1. Colby was born Anita Counihan, the daughter of Margaret Anne McCarthy and the cartoonist Daniel Francis "Bud" Counihan, a legendary figure among New York City artists and newsmen, in Washington, DC Her younger sister, Francine Counihan, was a model.
Anita Colby was nicknamed "The Face" and appeared on numerous billboards and ads, many of them for cigarette advertisers.
Anita Colby moved to Hollywood from New York in 1935 and changed her name to Colby.
Anita Colby had a bit part in Mary of Scotland and other B movies, but her acting career never took off.
Anita Colby made her name in Hollywood almost 10 years after leaving films when she worked on a nationwide advertising campaign for the film Cover Girl, in which she appeared with her sister Francine Counihan.
Anita Colby began acting in films again in the 1940s, including Brute Force.
Anita Colby was hired by David O Selznick in the 1940s to teach contract actresses, such as Jennifer Jones, about beauty, poise, and publicity.
Anita Colby worked closely with Selznick's top actresses, such as Jennifer Jones, Ingrid Bergman, Shirley Temple, Dorothy McGuire, and Joan Fontaine.
Anita Colby later hosted the television program The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse in 1954.
Anita Colby died of lung disease at her home in Oyster Bay, Long Island, on March 27,1992, aged 77.