Beautiful American dancer and occasional actress, born Elizabeth Florine Phares in Mendocino County, California, one of several siblings of English and German ancestry. Along with
Laverne Thompson (1925-2015) and
Lindsay Bourquin (1920-2004), she was one of a trio of acrobatic dancers who formed a specialty act in the early 40s which first toured the local theatre circuit. Having accompanied
Bob Hope and
Bing Crosby on a nationwide USO tour in support of American troops, they were then featured in
The Three Stooges short
Gents Without Cents (1944) (chiefly notable for the famous 'Niagara Falls' routine), the musical comedy
Showboat Serenade (1944) and a campy exploitation drama,
Youth Aflame (1944). On her own, Betty appeared in a couple of swing music featurettes with
Sonny Dunham's orchestra. Her final appearance was in the
Jack Carson/
Dennis Morgan romantic comedy
The Time, the Place and the Girl (1946). The trio reunited for a Three Stooges convention in Ft. Washington, Pennsylvania, in 2003. Betty Phares Metcalfe made a final appearance at a fan club meeting in 2015.