Hollywood icon Marilyn Granas, known for being the original body double for child actress Shirley Temple, has passed away at 98 years old. She lived in Beverly Hills for a long time before her recent death in October, as confirmed by her family.
Arthur Grant, her nephew and a film historian, disclosed that Granas had been struggling with dementia. Granas was part of several successful Hollywood movies such as Bright Eyes, Curly Top, and The Little Colonel.
During the filming of The Little Colonel, Granas was present near Shirley Temple and Bill “Bojangles” Robinson during their famous staircase scene. Despite her close involvement with Temple, Granas chose not to be solely remembered as Temple’s stand-in, emphasizing her desire for recognition beyond that role.
In a revealing interview in her forties, Granas expressed the deep friendship she shared with Temple, highlighting the fun and games they enjoyed together on set. Granas also sympathized with Temple’s unconventional upbringing, acknowledging the lack of a typical childhood experience due to their exclusive bond on set.
Later in her career, Granas transitioned into working as an assistant casting director at NBC, where she played a significant role in the development of the casting department at William Morris. She eventually established her own agency in Beverly Hills after over three decades in the casting industry.
Following the announcement of her passing, fans of Granas expressed their condolences on social media platforms like Twitter, remembering her contributions to Shirley Temple’s films.