Obituaries

Singer and actress Kathryn Grayson, who starred in many MGM musicals in the 1950s, died February 17 at the age of 88. No cause was given.

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Zelma Kathryn Hedrick was born Feb. 9, 1922, in Winston-Salem, N.C. Her father was a building contractor and real estate agent who moved frequently, eventually settling in St. Louis and later Los Angeles, so Ms. Grayson could have more professional training. She came to the attention of MGM studio head Louis B. Mayer, who had been searching for a young soprano to rival Universal's Deanna Durbin.

After her movie career ended, Ms. Grayson finally realized her long-held ambition to sing opera and starred in stage productions of "The Merry Widow," "Rosalinda," "Naughty Marietta" and "Camelot." She and Howard Keel toured extensively in "Man of La Mancha" and appeared together in Las Vegas.