Biography

Most people did not know when she was born, as her birth certificate was lost during the California earthquake in 1906. She was usually evasive about her age and sometimes claimed to have been born in 1906, even though her birthday that year was three months after the earthquake. Whenever this was brought up she would cheekily respond, "Well, it was an awfully big earthquake." Her family was even forced to guess her birthdate for her death certificate and grave, settling on 1902. It was not revealed that she was actually born around 1895 until after her death, when the 1900 and 1910 Censuses became public and gave her age as 4 and 13 respectively, as well as her high school confirming she graduated in 1914.

Had one blue eye and one green.

Although she was in love with another man when they first met, George Burns carried a ring in his pocket until she finally agreed to marry him.

The words "Together Again" are engraved on her and George Burns' crypt at the Freedom Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, California. This inscription replaced the previous one, "Good Night, Gracie", which appeared on the crypt prior to George's death. She is interred to the left of him as you view the crypt, not above him as has been previously reported, along with the explanation that George "wanted her to have top billing".

Accidentally spilled a pot of boiling water on her arm as a child, which left a bad scar she kept concealed for the rest of her life (her one big wish was to wear a strapless evening gown and no gloves, just once).