Actress. She is best remembered for her portrayal of the headstrong Joan Grey in "Ex-Champ" (1939). Born Eschal Miller, while attending a trip to California with her mother she was discovered by director Ray Enright while partaking in a studio tour. Impressed by her dark good looks, slim physique, and distinctive voice, he took notice of her potential and arranged for her to begin a career in the film industry beginning with her appearing under his supervision per a supporting role in "The St. Louis Kid" (1934). From there, she would go on to flourish as a notable character actress appearing in over 35 features; often typecast as students, daughters, girlfriends, love interests, wives, mothers, debutantes, playgirls, southern belles, femme fatales, nannies, nurses, secretaries, manicurists, neighbors, sidekicks, glamour dolls, torch singers, cowgirls, and historical figures. She appeared in such feature films as "Babbit" (1934), "The Firebird" (1934), "Mary Jane's Pa" (1935), "The Woman in Red" (1935), "His Night Out" (1935), "Next Time We Love" (1936), "Dracula's Daughter" (1936), "Sutter's Gold" (1936), "Sea Spoilers" (1936), "Crash Donovon" (1936), "Love in a Bungalow" (1937), "Some Blondes Are Dangerous" (1937), "Reckless Living" (1938), "The Black Doll" (1938), "Girls' School" (1938), "Danger on the Air" (1938), "The Storm" (1938), "Three Smart Girls Grow Up" (1939), "Tower of London" (1939), "The Under-Pup" (1939), "The House of the Seven Gables" (1940), "The Invisible Man Returns" (1940), "You're Not So Tough" (1940), "Margie" (1940), "A Little Bit of Heaven" (1940), and "Underage" (1941). During her career, she was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, had been a model for photographer Paul Hesse, voiced the lead role of Kathy Marshall on the NBC radio soap opera "Those We Love" between 1938 and 1945, had been the celebrity spokeswoman for Avon, presided as a chairwoman for her local charters of the American Red Cross and the March of Dimes, was the inventor of the Close Up Cosmetic Mirror, was a member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee, had been a regular parishioner of the Catholic church, and she was married to professional racehorse jockey Jack Westrope from 1939 to 1950 and to singer Frankie Laine from 1950 to 1993 (her first union ended in divorce, the second upon her death, and with Laine she produced two daughters). Upon withdrawing from acting following a rare television appearance on an episode of "Rawhide", she spent the remainder of her life centered on business ventures, as well as charitable and religious causes until her death.