Bing Crosby’s Widow, Kathryn Crosby, Passes Away — Details

The actress was born Olive Kathryn Grandstaff in West Columbia, Texas, in 1933. Her journey to Hollywood began like something out of a classic movie. After winning a beauty contest, she found herself with an opportunity most could only dream of—a screen test with none other than William Holden.

Kathryn launched her acting career under the name Kathryn Grant in 1953, just after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin. From the start, she appeared in small but memorable roles, including a part in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rear Window.”

But fate had more than just an acting career in store for her. While working as a columnist for her hometown newspaper, Kathryn landed an interview on the set of “White Christmas” in 1954. That’s where she first crossed paths with Bing, sparking a love story that would soon become the stuff of Hollywood legend.

The couple married in 1957, but their journey to the altar wasn’t without its quirks. “We kept meeting each other, and then we’d plan to get married, and he would have a kidney stone or something dreadful like that,” Kathryn humorously recalled in a 2014 interview.

After many delays, they finally decided to wed in secret. Kathryn confessed, “I hadn’t spoken to him for a year, and he wrote to me and asked me to go to dinner. I said, ‘Yes. I still love you. No. I won’t see you.'”

When the time came, the two met in Las Vegas, where Kathryn was accompanied by her Aunt Mary, and Bing by his driver, Leo Lynn.

After obtaining their marriage license, the couple managed to slip past eager reporters, with Bing Crosby throwing them off by claiming they were headed to Arrington for the ceremony. But in reality, the pair drove just a short distance to a Catholic church, where they quietly tied the knot.

According to Kathryn, after the wedding, Leo quipped, “Don’t you think you better tell the press? It’s a hot day, and they’re about to drive seven hours to Arrington!” And so, in their post-ceremony breakfast at the Sands Hotel, they were joined by Father Ryan and forty curious reporters, marking the beginning of their life together.

Kathryn became Bing’s second wife, despite their 30-year age difference, and together they had three children: Harry Lillis III, Mary Frances, and Nathaniel. Their love story, filled with Hollywood glamour and unexpected twists, stood the test of time.

Despite the frequent questions about their age difference, Kathryn maintained that it never bothered her. “By the time we had courted, I knew I liked him very much, and he liked me very much,” she recalled. When they finally said “I do,” she had come to a powerful realization: she could stand on her own two feet.

Meanwhile, Bing recognized he didn’t want a life without her by his side. Kathryn playfully declared that this mutual understanding was the perfect mindset to kick off their marriage—strong, independent, and undeniably united in love.

Reflecting on their two decades of marriage, Kathryn humorously recalled Bing’s constant encouragement for her to get organized: “For our whole 20 years of married life Bing alternately implored and enjoined me to get organized. It was very much like ordering a government to reduce inflation.”

Though Kathryn stepped back from the spotlight after starring in films like the 1958 family adventure, “The 7th Voyage of Sinbad,” and the 1959 crime-thriller, “Anatomy of a Murder,” she still made memorable appearances with Bing and their children, mostly in Bing’s beloved Christmas specials and “The Bing Crosby Show” in the 1960s. They were a family act, captivating audiences together with their warmth and charm.

Their last Christmas special in 1977, which aired after Bing’s death the same year, was introduced by Kathryn and featured a hauntingly beautiful duet between Bing and David Bowie. Together, they wove “Peace on Earth” with “The Little Drummer Boy,” creating a timeless Christmas classic that continues to resonate today.

Beyond her acting career, Kathryn was also a dedicated registered nurse, a title she earned in 1963. As an accomplished author, she penned two autobiographies: “Bing and Other Things” (1967) and “My Life With Bing” (1983).

Kathryn made a notable return to the stage in the 1996 Broadway revival of “State Fair” and hosted her own talk show in San Francisco during the 1970s. Her philanthropic spirit shone brightly as she dedicated 16 years to hosting the Crosby National Golf Tournament, a charitable event Bing would have been proud of.

After Bing’s death, Kathryn found love again with Maurice William Sullivan, marrying him in 2000. Sadly, their time together was cut short when Sullivan died in a car accident in 2010.

Kathryn leaves behind a rich legacy, survived by her three children and numerous grandchildren. Her life was one full of love, laughter, and endless grace—both on the screen and off.