Florence Rice was a talented actress who captivated audiences with her wholesome and reliable on-screen presence. Born in 1907 in Cleveland, Ohio, she was the daughter of renowned sportswriter, documentary producer, and radio commentator Grantland Rice, who was known for his "Grantland Rice Sportslights" shorts in the 1920s and 1930s and won an Oscar for Best Short Subject for Amphibious Fighters in 1943.
Florence developed an early interest in acting and attended grammar and boarding schools in Englewood, New Jersey. She made her Broadway debut in productions such as "June Moon" and "She Loves Me Not" before transitioning to film in the mid-1930s. She primarily worked for MGM in the comedy department, often starring alongside Robert Young in films like The Longest Night, Sworn Enemy, Married Before Breakfast, Navy Blue and Gold, and Paradise for Three.
Florence's most notable role was as the singing ingénue in the Marx Brothers' film At the Circus in 1939, although her vocals were dubbed. She was often overshadowed by more prominent actresses and comedians in her films, but she continued to work in the industry until her role as the bride in the spooky "B" comedy The Ghost and the Guest in 1943. After leaving films, Florence found success on radio and television, and she married actor Robert Wilcox, with whom she had three failed marriages.
In the post-war years, Florence met and married Fred Butler, and the couple retired to Hawaii. Tragically, Florence passed away from lung cancer in 1974, but her legacy as a talented and charming actress remains.
