Judy Balaban


Judith Rose Balaban is an American actress and author who wrote the book The Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly and Six Intimate Friends about Grace Kelly. Balaban was a childhood friend of Grace Kelly and served as a bridesmaid in her wedding to Rainier III, Prince of Monaco.

Biography

Balaban was born to a Jewish family in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Tillie and Barney Balaban. Her brothers are American jazz tubist and sousaphonist, Leonard "Red" Balaban and American film producer and director Burt Balaban. Balaban wrote The Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly and Six Intimate Friends. She appeared in the Showtime documentary ‘Becoming Cary Grant’.

Personal life

Balaban has been married three times. In 1953, she married Grace Kelly's talent agent Jay Kanter; they had two daughters, Victoria Kanter and Amy Kanter, before divorcing in 1961. In 1961, she married actor Tony Franciosa; they had one daughter, Nina Franciosa, before divorcing in 1970. In 1971, she married actor Don Quine; they divorced in 1996.