Ellen Drew, born Esther Loretta Ray in 1914, was a Missouri native whose life took a dramatic turn after her parents' separation when she was just 15 years old. To support her mother and younger brother, she worked various jobs, including stints as an accountant, salesgirl, and elevator operator. Her fortunes changed when she won a beauty pageant sponsored by the Kiwanis, which led to her being encouraged to pursue a career in Hollywood.
After working at a department store and an ice cream parlor, Drew was discovered by William Demarest, who helped her secure a $50-a-week contract with Paramount Studios in 1936. Initially billed as Terry Ray, she spent two years taking on small roles before being given a breakout part in the Bing Crosby musical Sing, You Sinners (1938). Her hair was dyed auburn (sometimes blonde),and her stage name was changed to Ellen Drew.
Drew's subsequent roles included If I Were King (1938),Women Without Names (1940),and Buck Benny Rides Again (1940),which cemented her status as a Hollywood beauty. However, she struggled to distinguish herself among the many talented actresses of the era, and her career plateaued. Despite appearing in notable films like Christmas in July (1940) and Johnny O'Clock (1947),her career began to decline.
In the 1950s, Drew transitioned to television, where she continued to work until her retirement in the following decade. Throughout her life, she was married four times, including to writer/producer Sy Bartlett, and was survived by her son and five grandchildren when she passed away in 2003 at the age of 89 in Palm Desert, California.
