An American actress and dancer, she was born on November 25, 1913 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was married to film director William A. Wellman in 1934 until his death in 1975. She began her career as a dancer at the age of 14 with Warner Brothers Studios. Her early filmography as a dancer and actress included small uncredited parts in early sound films such as: The Broadway Melody (1929), Whoopee! (1930) and 42nd Street (1933). She died on September 16, 2009 in Brentwood, California at age 95.