
  27. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0032819/
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  29. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034381/
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  35. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037015/
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  43. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040294/
  44. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041694/
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