A prime Fox musical performer during the war and post-war years, she lagged in popularity only to Alice Faye and Betty Grable.
Father, Lionel Stapleton, was a singing baritone who made a living as a theatrical booking agent. Her parents divorced when she was quite young.
For her starring role in Guys and Dolls (1955/I), Ms. Blaine won a Donaldson award for best newcomer of the year.
From 1973 until 1983, she appeared on many "Best Dressed Women in America" lists.
In 1952, three actresses were included by the Fashion Academy of New York in its list of the eight best-dressed women of America: Ann Sheridan, Vivian Blaine, and Betty Furness.
Later in her career, she was asked to perform at the White House for Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson.
Married three times. First husband was Manny Franks, her agent, who was 20 years older than she. Second husband was Milton Rachmil, the head of Universal Pictures and Decca Records, who wanted an at-home trophy wife; the marriage didn't last long, also ending in divorce court. Third husband was businessman Stuart Clark, who started to supervise her career and revived it on 1970s TV. He was 13 years her junior.
Measurements: 34 1/2-24-35 (source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine).
Portrayed Miss Adelaide in the original Broadway stage version of "Guys and Dolls" and reprised her role in the film version (Guys and Dolls (1955/I)).
She also won a New York Theater Goers Award for best musical comedy star of the year.
She performed her role in "Guys and Dolls" in London, including a command performance for Queen Elizabeth II.
She was given a National Film Society American Classic Award.